The standard American household with 2.3 kids has everything on the counter near the toaster.
For the "oven" style toasters there's an significant chance that there's something made out of either paper or plastic atop the metal roof ready to melt as well.
> Also why not unplug it when done?
And plug it back in every morning? That'd be unnecessarily annoying.
I always, and have always, pulled my toaster out on to a clear portion of the counter before using it, to make sure nothing is too close when it operates.
> And plug it back in every morning? That'd be unnecessarily annoying.
Again, that's how I have always done it.
Growing up, both of these things were considered Toaster Safety 101.
(I don't get it - Every socket where I live has a built in switch)
There's no room for a switch on the receptacle, and North America has used the same plug arrangement since the 1910s (a ground prong was added later, but an ungrounded lamp from 1915 is still compatible with modern receptacles). Changing it now is not likely to happen. It is possible to buy a combination unit with a receptacle and a switch on a single yolk and wire it up so that the switch controls the receptacle, but I've never seen it done.
A lot less annoying than waking up to a 3-alarm fire methinks...
I still unplug kitchen stuff when not in use and it's been a long time since I was a kid in the 70's when stuff could (and probably would) "fail hard" and burn down your house.
Since it has not had the cord replaced I have a switch at the outlet to turn off the power.