I left mine on once - on the floor but 'standing up' and it was fine as it was fairly new at the time. However, and not to alarm you too much, once it was older and had prob had a few knows, one morning I was ironing and had a nylon dressing gown - big wide sleeves on. It suddenly went up in flames where the wire went into the back (this is over ten years ago), shrivelling the sleeve - luckly I got it off with minor burn. Since then, like a mad woman, I say out loud - " I am unplugging the iron and moving it away" Sounds mad but works as I have done it consciously and therefore remember. best of luck, think the newer models are all pretty good. Yes agreee a 3 min phone call is a bit different to a one hour journey plus the negotiation with your bosses...