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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Almost burned my house down, such an idiot !
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04/20/2008 11:15:03 AM · #1
I've been using a Nike headband, cotton I think, to keep the earbuds in my ears while working out on my rowing machine. The headband was still damp this morning, so I rinsed it with soap & water and rung it out as much as possible.

I decided it would be expedient to put it in the microwave on top of a few folded paper towels while I stretched before rowing. I set the microwave to ten minutes and went into the next room to stretch. Eventually, my wife asked me what was in the microwave, as she smelled something burning. I went to check it out and the kitchen was full of smoke and the microwave was full of rotating flames. I turned it off, grabbed some tongs from the counter and transfered the flaming crap to the sink to put it out under the tap.

INCREDIBLY not a single damn smoke detector in the house was triggered!!! The smoke was so thick it was difficult to breathe in the kitchen. We've got three smoke detectors in the house, all of which had new batteries put in for daylight savings time and the buttons pressed to test. Apparently the button test isn't worth a crap.

Anyway. There was some heat and smoke damage to some stuff on top of the microwave, which luckily didn't reach the kindling temperature and ignite itself, and I was able to clean the sooty residue off the recessed shelf area where the microwave sits.

Now I get to waste some time & money getting a new microwave (this one's a writeoff). But holy crap, I'm getting four new smoke detectors, one which will go in the kitchen, and I'm going to test them all with some real smoke.

===================

I'm left wondering how the fire could have started. I thought microwaves heated up moisture, and once the moisture was gone there'd be nothing left to heat up. WTF?
04/20/2008 11:15:38 AM · #2
10 minutes????????? You are crazy!
04/20/2008 11:17:32 AM · #3
10 minutes is too long and CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS....they are not working...oh I see that is currently on your "to do" list !

Message edited by author 2008-04-20 11:18:28.
04/20/2008 11:18:15 AM · #4
Drying fabrics in the microwave = crazy

Crazy = Slippy

OK, this is making sense now.

04/20/2008 11:19:08 AM · #5
;) One of those "...." moments. Glad everything's ok....sort of.

My darn smoke detector goes off everytime I use my oven. What's that tell you about my cooking? Actually, the seal needs replaced again.
04/20/2008 11:19:26 AM · #6
Glad to hear you got it under control. Makes me think a good way to test the detectors might be with some matches instead. As for the fire in the microwave, I would guess that some parts of the headband dried out before other parts and those dry parts spontaneously combusted, but that's just a guess of course.

So, did you take a picture? ;)
04/20/2008 11:27:02 AM · #7
Originally posted by JMart:

...snip...So, did you take a picture? ;)

I'm too afraid of getting my butt kicked by the wife. She pissed enough at me right now for almost burning down the house. It turns out that the doily that was on top of the microwave that got burned was made by her grandma. :-(
04/20/2008 11:36:55 AM · #8
TEN MINUTES?? Such an idiot! ;-) It sounds like a blessing in disguise though, revealing that your smoke detectors are not effective.

Some years back when I was working in IT, I was working through the night (as I often did) and I stuck a dish of leftover ravioli in the microwave way on the other side of the office at about 3am and accidentally set it for 20min instead of 2min and I completely forgot about it for about an hour. By the time I stepped out of my office the whol floor of the building was filled with thick smoke. No sprinklers went off but the fire department showed up and I had some 'splainin to do. :(

Glad it wasn't worse, Slip.

...TEN MINUTES??
04/20/2008 11:39:23 AM · #9
It isn't generally a good idea to test a smoke detector with real smoke. Some soot will be deposited in the detection chamber and make false alarms very likely. It also isn't a great idea to put a detector in the kitchen for the same reason. In fact, some local codes prohibit this.

There are two kinds of smoke detectors: optical and ionization; they detect different kinds of smoke. The high end models have both kinds. So do a bit of research before replacing your smoke detectors to see what best meets your needs (and budget).
04/20/2008 11:43:13 AM · #10
Lets see,....

logically, once the water/moisture has been heated out of the fabric, the microwave energy has only one thing to heat up....the fabric.

Once the fabric was heated, it kept heating, and heating, reaching it's ignition point...

...once ignited, one flame would start a chain reaction to the rest of the head band...

....blah, blah, blah...

....glad all is well.
04/20/2008 11:46:48 AM · #11
Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by JMart:

...snip...So, did you take a picture? ;)

I'm too afraid of getting my butt kicked by the wife. She pissed enough at me right now for almost burning down the house. It turns out that the doily that was on top of the microwave that got burned was made by her grandma. :-(

Oh, you are indeed up the creek :o Good luck with that.
04/20/2008 11:48:20 AM · #12
Originally posted by dr rick:

It isn't generally a good idea to test a smoke detector with real smoke. Some soot will be deposited in the detection chamber and make false alarms very likely. It also isn't a great idea to put a detector in the kitchen for the same reason. In fact, some local codes prohibit this.

