Here’s a scenario you’ve probably lived through a thousand times: You finish the last sip of your evening tea, pop your dishes into the dishwasher, and hit ‘start’ before heading to bed. Sound familiar? Well, my night routine enthusiasts, this seemingly harmless habit might need a serious reevaluation. Hold onto your socks because things are about to get spicy.
You Thought Your Night Routine Was Perfect—Think Again
It was just another night for Simone Patrice. Like many of us, she routinely ran her dishwasher before bed. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? Wrong. In the wee hours of 1:25 a.m., her smoke alarm went off. At 1:27 a.m., her entire home was filled with smoke. Picture it: You jump out of bed and realize your dishwasher has betrayed you—setting off a house fire while you were dreaming of beaches and sunsets.
The video Simone posted on TikTok (@simonepatrice_) captures her heart-wrenching ordeal. And if you think this is just a one-off event, think again. Dishwashers are the second most common cause of kitchen fires started by non-cooking appliances. Let that sink in.
“This is your sign”: Time to Rethink Your Dishwasher Habits
Simone’s dishwasher malfunctioned, leading to a house fire that rendered her home unlivable. She posted a text overlay urging everyone to heed her warning: “This is your sign not to run your dishwasher at night. Also, check your smoke detectors. Make sure they work. Like right now, go check.” If you’re reading this and ignoring that nagging voice telling you to get up and check your smoke detector, well, consider this an even bigger sign.
But Wait, It Gets Worse
Imagine waking up to a house full of smoke with barely enough time to grab your kids and run out. No cherished photos, no important documents—just your pajamas and a whole lot of panic. Simone elaborates on the dire aftermath: a soot-covered, unlivable house, a shaken family, and events that she describes as a lifetime of trauma compressed into weeks. The Daily Dot reached out to Simone, but let’s face it, no email could ever capture the full scope of her nightmare.
Dishing Out Some Hard Truths (Pun Intended)
Simone’s story was an eye-opener for many, prompting a wave of ‘Thank you’ and ‘Oh my God, I’ll never do that again’ comments. One person wrote, “Thanks to your video, I finally replaced my smoke detector batteries, which I was procrastinating for days. So, thank you.” Another added, “This breaks my heart and makes me so anxious. Left my dishwasher going right before I left for work with my fur baby in her kennel. Will never do that again.” The comments poured in, each one echoing the same message: never take appliance safety lightly.
Real Tips from Real People (Because Who Needs More Drama?)
Avoid overload: Give your dishwasher some breathing room. A loaded dishwasher is more prone to malfunction.
Keep it clean: Regularly check and clean the grease filter to prevent an unwanted grease fire.
Check those wires: Occasionally inspect the electrical wiring around your dishwasher. Nobody wants a hidden spark just waiting to ignite.
Wise Words from the Kitchen Fire Veterans
Others chimed in with practical advice: “Same with dryers,” wrote one person, “I have two puppies, and we have a house rule never to run the dryer when we’re not home.” Wisdom echoed in these comments stands testament to how a simple house rule can save lives. Another noted, “My mom always told me never to leave the house or go to sleep with an appliance running!”
And then there’s the final wisdom nugget: “My mom drilled it into my head as a kid to never leave the house when the dryer was running, and now, same with the dishwasher.” If Mom insists, maybe it’s time to listen.
So there you have it, folks. The next time you’re tempted to run that dishwasher before bed, think twice. Your sleep cycle—and potentially your life—might just thank you for it. And hey, you could even use that time you’d spend washing dishes to double-check those smoke detectors. Because if there’s one appliance we should all be listening to, it’s the one screaming, “Get out, something’s on fire!”
