# Why don't irons have an on/off switch?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-irons-have-an-on-off-switch/87245>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 13, 2001, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-irons-have-an-on-off-switch/87245 "2001-10-13T12:56:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-irons-have-an-on-off-switch/87245/21 "2001-10-15T16:47:34Z")

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Being new to the US, I am surprised by the lack of a switch for every wall socket. I am used to pluging things in, then using the switch to let current into the applicance and if the appliance has a switch too, then put that on.

This has another advantage. Whenever you plug any appliance into a “live” wall socket, there are usually some sparks that are seen. This causes the voltage to spike up and down due to the uneven nature of the contact while plugging in. I think that have a switch on the wall beside a wall socket would make everything safer.

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**Author:** ![catmandu42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@catmandu42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catmandu42)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-irons-have-an-on-off-switch/87245/22 "2001-10-15T17:11:24Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ashtayk \*  
> \*\* I think that have a switch on the wall beside a wall socket would make everything safer. \*\*

Hey, come on! We just got changed over to polarized plugs, and now you want to give the contractors MORE money?? 🙂

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