⚡ Things You Should Never Plug Into a Power Strip
A power strip is convenient for low-power electronics, but it isn’t a substitute for a wall outlet. The biggest concern is overloading the strip or the circuit, which can cause overheating and fire.
🚫 1. Space heaters
Never plug an electric space heater into a power strip or extension cord. Plug it directly into a wall outlet. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission specifically warns that power strips can overload and cause fires.
🚫 2. Electric blankets
Electrical safety guidance also recommends plugging electric blankets directly into a wall outlet, rather than a power strip or extension cord.
🚫 3. High-power heating appliances
Be especially cautious with appliances such as:
- Portable heaters
- Hot plates
- Toasters
- Electric kettles
- Large countertop cooking appliances
The issue isn’t simply the appliance’s name—it’s how much current it draws and whether the strip and circuit are rated for it.
🚫 4. Don’t daisy-chain power strips
Never plug one power strip into another or connect multiple extension cords together. This can overload the electrical system and create a fire hazard.
⚠️ What about microwaves, refrigerators and air conditioners?
These appliances often have high startup or operating loads, so the safest approach is generally to plug them directly into a properly installed wall receptacle and follow the manufacturer’s instructions rather than using a generic power strip.
🔥 Check your power strip, too
A power strip isn’t automatically safe just because it has many outlets. In 2026, the CPSC recalled certain CCCEI power strips because they lacked supplementary overcurrent protection and posed a fire hazard if overloaded
