I just hit the switch on the power cord, but, now I quess i will unplug that. thanks for the advice.

I have my sewing machine, iron and a nearby lamp on a surge protector, and I automatically shut it off when I'm not using them. Is that enough?

In fact, practically everything in this house is on a surge protector. We were hit by lightening a few years back, and even though the house was properly grounded, the lightening was so close, it blackened an outside and inside wall, blew a wall lamp off the wall, and fried every electronic we had plugged in, even if it wasn't on, except for a couple things like the fridge and range which had built in surge protectors. And I mean every electronic! My husband had a home office, and that meant his fax, copier, scanner, and 2 computer were history. We lost every TV in the house, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Even the blow dryer for my hair blew up. You can see why we use surge protectors now!

I remember when it hit. This shock of electricity hit me, knocked me down, and my hair stood on end. Scared the heck out of the dog. It wasn't funny. And I never leave the house with anything running: dryer, dishwasher, TV, nothing.

If anyone knows if turning off a surge protector would prevent a fire, I'd love to know.

My husband and GS think I'm nuts because I raise such a fit if they leave the toaster plugged in. Always inplug my machines also. and never leave the iron plugged in.
I wish they where her tonight to read this post, LOL.

If you install GFI electrical sockets in your home on the things that you have plugged in all the time like toasters, lamps and what not then you can get by with leaving everything plugged in. But they are pricy and I do have them in my home. They have the little reset buttons on the socket so you can test the surge protector and reset it if it trips.

Billy

I had never thought of that. I never leave small appliances plugged in or the dryer running when I leave. My sewing machine is on a surge protector, but I don't always turn it off unless there's a storm. I'll remember to unplug it from now on. :)

My DD is very cautious about electric, because she does not want to have to pay large bills : ). So the electric company told her to unplug anything she was not using. Well in some cases this is a good idea, however....she even unplugged her large screen TV. When the repair man was there last week, well, he suggested she not unplug it every night, and to leave it in. Eventdently it is very hard on the power supplies turning them off and on. Anyway kinda off subject, but I never unplug my sewing machine...I don't unplug anything, maybe I should think about doing that on some things.

I always unplug my machine after using it. Like unplugging the iron. Just a habit I got into.

I unplug my sewing machines, iron and computers when they are not in use. Had a lightening strike when I lived in Calif that hit a phone pole across the street, came right down the line and fried the modem.

Thanks. Quality info.

I always unplug mine completely. From past experience this summer do not assume that leaving anything plugged into a surge protector and then shitting off the protector will do the job.
I did this during Hurricane Irene this summer and when we had a power surge the surge protectors did not do the job that I assumed they would. Needless to say we lost a lot of electronics in the house. I did however have my machines and computers completely unplugged and they did survive.
Thought you might want to know this as I had to learn the hard way