Children & pets dying in washing machines and tumble dryers

How Children Are Put at Risk

Children are put at risk in appliances in two main ways. First, a child climbs inside voluntarily – thinking it is a hiding place – and a sibling or playmate closes the door and starts the machine. Second, a child is simply not seen inside the drum before the door is closed and the cycle started. A small child who thinks they are playing hide and seek may deliberately stay quiet and still even if they are aware an adult is looking for them.

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  Always look inside the drum before starting any cycle. Make this a non-negotiable habit, not an occasional check. Open the door, physically look inside, then load and start.
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  Use the child lock if your machine has one. Many modern washing machines have an electronic child lock that prevents the machine being started with a specific button combination. Check the instruction manual and use it whenever children are in the house. Some also have physical door locks.
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  Switch the appliance off at the socket when not in use. A machine that is unplugged or switched off at the wall cannot be started by a child playing with the controls – even if another child is inside the drum. This is especially important for tumble dryers, which run for extended periods.
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  Do not leave children unsupervised near large appliances. Children are drawn to appliances with large doors by curiosity. Supervise access to the kitchen or utility room where appliances are installed.

Pets Inside Appliances

Cats in particular are drawn to the warmth and enclosed space of a washing machine drum. Pets have been seriously injured and killed after being accidentally started in washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers when owners have thrown items in and started the machine without checking inside first. This is not a theoretical risk – it happens with enough regularity to appear in news reports.

BBC News has reported incidents including a kitten who survived a 10-minute wash cycle and a kitten who survived an hour-long spin cycle in Aberdeen. Modern machines use significantly less water than older models, which is the main reason cats in these incidents survived – a washing machine from 20 years ago would have filled with enough water to drown a trapped animal.

Never throw laundry into the drum without looking inside first

This single habit prevents the majority of pet-in-appliance incidents. Open the door, look inside, then load. This takes approximately two seconds and could save your pet’s life.

Do Not Leave Pets in a Room With a Running Appliance

Beyond the risk of pets climbing inside, appliances can injure or kill pets in other ways:

• Fires started by dishwashers, washing machines, or tumble dryers have killed pets left in the room during a cycle. For a specific case, see our guide on dishwasher fire risks and pets
• Door glass explosions on certain washing machine models have thrown glass across a room at significant velocity. See our guide on washing machine door glass danger
• Pets chewing through gas hoses or electrical cables connected to appliances present a serious risk to the animal and to the property

The recommendation not to leave any appliance running unattended applies doubly when pets are in the same room. This is not overcautious – these are documented causes of animal deaths and house fires.

Related Safety Guides

8 Ways to Make Appliances Safer
Practical steps every household can take to reduce fire, electrical, and physical risks from large appliances.


Is It Safe to Leave the Washing Machine On?
The genuine risks from unattended appliances – and what the evidence says about running them while out or overnight.


Washing Machine Door Glass Danger
Exploding door glass – causes, which machines are affected, and what to do.


Dishwasher Fire Risks and Pets
A documented case of pets killed in a dishwasher fire – and the broader fire risk from unattended appliances.

Frequently Asked Questions