Whirlpool is recalling 11,000 washing machines sold in Ireland due to fire safety fears.
It affects certain appliances sold under the Hotpoint and Indesit brands which were made between October 2014 and February 2018.
Anyone who owns an appliance is being asked to immediately contact the company to see if their model is affected.
A flaw in the door-locking system has been identified, meaning machines could overheat and potentially catch fire.
The problem doesn't concern Whirlpool branded washing machines.
Whirlpool says it is working at full speed to build the "necessary infrastructure" so it an be ready to officially begin the recall in January.
To avoid any risks, consumers are advised to unplug and not use their machines.
If people do use their appliance, they are urged to only use cold water cycles of 20C or lower, which will significantly reduce the risk of fire.
The safety issue is associated with the machine's heating element, being activated during washing cycles above 20C.
Jeff Noel, Vice President of Whirlpool, said: “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and concern this may cause to our customers, particularly over the Christmas period, but we hope people will understand that we are taking action because people’s safety is our top priority.
“Preparing for a recall of this scale is a complex operation and we are working tirelessly to ensure we are ready to start offering replacements or repairs to our customers from early January.”
Mr Noel added: “This is an issue we inherited from buying Indesit Company, but as the new owner, it is our responsibility to keep our customers safe.
"We are recalling these products because it is the right thing to do for people’s safety and we will do whatever it takes to put the situation right for our customers.
“By taking actions like this, we are bringing the company we acquired in line with Whirlpool’s industry-leading global safety and quality standards.”
Affected customers will be offered the choice of either a free-of-charge like-for-like replacement washing machine, or a free-of-charge in-home repair of their existing appliance
People can check if there machine is affected here.
