It starts with an innocent habit — a busy evening in the kitchen, a pot bubbling over, and a quick toss of a tea towel onto the oven handle. It feels practical, even efficient. I used to do it all the time, until one close call made me rethink it completely. What looks harmless can quietly become a serious fire risk. As the oven heats a pie or roast, that towel absorbs warmth, inching toward ignition without you even noticing.
The danger often creeps in during those small, distracted moments — when you step away to answer a call or fold laundry. A friend of mine learned this the hard way when she left a damp towel draped over the handle while baking cookies. Minutes later, she returned to find it singed and melted onto the metal. Thankfully, she caught it in time, but the outcome could have been far worse. Beyond fire hazards, this habit can also interfere with how your oven works. A hanging towel can slightly break the door’s seal, leading to uneven heating and disappointing results.
That small gap may seem insignificant, yet it can cause one side of your roast to burn while the other remains underdone. I experienced this myself — puzzled by unevenly cooked vegetables until I realized the towel was the culprit. The risks multiply in homes with children or pets; a curious tug could open the hot oven, or a brush of fur could pull the towel loose, toppling cookware or exposing hot surfaces.
The solution couldn’t be simpler: keep towels clear of heat sources. Use a wall hook, a drawer handle, or a proper towel rack. If you like easy access, choose an apron with a built-in towel loop. These small changes can make a big difference — preventing fires, protecting little hands and paws, and keeping your kitchen both safe and smoothly running.