Why should you keep dish towels, pot holders, and paper towels away from the stove?

• A. They look cluttered near the stove.
• B. You might have left a burner on by accident, and heat could ignite combustibles near or on the stove or oven.
• C. They take up too much space.
• D. They attract pests.

Answer: (B)

Heat from the stove or oven can ignite fabrics and paper, so keeping dish towels, pot holders, and paper towels away from the cooking area reduces the risk of fire. These items are easily combustible, and if a burner is accidentally left on or something overheats, they can catch fire quickly and fuel flames that spread to cookware or surfaces. The key safety idea is to minimize contact between heat sources and anything that can burn. Clutter, space, or pests aren’t the primary fire hazards in this scenario, whereas proximity to heat is. A good practice is to store these items away from the stove and keep towels and paper towels in a safe, designated spot, using pot holders near the stove only as needed and away from open flames.