It may seem harmless — even helpful — to hang a tea towel on your oven door for easy access while cooking. After all, it’s right there, within reach when you need to grab a hot pan or wipe your hands. But this common kitchen habit could be putting your home and family at risk .
In fact, placing a tea towel (or any fabric) on your oven door can lead to serious fire hazards , especially when the oven is in use. And the danger isn’t just theoretical — stories of kitchen fires starting from this exact mistake are more common than you might think.
Let’s explore why this simple act is actually a big no-no in the kitchen , what science says about it, and how you can stay safe without sacrificing convenience.
The Hidden Danger: How a Simple Tea Towel Can Start a Fire
Ovens can reach temperatures well over 300°F (150°C) — hot enough to ignite fabric in just a few minutes. Most tea towels are made from cotton or linen, both of which are flammable materials .
When placed near or on an oven door during baking or roasting:
- The heat radiating from the oven slowly dries out the fabric.
- Once dry, the fibers become highly flammable .
- If the towel brushes against a heating element, glass door, or even the residual heat from the oven window, it can catch fire quickly .
Even if your oven doesn’t feel extremely hot to the touch, the cumulative heat exposure can still be enough to start a fire.
Real-Life Examples: Fires That Started This Way
