Small appliances that spit boiling water are being recalled, what to stop using immediately

Small appliances that handle scalding water are supposed to make your life easier, not send you to the emergency room. Yet a wave of recalls and federal warnings now link everyday gadgets like kettles, coffee makers, and garment steamers to serious burn risks when hot water or steam suddenly erupts from the device. If you rely on compact tools to boil, brew, or steam, you need to know which ones to unplug immediately and how to check whether your own gear is part of a safety alert.

The danger is not abstract. Federal investigators have documented devices that spew boiling water when opened, eject hot liquid from nozzles, or leak scalding steam onto hands and faces. You can protect yourself by identifying the specific models under recall, understanding how these failures happen, and building a simple routine for checking new warnings before you click “buy” or pour your next cup.

Why “spitting” appliances are suddenly under scrutiny

When a small appliance “spits” boiling water, it usually means pressure or steam has built up in ways the design did not safely control. In practice, that can look like a car kettle that blasts steam when you twist the lid, a coffee maker that shoots hot water out of the brew head, or a handheld steamer that burps scalding droplets as you move it across fabric. The core problem is the same: hot liquid or vapor is escaping where your hands, wrists, or face are likely to be, turning a routine task into a burn hazard in a fraction of a second.

Regulators have started to focus on these failure modes because they are both predictable and preventable. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission tracks patterns in consumer complaints and injury reports, then uses that data to push companies into recalls or, when firms refuse, to issue blunt public warnings. You can see the breadth of these problems by scanning the federal recall database for small appliances that handle hot water or steam on the main recalls page, which now includes coffee makers, kettles, immersion heaters, and garment steamers that all share the same basic risk: uncontrolled release of heat where you least expect it.

Portable car kettles that can erupt in your hands

One of the clearest examples of this hazard involves portable car kettles that plug into a vehicle’s power outlet so you can heat water on the road. Federal safety officials have warned that some of these devices can unexpectedly spew steam or hot water when opened, creating a direct path to serious burns on your hands and forearms. In one formal alert, the hazard description explicitly notes that the car kettles can “unexpectedly spew steam or hot water when opened by a consumer” and that this defect can also burn consumers even when they are using the product as intended, underscoring how little margin for error exists once boiling water is under pressure inside a sealed container.

The warning singles out portable electric car kettles distributed by BLONGKY, including the BLONGKY Car Kettle identified as Car Kettle Model FCC390 Pro K-Taupe and K-White. In a separate section of the same notice, regulators describe the BLONGKY Car Kettle (Model FCC390 Pro K-Taupe) and BLONGKY Car Kettle (Model FCC390 Pro K-White) and reference a report of second degree burns linked to the product, which is why you are being told to stop using it immediately rather than simply “use with caution.” If you own a car kettle that looks similar, you should compare the branding and model information on the base or packaging to the details in the warning and treat any match as a reason to unplug it for good.

Immersion heaters and travel gadgets sold online

Travel-friendly immersion heaters and compact boiling gadgets have become popular because they slip easily into a suitcase and promise instant hot water in hotel rooms or dorms. The problem is that some of these devices are being imported without robust safety engineering or oversight, then sold through major online marketplaces where they can reach thousands of buyers before regulators catch up. When an immersion heater fails, it can overheat, ignite nearby materials, or cause water to boil violently around exposed metal elements, turning a mug or sink into a burn trap.

Federal officials have highlighted this risk in a warning about Laboomkey electric immersion water heaters sold on Amazon. In that notice, the agency explains that Changsha Yiruituo Trade Co, Ltd, of China imports the product and has been unwilling to conduct a recall, which is why the CPSC is using its own authority to tell you to stop using the heaters immediately due to fire and burn hazards and the risk of serious injury and death. Because these items are often bought through large platforms, it is worth checking your past orders on sites like Amazon and searching your email receipts for “immersion heater” or “Laboomkey” so you can identify and discard any affected devices before they fail in your hands.

Countertop kettles and coffee makers that spew hot water

Even familiar countertop brands are not immune from design flaws that let boiling water escape in dangerous ways. Compact kettles and single serve coffee makers concentrate heat in small chambers, and if lids, infusers, or brew heads do not seal and vent properly, the result can be a sudden gush of scalding liquid. For you, that might mean a splash across the back of your hand as you reach for the handle or a jet of water that shoots out toward your torso when you lift a lid.

One recall involves petite tea kettles sold under the Wolfgang Puck name, where the kettle’s infuser basket lid can come loose during use and allow hot water to spill. The official Recall Details and Description explain that this recall covers Wolfgang Puck branded petite tea kettles sold with a removable tea infuser basket, and that the infuser basket lid can fall into the kettle, causing hot water to splash or spill. Separately, discount grocer ALDI has faced scrutiny over compact brewers, with legal analysis describing how ALDI Recalls Ambiana Single, Serve Coffee Makers Due To Burn Hazard and how those Ambiana units have been linked to defective coffee maker lawsuits, reinforcing that even small countertop appliances can pose outsized risks when hot water is not properly contained.

Garment and handheld steamers that can burn skin

Garment steamers are marketed as gentler alternatives to irons, but they still rely on boiling water and pressurized steam that can cause severe burns if it escapes unexpectedly. When a steamer leaks at the seams, spits from the nozzle, or tips over while still under pressure, your hands, thighs, or feet can be directly in the path of scalding vapor. The compact size of many handheld models makes it easy to underestimate how much heat they generate and how quickly a malfunction can injure you.

