Woman ‘lucky to be alive’ after her unplugged electric toothbrush exploded

A 33-year-old woman says she feels fortunate to still be alive after her electric toothbrush allegedly exploded and started a fire while she was asleep.

Charlotte Bowers, who lives in Manchester, said the incident happened in February 2026 after she had owned the Oral B toothbrush for about eight months without any problems. According to Bowers, the device suddenly combusted overnight inside her bathroom.

She said the flames were stopped from spreading by the metal frame around her bathroom mirror, which she believes prevented the fire from becoming much worse. Bowers said that without that barrier, the fire could have spread throughout the home she shares with her partner.

Bowers said the experience left her shaken and has convinced her never to use an electric toothbrush again.

The toothbrush, an Oral B Cross Action model, had been purchased in May 2025. She said it had always worked normally and that there had been no warning signs before the incident occurred. The toothbrush was stored in a container above the sink, away from water, and was not connected to its charger at the time.

When Bowers entered the bathroom the following morning, she discovered that the toothbrush had exploded and burned during the night. She said the event triggered the home’s electrical system, cutting power, although she did not hear anything while she was asleep.

After the device ignited, flames moved up the wall but were stopped by the steel frame of the mirror. Bowers said she believes the mirror frame prevented the fire from spreading further into the house.

The fire also reached the bathroom’s extractor fan, destroying it. Smoke from the fire left heavy black soot throughout the bathroom, forcing Bowers and her partner to repaint the room. She said they spent about $267 on specialized paint to remove the smoke odor.

Bowers said she contacted Oral B about the incident and asked the company to reimburse the cost of the repairs. She said the company instead offered either $46 or a replacement toothbrush.

She called the offer insulting and said she only wants the company to cover the cost of repainting the bathroom.

An Oral B spokesperson responded by saying the company takes safety concerns seriously and understands how upsetting the situation would be. The spokesperson added that the exact cause of the fire has not been determined and stated that an unplugged cordless toothbrush does not contain enough energy to start a fire.