Why you shouldn't leave your phone charger plugged in when not in use

Remember to unplug your charger when you're not using it. — Photography fcafotodigital/Getty Images/AFP Relaxnews

Whether out of habit or by accident, it's not uncommon to leave a smartphone charger plugged in when it's not in use. But it's a good idea to always unplug your charger after use, for both safety and to save money.

The first reason not to leave your charger plugged in when it's not in use is quite simply to avoid consuming power unnecessarily. Because even when it's not charging your smartphone, a plugged-in charger continues to consume electricity, up to 0.5W, as if it were 'on standby.' This usage will remain negligible on your electricity bill, since it shouldn't represent more than two or three euros (around RM9 to RM14) a year. However, multiplied by the number of chargers in your home (phones, tablets, computers, etc.), this can soon add up.