Regulators have ordered recalls for several steamer lines after reports of serious injuries. One major action targets VEVOR Garment Steamers, with Recall Details and Description explaining that Sanven Technology is recalling VEVOR Garment Steamers due to a risk of serious injury from burn hazards, and outlining both the remedy and the incidents and injuries reported. Another recall covers CasaClean Handheld Steamers sold on HSN, where the official notice specifies that the recall involves CasaClean Handheld Steamers with model number 958 and that these units were sold for about $40. A broadcast segment on the same issue notes that more than 20,000 Casa Clean handheld steamers are under recall because people can suffer serious burns, which gives you a sense of how many households might still have one tucked in a closet.

Single serve coffee makers that spray instead of pour

Single serve brewers are particularly prone to “spitting” problems because they force hot water through small channels at high pressure. If a seal fails or a pod is misaligned, that pressure can redirect boiling water out of the machine and onto your hands or countertop. Compact designs also mean your fingers are often close to the brew head when you insert or remove pods, so any unexpected spray can hit skin before you have time to react.

ALDI’s Ambiano line illustrates how quickly these issues can scale. A federal recall notice explains that Recall Details and Description for the Ambiano Single Serve Coffee Maker cover units sold in specific colors and date ranges, and that the coffee maker can expel hot water during use, posing a burn hazard. A separate industry report notes that Grocer Aldi Recalling 28K Coffee Makers Due to Hot Water Spews describes how about 28,000 Keurig compatible machines were pulled back because hot water could spew from the top. Broader coverage of Coffee Maker Recalls That Impacted Millions points out that brands like Bella and Bella Kitchenwa have also faced recalls when espresso machines posed burn risks to anyone in the cooker’s vicinity, reinforcing that you should treat any sign of leaking or spraying from your brewer as a red flag, not a quirk.

Mini steamers and HSN exclusives you should stop using

Some of the most problematic products are niche gadgets that do not have the name recognition of big appliance brands but still reach large audiences through televised shopping channels and online marketplaces. Mini steamers marketed for travel or quick touch ups fall into this category, as do exclusive models sold through home shopping networks that may not show up in big box stores. Because you are less likely to see these products in person before buying, you may rely heavily on marketing claims that gloss over safety shortcomings.

Federal investigators have issued a blunt warning about Uomeod Mini Steamers sold on Amazon, urging you to stop using them immediately due to burn hazards. The alert includes photos of Uomeod Mini Steamers and the Uomeod Mini Steamer label, and notes that the Uomeod Mini Ste units were sold in black, white, and rose gold. On the televised retail side, a separate recall notice explains that Synergy Housewares recalls Wolfgang Puck petite tea kettles due to burn hazard; sold on HSN, while a local news segment warns that Recall alert: Steamers sold on HSN could burn users. If you have purchased compact steamers or kettles through HSN or similar channels, you should cross check the product names and model numbers against these notices before your next use.

How to check if your appliance is part of a recall

To figure out whether your own kettle, coffee maker, or steamer is affected, you need two pieces of information: the exact product name and the model number. These details are usually printed on a label on the bottom or back of the appliance, sometimes alongside a manufacturing date code. Once you have them, you can search the federal database or targeted news coverage to see if your device matches any recall or warning.

The CPSC maintains a searchable list of product recalls where you can plug in brand names, model numbers, or product categories to see if your item appears. For small appliances, start by visiting the main CPSC recalls database and filtering by “Household” or “Kitchen” categories, then refine your search. If you prefer a broader sweep, you can also use a shopping focused search like Google product search to look up your model and see whether recall information appears alongside listings. For some retailers, dedicated recall pages, such as a home goods chain that explains that REMEDY You can get a full refund or replacement, will also spell out what you are entitled to if your item is affected.

What to do if your device is recalled or looks unsafe

If you discover that your appliance is part of a recall or covered by a federal warning, the first step is to stop using it immediately, even if it has never misbehaved in your kitchen. Unplug the device, move it away from children, and resist the temptation to “just finish this one cup” before you act. Continuing to use a recalled product after you know about the risk can turn a preventable injury into a foreseeable one.

Next, follow the instructions in the recall notice to secure your remedy. Many alerts will direct you to contact the manufacturer or retailer for a refund, replacement, or repair kit. Consumer guidance from the CPSC explains that you should Call the company at the toll free number listed in the recall and use the CPSC Consu contact information on more recent recalls if you have questions. Legal guidance for parents dealing with recalled cribs offers a useful template for any product: it advises you to Check the recall details carefully, Look up the model on the CPSC Consumer Product Saf site, and confirm that your exact unit is included before you discard or return it. That same discipline applies to kettles and coffee makers, where small differences in model numbers can change whether you qualify for a remedy.

Why these recalls matter beyond your kitchen

Burn hazards from small appliances are not limited to kettles and coffee makers, and the pattern of recalls tells you something important about how consumer safety works. When hundreds of thousands of glitter filled iPhone cases were pulled from the market after causing chemical burns, the recall notice emphasized that Model numbers, descriptions and photos of the cases being recalled were available at the CPSC website. The same approach is now being used for hot water appliances, where detailed photos and model lists help you match your product to the recall and avoid confusion.

Retailers are also being pushed to communicate more clearly when they pull dangerous items. Coverage of a steamer recall notes that an evaluation done by CPSC found that hot water could eject from the nozzle if the product was overfilled, and that the agency told consumers to stop using the product. A related report explains that On Monday, Walmart posted a notice stating that the United States Consumer Product Safety Commi had found that the steamer could eject, spill, or leak hot water. When you see that level of specificity, it is a signal that regulators have identified a clear mechanism of harm and that you should treat the warning as urgent, not optional.

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*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.