Should you turn off appliances at the socket when not in use?
Should you turn off your washing machine, dishwasher, or tumble dryer at the wall socket when you have finished using it? The risk of leaving an appliance plugged in is small but real. This guide explains why the risk exists, what it involves, and how to make a practical decision about your own situation.
Turning off an appliance at the wall socket when not in use is a sensible precaution that reduces risk. It is particularly worthwhile for washing machines and tumble dryers. The risk from leaving appliances plugged in is low, but it is not zero – and if the socket is easy to reach, there is little reason not to. If the socket is inaccessible, making it more accessible is worth considering.
Is There Really a Risk From a Switched-Off Appliance?
When an appliance is switched off but still plugged in, electricity continues to flow through part of the appliance. The appliance may be off, but the socket is live and voltage is present throughout the cable, plug, and into the early stages of the appliance’s internal circuitry – including the mains suppressor (filter), and in many cases to the control PCB, door lock, and control panel.
The risk of something going wrong while the appliance is not running is considerably lower than when it is in use. But it is not zero. Mains suppressors in particular can degrade and fail, and there are documented cases of tumble dryers and washing machines starting fires or producing electrical incidents while plugged in but switched off – including cases where the issue was confined to the wall socket and plug rather than the appliance itself.
Most incidents with appliances left on standby are very minor – a small electrical fault rather than a fire. But because the appliance is unattended and nobody is watching, even a small fault can develop into something more serious before it is noticed. This is the core argument for switching off at the socket when convenient.
Where Does Electricity Go Inside a Plugged-In Appliance?
Understanding this helps clarify what “switched off but plugged in” actually means electrically.
Plug and mains cableElectricity flows from the socket through the plug and along the mains cable regardless of whether the appliance is switched on. The cable and plug are live whenever the socket is live.
Mains suppressor (filter)The first component electricity reaches inside the appliance. Its job is to reduce electrical interference. It remains live when the appliance is plugged in. Suppressors can fail over time and in rare cases have caused localised electrical incidents.
Control PCB and panelOn many modern appliances, power reaches the main control board and display even when the on/off switch is in the off position. This allows features like programme memory and standby mode – but it also means more components remain live.
Door lock and sensorsThe door interlock on washing machines and dishwashers is typically powered even when the machine is off, to allow the door to remain locked after a cycle. This is another component that remains live when the appliance is plugged in.
How to Make a Practical Decision
Many millions of appliances are left plugged in permanently without incident. The risk per appliance per day is very low. But it is worth making a conscious decision rather than leaving it to chance.
Socket is easy to reach
If the wall socket is clearly visible and easy to switch off after every use – such as a socket above the worktop or on an easily accessible wall – there is very little reason not to turn it off. It takes a second and reduces risk at no real cost of effort. This is particularly relevant for washing machines and tumble dryers.
Socket is difficult to access
Many dishwashers are plumbed in with the socket located behind the appliance or inside a cupboard – awkward or impossible to reach routinely. In this situation, the practical question is whether the socket location can be improved. Moving the socket or rerouting to a more accessible point is a worthwhile investment if the appliance is used frequently.
If a dishwasher or washing machine socket is currently behind a cupboard full of other items, it may be possible to rearrange the plumbing and wiring so a more accessible socket is used instead. This is worth considering – particularly if you have a built-in appliance whose socket is behind a back panel or buried in a cupboard. An electrician can advise on moving or adding a socket in a more convenient location.
Appliance-Specific Guidance
- Washing machine: switch off at the socket after every use where the socket is accessible. Washing machines have relatively complex electrical systems and are not designed to run unattended for extended periods. See also: is it safe to leave a washing machine running when out or in bed?
- Tumble dryer: switching off at the socket when not in use is strongly advisable. Dryers are one of the more common sources of appliance fires and carry a higher inherent fire risk than most other household appliances due to lint accumulation. Never leave a tumble dryer running unattended.
- Dishwasher: if the socket is accessible, switch off after each cycle. If the socket is inaccessible, consider whether it can be relocated. At minimum, ensure the dishwasher cycle has finished and the appliance has cooled before leaving the house.
- Fridge and freezer: these must remain plugged in at all times to preserve food safety. The risk calculation is different for refrigeration appliances – they run continuously and there is no practical option to switch them off routinely.
More on appliance safety
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to leave a washing machine or tumble dryer plugged in when not in use?
The risk is low but not zero. Electricity continues to flow through part of the appliance even when switched off, and components like the mains suppressor and control board remain live. The vast majority of appliances left plugged in experience no problems at all, but switching off at the socket when easy to do so is a sensible precaution – particularly for tumble dryers, which carry a higher inherent fire risk.
Does switching an appliance off make it completely safe?
Switching off at the appliance’s own on/off button reduces risk but does not eliminate it entirely – electricity still reaches the early internal circuitry. Switching off at the wall socket and turning it off removes all voltage from the appliance and is the most complete way to eliminate standby risk. Unplugging entirely is equivalent.
What if the wall socket is behind the appliance or in a cupboard?
