I turn mine off when I'm not going to ge using it for a while (not just to iron and get back to sewing, off while making and eating meals). I also unplug it. It is on a surge protector, but I have had a surge protector (on my PC) die on me in a power surge. I rather take the time to unplug it and save my machine than to take the chance that the machine will get zapped and I will be without it for a while.