A fire department in England has issued a warning after a house fire was reportedly caused by a TikTok air fryer cleaning “hack.”
Air fryers have exploded in popularity over the last few years, largely thanks to easy-to-make recipes that have gone viral across social media.
Major companies have adopted air fryer cooking instructions as well, with Hot Pockets pushing users towards the cooking method after a massive change in its packaging.
On February 20, 2025, however, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service issued a warning about a viral way to clean your air fryer that they say led to a house catching on fire.
Authorities warn against air fryer cleaning hack
According to the BBC, the fire and rescue service sent multiple trucks to a house because the fire alarms were going off. They added that after arriving, they found the air fryer’s drawers had been filled with soap and water.
Luckily, the building’s sprinkler system had put out the fire before they arrived at the location.
After the fire, authorities issued a warning against the cleaning hack – making it clear that you should only clean your air fryer the way the manufacturer says you should.
The air fryer cleaning hack has made its way around social media for years, with one user back in 2023 sharing that they found it posted on Instagram and decided to try it.
In the video, Iricksnacks puts water and dish soap into the bowl before running the appliance for five minutes. He added: “I have no idea how safe this is, but my air fryer looks brand new.”
Users flocked to the comments to share how they kept their air fryers clean, with some mentioning reusable liners and others emphasizing how it needs to be washed after every use.
Back in January, an expert went viral after issuing a warning against another viral TikTok hack that involves putting a bag of warm water on your car’s windshield to defrost it.