# Everyone Should Unplug This Kitchen Appliance Before Going to Sleep to Reduce the Risk of a Fire
Before you turn off the lights, lock the doors, and climb into bed, there is one simple safety habit worth adding to your nightly routine:
**Check your kitchen appliances.**
Many people make sure the stove is off, the oven isn’t running, and the coffee maker has finished brewing. But there is another potential source of trouble that is easy to overlook: **small countertop appliances that remain plugged into an electrical outlet long after they’re finished being used.**
Among them, appliances that heat up — such as toaster ovens, toasters, air fryers, electric grills, and similar devices — deserve particular attention.
That doesn’t mean every appliance sitting on your kitchen counter is about to start a fire.
It doesn’t mean you need to unplug every modern appliance in your home every night.
And it certainly doesn’t mean that simply leaving an appliance plugged in automatically makes your home unsafe.
The important point is that **electrical appliances can become fire hazards when they are defective, damaged, improperly used, overloaded, or placed near combustible materials.**
And when you’re asleep, you may not notice the warning signs until a small problem has become a serious emergency.
That’s why a few seconds of checking your kitchen before bed can be a worthwhile safety habit.
## Why the Kitchen Deserves Extra Attention
The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in a home.
It’s also filled with several things that can contribute to a fire: electrical equipment, cooking oils, paper towels, wooden cabinets, curtains, packaging, dishcloths and other combustible materials.
According to fire-safety authorities, cooking is a major source of residential fires, with unattended cooking being an important factor.
That’s why nighttime safety isn’t simply about remembering to turn off the stove.
It’s about creating a routine that reduces unnecessary risks.
