Fire service issues warning after viral air fryer cleaning hack causes house fire

Let's be honest here, most of us don't read the instruction manuals which come with appliances.

Instead, many of us prefer the approach of winging it because 'what's the worst that can happen'.

However, fire crews are warning against this exact behaviour, after a viral TikTok hack for cleaning air fryers caused someone's flat to go up in flames.

The warning comes from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service after responders were called out to a flat in Bournemouth after fire multiple alarms were set off.

According to the BBC, fire fighters on the scene discovered the blaze had been caused by someone attempting to clean an air fryer by filling it with soap and water before setting the appliance to steam clean.

The method of chucking some water and soap in your air fryer tray and turning it on can be traced back to several viral TikTok videos, as content creators plugged convenient ways to save time in your day-to-day life.

One video shared back in 2023 shows user @iricksnacks filling his air fryer with water and dish soap before leaving it to run for five minutes.

"I have no idea how safe this is, but my air fryer looks brand new," he added.

Unfortunately for the unnamed person in Bournemouth, they found out that it was, in fact, not very safe.

Fortunately, the fire had already been extinguished by the building's sprinkler system, but crews were keen to stress the importance of following the correct cleaning instructions from an appliance manufacturer instead of advice from a random person on social media.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's Safe & Well Manager Sarah Moore said: “We understand the cause of the fire was from an air fryer. The occupier had previously cleaned the appliance after seeing a cleaning hack online which resulted in the appliance sparking and catching alight.

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“Air fryers are a great way to cook in an energy-efficient way but, like all appliances, care should be taken to use them safely.

"The manufacturer’s advice for cleaning and maintenance should always be followed to reduce the risk of a fire.”

The fire service advised air fryer owners to unplug the device when not in use and to avoid cooking with it in a poorly ventilated area.

This isn't the first time we've been warned against cleaning our air fryers in such manner, with a Which? tech expert Andrew Laughlin calling the method: "The dumbest way to clean your air fryer and burn down your house."

"That TikTok hack where you try to air fry half a jug of soapy water is a surefire shortcut to a broken air fryer," he added, explaining that the method carries the risk of your appliance overheating or short-circuiting.

If you're still at a loss as to how you should be cleaning your air fryer, Laughlin recommended cleaning the basket in the sink after every use, the same way we do with all of our other pots.

And remember folks, it may have gone viral on TikTok but that doesn't mean it's safe to do at home.