Spring cleaning season is here but did you know that one of the most dreaded jobs is also one of the most crucial? The grease and grime that builds up on your oven and other cooking appliances can be extremely dangerous – 44% of fires in the UK are caused by cooking appliances so it’s vital to ensure they stay clean. 

Cleaning the oven is one of the most dreaded tasks during spring cleaning, with over a third of people in the UK naming it their least favourite task, but it is essential to remove grease and grime. Over time, this buildup can ignite when heated which can cause a fire. According to Carlos Duhney, a fire safety specialist and owner of Telcam, this tough job can help prevent housefires. He said: “Thoroughly clean your oven, stove and grills. While it may be a tough job, a deep clean will ensure your cooking appliances are fire-safe, as well as just being more hygienic of course.”

It’s not just your ovens that can cause fire though – when you’re undertaking spring cleaning make sure you check all appliances and power strips for dust buildup, as this can be just as dangerous.

Duhney said: “Dust might seem harmless, but it can pose a serious fire risk when it settles inside electrical appliances like plug sockets, heaters or behind TV’s.

“When dust accumulates in these areas, it can ignite and lead to a fire. Make sure to get into all of the gaps and hidden spots when doing your dusting this spring to ensure there is no dust build-up. Even better if you can make this into a regular routine.”

You should also be careful not to overload power strips as this can pose a risk.

Every plug socket has a maximum load capacity, and exceeding this can cause overheating and eventually a fire.

Duhney said: “Spread appliances over multiple sockets rather than overloading one. If you use an extension cord, make sure it has surge protection against power surges, which can damage your devices and ignite a fire.”