Whirlpool is recalling 519,000 Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines.
There have been reports of 79 fires and 10 injuries dating back to November 2016. The fires are believed to have been caused by a design fault in the door lock safety system of certain machines.
In response, Whirlpool have issued a recall of 20% of the Hotpoint and Indesit models manufactured between October 2014 - February 2018.
Is My Washing Machine Affected?
If this is the first time you've heard this news, you're probably wondering if your machine is affected.
To check if your machine is safe, Whirlpool has set up an online form. You need enter the number of your washing machine (found on the back) and it will tell you if your washer has the design fault.
You can find the form here.
Alternatively, you can call their free helpline on 0800 316 1442
What happens next? Can I use my machine?!
The "official" recall begins in early January. Whirlpool's Vice-President, Jeff Noel, said in this video that one of two things will happen.
1. Whirlpool will come and replace your machine with a brand new appliance - free of charge.
or:
2. They'll send an engineer to your home to fix and remove the safety issue
Until then, VP Jeff says that you should unplug the machine and stop using it.
However, he does say you can keep using the machine ONLY if you use cold water cycles of 20-degrees or lower. That's because the dangerous heating element isn't activated at low temperatures.
This might get you out of a tight spot over the busy Christmas / New Year period.
Personally, if my machine were affected I wouldn't leave the house when it was running (and check the smoke alarms have batteries which is always a good idea).
What's Next For Whirlpool?
Millions of UK homes have either a Whirlpool, Hotpoint or Indesit washing machine.
Whirlpool say that the design fault happened before they took over the two other brands. That is scant consolation, especially as 500,000 of their tumble dryers were recalled earlier this year - again for fire risks.
After that recall, parliament launched an official inquiry and found Whirlpool had "failed it's customers". The company was then forced to meet with MPs and apologise face-to-face with people whose homes had caught fire.
The popular consumer magazine Which has also said:
"We have been extremely concerned with the handling of the recalls. This is a company in the past that have silenced consumers with non-disclosure agreements to stop them telling their stories about the damage these unsafe products have done to their homes."
Whirlpool say they will be providing updates on this situation over the next few weeks.
In the meantime, here's an ITV news report on the recall.
Check out our Washing Machine Buyers Guide to find the best washing machines that are not affected by this recall.