There are two kinds of smoke detectors: optical and ionization; they detect different kinds of smoke. The high end models have both kinds. So do a bit of research before replacing your smoke detectors to see what best meets your needs (and budget).


Thanks doc, that's some useful information.
04/20/2008 11:50:46 AM · #13
Originally posted by Strikeslip:

I'm left wondering how the fire could have started. I thought microwaves heated up moisture, and once the moisture was gone there'd be nothing left to heat up. WTF?


One theory: Microwaves excite any polarized molecules. Water is certainly polarized, but so is oil and other fats. And your headband undoubtedly has soaked up oils during normal use. Washing will remove some, but not all of them; there were plenty left for the microwave to heat up.
04/20/2008 11:55:05 AM · #14
Wheres that slapping head icon when you need it!!!!

Glad you are okay Slip adn the family is safe. Mothers doily huh, you are in so much dog poo right now. Jewlery usually works in these cases!!!

D not wrap up the new fire alarms and give the to your wife, then you really will have the slapping head icon on your head!!!

04/20/2008 12:00:59 PM · #15
Originally posted by dr rick:

One theory: Microwaves excite any polarized molecules. Water is certainly polarized, but so is oil and other fats. And your headband undoubtedly has soaked up oils during normal use. Washing will remove some, but not all of them; there were plenty left for the microwave to heat up.

WARNING: Slippy oil is highly flammable!
04/20/2008 12:14:14 PM · #16
didn't have time to read the whole thread, But suggest you do what nascar drivers do, Use Duct Tape to hold your buds in place. I believe that will keep your house safe. Unless ofcourse you try to dry wet duct tape in the microwave.
04/20/2008 02:56:31 PM · #17
Whilst googling, I found an answer to the eternal question of nuking clothing that I'm sure MUST have been posted by Slippy himself;

"Of course. For an even faster dry put the clothes and the microwave in the tumble drier. A couple of pints of petrol thrown in for good measure would also help. You can dry the cat at the same time."
04/20/2008 02:57:50 PM · #18
The squirrels did it, they are extracting their revenge.

Thank goodness no one was hurt. Next time, use the dryer, not the microwave.
04/20/2008 03:02:16 PM · #19
Perhaps a user name change is in order....

"Smokeslip" ;)

10 minutes?????
04/20/2008 03:09:07 PM · #20
Pics?

;-)
04/20/2008 03:12:19 PM · #21
at least you didn't put your cat in there :0P

it's gonna cost more but you should look into the smoke detectors that are all connected. They're much much better- in fact, it's code if you're doing any remodeling. (my hubby's an electrician...)
04/20/2008 03:13:47 PM · #22
Ah... the booklet with the NEW microwave says nylon can ignite, and also recycled paper towel due to metal flecks. :-/

I got three new smoke detectors with dual sensors, and one with a single sensor for the kitchen. RE post above about different detector tyes.

While I was at it I got a large-size extinguisher to put somewhere to compliment the mini extinguisher we already have in the kitchen.

I went on a Home Depot spree. :-/
04/20/2008 03:17:41 PM · #23
Originally posted by dr rick:


One theory: Microwaves excite any polarized molecules. Water is certainly polarized, but so is oil and other fats. And your headband undoubtedly has soaked up oils during normal use. Washing will remove some, but not all of them; there were plenty left for the microwave to heat up.


I do use the microwave to melt coconut oil bottle, but generally I go with 10 second increments to heat it up :)
04/20/2008 03:27:51 PM · #24
Not real surprised your smoke detector did not go off, those things are only there to let you know when dinner is done.... Years ago my brother had a house burn down and as the fire department was cleaning up his week old fire detector went off, during the fire not a peep.
04/20/2008 03:59:29 PM · #25
wow glad everything turned out ok.

It looks like I'm buying new detectors for my house (barely 4 years old) the next time I get back to KY. The one outside my wife's room kept doing a beep every few minutes, (strangly enough it happened the very weekend I have always been told to change the battery, when you change your clock for daylight savings). We got brand new batteries and changed it, but yesterday my daughter's boyfriend called and said my wife was not feeling well and was trying to sleep but the detector inside her room has started beeping. So he changed it's batter, but it wouldn't stop, then the one outside her room started doing it too. I told him to take both off the wall...I know not the best idea in the world...and I'll take care of them when I get home. I swear that house has bad electrical currents going through it...we blow light bulbs REALLY fast and now this, maybe I'll call an electrician while I'm there too.

by the way...I've used the microwave to crispen up dollar bills that won't go in a vending machines at work. I'll get the bill really wet (like it's gone through the wash in your pocket, then lay it flat between two papertowels and nuke it for about 15 seconds...slippy please note, that says "SECONDS" ;), adding more as needed. Usually they come out nice and crisp...I've even been known to iron the really used soft ones...light on the starch please.
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