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That $50 KitchenAid mixer I found at a garage sale almost started a fire yesterday when the motor started smoking halfway through a batch of cookies.
Opened it up and found 20 years of caked on grease and a frayed wire that could have gone up any minute, so seriously check any secondhand appliances before you crank them up - has anyone else had a close call with used gear?
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bell.felix1d ago
Honestly, "20 years of caked on grease" is exactly what I found in a thrift store stand mixer I grabbed a while back. I'd say before you even plug anything in, spray some electrical contact cleaner on the plug and let it dry. Then take the back off and check for any dust bunnies near the motor vents, they love to catch fire. Also wiggle the cord where it meets the mixer body, if it feels loose or the insulation is cracked, cut that section off and replace the plug end. It's a pain but way cheaper than burning down your kitchen.
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leodavis1d ago
Hold up, gotta push back a little on one thing. Spraying contact cleaner on the plug itself before plugging it in is a bad idea. That stuff is flammable until it fully evaporates, and if you're not letting it sit for like 15 minutes at least, you can arc right inside the outlet. Safer move is to just use a dry cloth or a little rubbing alcohol on a q-tip for the prongs. The rest of your advice is solid though, especially checking that cord and the motor vents. Grease loves to collect dust and that's how you get a fire hazard real quick.
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hannahsingh1d ago
Wait, frayed wire AND twenty years of grease?? That's terrifying, I would have straight up fainted if I saw that. Good thing you caught it before the whole batch went up in flames.
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