This is a common situation with integrated dishwashers in particular. If the socket genuinely cannot be reached routinely, the practical options are: accept the risk and leave the appliance permanently plugged in, or consult an electrician about relocating the socket to a more accessible position. The latter is often straightforward and worthwhile for an appliance used every day.
Is a tumble dryer more risky to leave plugged in than a washing machine?
Tumble dryers are generally considered higher risk than washing machines when it comes to fire risk, primarily due to lint accumulation in the heating system and exhaust path. This risk is highest during operation, but the general advice to switch off at the socket when not in use applies at least as strongly to dryers as to washers. Never leave a tumble dryer running when you are out or in bed.
Should I unplug the dishwasher after each cycle?
If the socket is accessible, yes – this is good practice. If the socket is behind a back panel or difficult to reach, aim at minimum to ensure the cycle has finished and the dishwasher has cooled down before leaving the house. If you use a timed programme that runs overnight, consider whether the socket location can be improved to make routine switching off more practical.
13 Comments
Grouped into 7 comment threads.
2 replies In India I stayed at a 'expat's condo for a while and every plug had a switch to control it. I thought maybe they thought that would save energy, I didn't think of possible fires. My question to you is would it save energy to put switches on plugs and switch them off when not in use. It wouldn't be a hassle to turn a switch on when I want to use the Microwave if it were easy to reach, same for dishwashers. I could do without all those little green lights on all day and I have other clocks. I can see how to do this with appliances that run on regular voltage but could I put a switch on the dryer? the stove? Thanks for all that you do. I find your articles very interesting and I always learn something.
1 reply My fridge stays on after the socket is switched off I tried the fridge in another socket which turned the fridge off when it was turned off
1 reply My son's washing machine plug is near outlet pipe behind washing machine and inaccessible without removing worktop above it .Is this just bad electrical work or what???
My son’s washing machine plug is near outlet pipe behind washing machine and inaccessible without removing worktop above it .Is this just bad electrical work or what???
Likely replying to Richard
Hello Richard. As you can imagine I’ve seen many very poor examples, with mains sockets directly underneath parts of the plumbing that could easily leak and run water straight into the socket. But in many houses some thought has been given to the position of wall sockets that the builders know will be used for a washing machine. They may still have the wall sockets behind the washing machine or inside a cupboard, but they usually install a separate switch above the worktop somewhere that is easily accessible and often even labelled.
But generally speaking, especially in older houses, wall sockets are just badly placed and totally inaccessible far too often. Often tradesmen will have an overriding goal of what is easier for them. A perfect example of this is in my son’s brand new house where the mains socket for the washing machine was attached to the 1 mm thin ply board at the back of the under sink cupboard. As soon as you start pushing and pulling on the main socket it just came completely loose. I had to relocate it to the side of the cupboard and was able to screw it firmly into a proper surface.
1 reply It’s been a long time since the last comment so hoping you’re still around. ;). What I’m understanding is that it’s ok to unplug a washing machine and dryer when not in use for 5-6 days? Our outlets are quite old as well as dryer, washer is 3 years old. I’d like to use the available outlet in the garage for my pet heater at night for our stray cat. Low voltage for the heater btw. Please advise if I’m correct. We’re in the U.S. so also have a special circuit just for those 2 appliances. Thank you very much.
It’s been a long time since the last comment so hoping you’re still around. ;). What I’m understanding is that it’s ok to unplug a washing machine and dryer when not in use for 5-6 days? Our outlets are quite old as well as dryer, washer is 3 years old. I’d like to use the available outlet in the garage for my pet heater at night for our stray cat. Low voltage for the heater btw. Please advise if I’m correct. We’re in the U.S. so also have a special circuit just for those 2 appliances. Thank you very much.
Likely replying to Shani
Hello Shani. I don’t know of any washing machine that needs to be left plugged in. We turn our washing machine off at the socket every time we have finished using it. However, it is very easy for us because the wall socket is just above the washing machine and very easy to access.
The chances of anything going wrong if the washing machine is turned off but still left plugged in are very remote. But if it is convenient to switch off at the socket it is definitely best practice.
1 reply What am I not understanding here..you say that " With my own dishwasher I could, with a fair bit of effort, rearrange everything so that the microwave is plugged into this socket and the dishwasher into a separate one above the worktop. This, is something I need to do" but then you'd have microwave plugged in all the time instead of dishwasher.. is that better? Seems to me you're just switching one out for other. Explain?
What am I not understanding here..you say that ” With my own dishwasher I could, with a fair bit of effort, rearrange everything so that the microwave is plugged into this socket and the dishwasher into a separate one above the worktop. This, is something I need to do” but then you’d have microwave plugged in all the time instead of dishwasher.. is that better? Seems to me you’re just switching one out for other. Explain?
Likely replying to Elles
Hello Elles. It’s a less of two evils type of thing, but there is an argument that both could / should be turned off. Microwaves are one of our appliances that are meant to be left switched on – although that doesn’t mean there is no risk. They have a clock, plus it’s something that’s in use many times a day. Ideally it could be switched off. But I’d rather switch off the dishwasher if it’s down to choosing one of the two.
