Viral air fryer cleaning hack could cost households hundreds in repairs

While cleaning hacks are meant to make your life easier, they could be doing more damage than good.

While cleaning is a chore that many of us detest, it is important to make sure the house is clean and tidy so you and your loved ones don’t end up getting sick. Even cleaning as you go can make a huge difference before tackling a bigger clean later in the week.

Now that we are done with the colder months, many people have wanted to give their home a refresh by undertaking the task of a spring clean. However, the motivation for this task can quickly turn into regret as the list of items and pieces of furniture to clean seems to be never ending.

With some of us also unsure on how to efficiently clean certain items, TikTok has become a reliable place for many of us to go to find cleaning hacks that will make our lives easier. With thousands of different cleaning accounts on the platform, it is very easy for users to find new ways to clean their home.

However, homeowners should be warned that some of these cleaning tricks could actually be doing more harm than good. When used on appliances such as air fryers, they could be causing internal damage that could cost hundreds of pounds to fix.

Sam Carter, radiator and appliance expert at Appliances Direct, warns: “We’re seeing a surge in ‘hack-style’ cleaning content that prioritises visual results over long-term appliance care. The problem is that many of these trends ignore how appliances are actually engineered to function, particularly when it comes to heat, moisture, and chemical compatibility.”

Carter urges households not to try the “self-cleaning” air fryer hack. This trick involves filling the basket with soapy water and placing this in an air fryer to run for a selected amount of time. While this sounds like a simple fix, adding water or soap to electrical appliances in ways they weren’t designed for can cause internal damage.

First the water in the basket could easily end up reaching critical components in the air fryer, such as the heating element or the fan.

Carter also added: “Beyond the immediate safety risk, steam and soap residue can damage internal parts and significantly shorten the lifespan of the appliance.

“It may look like a quick cleaning shortcut, but it often leads to avoidable breakdowns. Air fryers aren’t usually worth replacing.

“The potential cost of attempting this air fryer hack can soon mount up, with replacement often the only option. Most air fryers cost between £50 and £300 depending on the model.”

Therefore, homeowners are advised to stick to regularly cleaning their air fryer baskets with water and soap before leaving them out to dry or wiping them down. Only once the basket is fully dry can it safely go back in the air fryer.

Air fryers have become widely popular over the past few years due to its appliance to cook different foods at once at different temperatures to provide a toasty and delicious meal.

With a variety of air fryers on the market, from top branded models to budget friendly alternatives, the majority of households are likely to have this device in their kitchen.

Along with trying out new cleaning hacks on the device, many people look for ways to remove cleaning as much as possible. One hack includes adding baking paper to the basket to help trap any oil or grease while cooking.

The expert is also urging households to avoid the ketchup and foil hack for their radiators as this could end up worsening any corrosion, as well as putting lemon in their dishwashers as repeated use inside can gradually degrade rubber seals and dull internal finishes.