Life hacks can look exciting, and leave us wanting to try to make our lives a little bit easier by following them.
When Suzanne Dale, from Sale, Greater Manchester, saw an opportunity to make a quick and easy cheese on toast snack, she seized it.
The Facebook post advised readers to turn their toasters onto one side, and slot their cheese-topped bread in sideways.
As she tried this, her toaster burst into flames, and she had to quickly cast it out of the window so as not to start a fire in the house.
It took around 20 minutes until the fire was out and hours for the smoke to clear from Suzanne’s home.
She snapped a photograph of the damage and shared it on Facebook with the message “Don’t try this at home!”
The unfortunate woman told the Manchester Evening News: “I just thought ‘oh I’ll try that’. I don’t know why, I have griddles and everything to make cheese on toast.
“I thought it might be a faster way of making cheese on toast.
“There has since been 2,000 shares and so many comments. It is probably a good thing, if I was stupid enough to do it someone else will be.
“Lots of people said ‘I was going to try this I thought it was a good idea.”
She added: “Luckily I live in a house and have a garden, but if it was anyone living in a flat or somebody who was less agile who couldn’t get out as quick, they were real flames, it could be dangerous.
“I don’t want anybody to be doing that in a flat or anyone who could not get out quick.
“I didn’t want to throw water on it, there was so much smoke going off. Hopefully it will save somebody doing it.”
The Greater Manchester Fire Service warned people not to follow her example.
A spokesman said: “We recommend people always take care and pay attention to anything they are cooking in the kitchen.
“Only use kitchen appliances in accordance of manufacturers instructions.
“Trying to make cheese and toast in a toaster is an extremely bad idea and can cause a devastating fire in the kitchen.
“Make sure any toaster is clear of cupboard doors and other appliances in the kitchen.”
The London Fire Brigade has spoken out about this issue before.
After Jamie Oliver recommended in a Guardian column to make cheese on toast by turning a toaster on its side, they were quick to warn people not to do this.
“Toasters are not designed to be put on their side and used to grill cheese on toast,” crew manager Nick Morley told the BBC.
“Not only does it generate heat onto the work surface as we saw at this incident but the dry leftover crumbs from the bottom of the toaster can get onto the hot elements and ignite.
“I never thought I’d have to give this advice as it’s painfully obvious but if you want cheese on toast use a grill not a toaster.”
Life hacks, which are meant to help make everyday tasks more smooth and efficient, can often be revelatory. Like this method for peeling an orange.
The Telegraph
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