Essentially there are many appliances that are left permanently on. Fridges in particular are a genuine concern of mine after many have caught fire (including the flat at Grenfill). But there’s nothing we can do about fridges and freezers, they have to be left on. So that’s a risk we have no option about. Other things like clock radios, kettle, PVR recorders and many other products are all usually left plugged in all the time.
There is a theoretical risk to them all but we can’t become paranoid about it. So certain things like the TV, washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers etc can be turned off to reduce risk because it’s not usually much trouble to do so.
0 replies Many thanks Roger. I need to step up a few gears :)
Many thanks Roger. I need to step up a few gears :)
0 replies You could turn everything off and then there is never any danger, however what you are really trying to do is to mitigate a possible hazard. If you break down the various parts I don't think that the hazards usually are as dangerous as many think. Many household electrics you just cannot get to easily and many items run during the night. When I was in IT our servers, IT switches, routers etc were running 24/7 all year round and much of that time nobody was in attendance. That's the same as your fridge and freezer Probably the biggest issue is when we overload a socket or plug, or when the cable becomes defective. That will normally show up during use rather than when out of use other than a defective cable. Normally as long as you have circuit breakers they will trip. When you come to the washer, drier, or dish washer it all depends if you have a hard or soft power switch. With the hard switch the power is switched off completely this may be via a power switch or indirectly via the programme control. With a soft switch you are toggling it off and on electronically so there is power going to that part of the circuit board continuously that normally implies a transformer, voltage regulation/conversion and AC to DC conversion. Anything that is timer or remotely controlled normally needs soft switching. Most time issues with the circuit board, motors, etc appear when the item is actually running and therefore we would never leave it running when we were not there. This is totally contrary to how modern equipment is intended to be used and modern households work. The big issue is down to manufacturing or design flaws and though there will always some problems there appear to be too many, particularly with washers and driers. This leads me to believe that some manufacturers are so keen to keep prices down that they don't put enough thought into the design, what temperatures, both ambient and generated, they product will need to handle over a given time, and movement causing abrasion, loose connectors, etc. Due to the fact these do not appear to be picked up during testing that this is either insufficient or comprehensive testing is not undertaken. What would be interesting is to know what had been discovered in their own tests.
You could turn everything off and then there is never any danger, however what you are really trying to do is to mitigate a possible hazard. If you break down the various parts I don’t think that the hazards usually are as dangerous as many think. Many household electrics you just cannot get to easily and many items run during the night. When I was in IT our servers, IT switches, routers etc were running 24/7 all year round and much of that time nobody was in attendance. That’s the same as your fridge and freezer
Probably the biggest issue is when we overload a socket or plug, or when the cable becomes defective. That will normally show up during use rather than when out of use other than a defective cable. Normally as long as you have circuit breakers they will trip.
When you come to the washer, drier, or dish washer it all depends if you have a hard or soft power switch. With the hard switch the power is switched off completely this may be via a power switch or indirectly via the programme control. With a soft switch you are toggling it off and on electronically so there is power going to that part of the circuit board continuously that normally implies a transformer, voltage regulation/conversion and AC to DC conversion. Anything that is timer or remotely controlled normally needs soft switching. Most time issues with the circuit board, motors, etc appear when the item is actually running and therefore we would never leave it running when we were not there. This is totally contrary to how modern equipment is intended to be used and modern households work.
The big issue is down to manufacturing or design flaws and though there will always some problems there appear to be too many, particularly with washers and driers. This leads me to believe that some manufacturers are so keen to keep prices down that they don’t put enough thought into the design, what temperatures, both ambient and generated, they product will need to handle over a given time, and movement causing abrasion, loose connectors, etc. Due to the fact these do not appear to be picked up during testing that this is either insufficient or comprehensive testing is not undertaken. What would be interesting is to know what had been discovered in their own tests.
In India I stayed at a ‘expat’s condo for a while and every plug had a switch to control it. I thought maybe they thought that would save energy, I didn’t think of possible fires.
My question to you is would it save energy to put switches on plugs and switch them off when not in use. It wouldn’t be a hassle to turn a switch on when I want to use the Microwave if it were easy to reach, same for dishwashers. I could do without all those little green lights on all day and I have other clocks.
I can see how to do this with appliances that run on regular voltage but could I put a switch on the dryer? the stove?
Thanks for all that you do. I find your articles very interesting and I always learn something.
Likely replying to Miriam Kearney
Thanks Miriam. Although the electricity runs into the appliance, if nothing is operating then no electricity is used. It’s the same principal as water running through pipework in our house. If no tap is turned on the water just stays there under pressure. If an appliance has a neon light or clock then yes it will be using small amounts of electricity but very small. So small as to be hardly noticeable unless quite obsessive about it.
Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)
Thank you Andy for your advice its a shame that you don’t write more often I really enjoy reading the advice that you give. Once again thank you….Roger.