It starts innocently enough. You’re cooking, the kitchen is buzzing, and a pot starts to boil over. Without thinking, you toss a tea towel on the oven door handle. It feels convenient — easy to grab when needed. I used to do the same, until one close call changed everything. What seems harmless can actually be dangerous. Imagine the oven heating a pie or roast while that towel slowly warms. Fabric and heat don’t mix well.
It might not ignite immediately, but it can. Step away for just a moment — take a call or check the laundry — and things can turn dangerous fast. A friend of mine learned this firsthand. She left a damp towel hanging while baking cookies. When she returned, it was singed and stuck to the handle. Luckily, there was no fire — but it could have ended differently. Hanging a towel there can also affect oven performance. It can break the door’s seal, causing uneven heating and poor results.
That small gap might not seem like much, but it can make one side of a dish undercooked while the other burns. I once wondered why my roasted vegetables turned out uneven — until I realized the towel was the problem. The risk is even greater with children or pets around. A child tugging the towel could open a hot oven, and a pet brushing past might knock something over.
The fix is simple: keep towels away from heat. Use a wall hook, drawer handle, or towel rack. If you like having one nearby, choose an apron with a towel loop. Small changes like this can prevent accidents, fires, and ruined meals — keeping your kitchen safe, efficient, and family-friendly.