Can I Put Soap And Water In Air Fryer? | Safe Cleaning

If you have ever wondered, “can i put soap and water in air fryer?” you are far from alone. Social media hacks make it look easy: fill the basket with warm water, add a squeeze of dish soap, turn the machine on, and let it “self-clean.” It looks satisfying on video, but it is not how air fryers are built to work.

Air fryers move very hot air around electrical parts in a tight space. When you add standing water and suds where the heater and fan live, you bring heat, electricity, and liquid together. That combination can damage parts inside the unit, spread detergent residue, and even raise a shock or fire risk.

The good news: you can use soap and water safely on the parts that are meant to be washed, and you can keep your air fryer fresh without risky tricks. The rest of this article breaks that down step by step so you know exactly where water belongs, where it does not, and how to build a simple cleaning routine that fits your cooking habits.

Why People Ask About Soap And Water In Air Fryers

The question usually comes up for one of three reasons. First, the basket and drawer collect sticky grease fast, so scrubbing them in the sink with dish soap and hot water feels natural. Second, the inside walls and heating element start to look stained after a run of chicken wings or bacon. Third, viral clips promise an easy fix by “boiling” soapy water inside the drawer.

Those clips often skip important details: the manual usually warns against putting liquid in the cooking cavity, and against immersing the main body in water. Many guides from manufacturers say the basket, drawer, or crisper plate can sit in warm, soapy water in the sink, while the body only gets a damp cloth.

To make sense of it all, it helps to sort the air fryer into sections. Some parts love a bubble bath; others should never see more than a barely damp cloth.

Air Fryer Part	Soap And Water?	Safe Cleaning Method
Removable Basket	Yes, in the sink	Hand wash with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft sponge; dry fully.
Removable Drawer/Pan	Yes, in the sink	Soak in hot, soapy water to loosen grease, then wipe with non-scratch sponge.
Crisper Plate/Tray	Yes, in the sink	Lift out, scrub around holes with a soft brush and soapy water, rinse and dry.
Racks/Skewers	Yes, in the sink	Wash like other metal cookware with dish soap and warm water.
Silicone Or Metal Accessories	Yes, in the sink	Use mild dish soap; avoid harsh scrubbers on nonstick coatings.
Main Housing/Body	No standing water	Wipe outside and inside walls with a damp cloth, then dry with a towel.
Heating Element And Fan Area	No soaking	Unplug, let cool, then wipe gently with a slightly damp cloth or soft brush.
Power Cord And Control Panel	No	Wipe with a dry or lightly damp cloth; never spray water directly on controls.

Once you think of the appliance this way, a simple rule appears: soap and water can soak the removable parts in the sink, not the whole machine, and not the cooking cavity while the unit runs.

Can I Put Soap And Water In Air Fryer? Safety Breakdown

When someone asks “can i put soap and water in air fryer?” they often mean “can I run the appliance with soapy water inside the drawer to clean it.” That is where the trouble starts. Air fryers are electric ovens with a fan, not dishwashers.

Here is what can happen when you run soapy water inside the air fryer drawer:

• Steam and bubbles rise toward the heating element and fan.
• Moisture can reach electrical parts that were not designed for direct contact with liquid.
• Soap residue can bake onto hot metal or blow around the cavity, leaving a film on later food.
• Sloshing water may overflow into vents or leak toward the control panel.

Manufacturers usually warn against pouring liquid into the cavity or immersing the body of the unit. Those warnings are there because water inside the wrong area can cause damage that does not show up right away: corrosion, tripped safety sensors, odd smells, or a fan that starts to squeak and fail.

Even if the appliance seems fine after one “soapy boil,” repeated runs like that shorten its life. It is a bit like spraying water into the back of a toaster and hoping the toast crumb mess disappears on its own. The risk is not worth that temporary convenience.

Putting Soap And Water In Your Air Fryer Basket Safely

Now for the part everyone cares about: you absolutely can use soap and water on the basket, drawer, and crisper plate as long as they are out of the unit. This is exactly what most manuals recommend. Some brands even say those parts can sit on the top rack of the dishwasher.

The safest method is the simple sink routine. After cooking, let the basket cool, then move it to the sink, add hot water and a drop or two of mild dish soap, and let it sit for a few minutes. A soft sponge or bottle brush finishes the job. If there are stubborn brown spots, a gentle baking soda paste can help lift them without scratching the coating.

Always check your own manual for details, because basket materials differ. Some nonstick coatings handle the dishwasher well; others last longer with hand washing. A short look at your brand’s instructions saves you from surprise peeling on the coating later.

Why Soap Belongs In The Sink, Not The Cavity

Soap does its best work when it can sit and break up grease while the part stays fully submerged. The sink gives you space for that. Inside the cavity, water and soap move around too much, and you have no way to rinse the walls without sending liquid into vents and electronics.

If you ever spill a little saucy marinade or broth in the drawer during cooking, do not panic. Pause the cook, unplug the unit, let it cool, then pull out the drawer and wash it at the sink. Wipe any splashes left on the inside walls with a damp cloth, then dry the area before using the appliance again.

What About Dishwasher Cleaning?

Many baskets and crisper plates are labeled as dishwasher safe. If yours is, you can place them in the top rack to avoid direct heater contact. That said, repeated harsh cycles can wear down coatings over time. A quick hand wash with warm, soapy water often keeps the finish in better shape while still giving you a smooth, clean surface for your next batch of fries.

Some long-term tests and cleaning lab advice point out that gentle dish soap and warm water are usually enough for everyday buildup, with a deeper scrub only when you see baked-on grease starting to build near the heater. You will find similar guidance in many manufacturer blogs and cleaning lab articles.

Step-By-Step Routine To Clean An Air Fryer

A steady cleaning routine matters more than any trendy hack. If you stick to a simple pattern after each cook and a slightly deeper clean once in a while, your air fryer will smell fresh, food will stay crisp, and the appliance will run closer to the way it did on day one.

Quick Clean After Every Cook

Try this short routine after everyday meals:

1. Turn the air fryer off, unplug it, and let it cool until you can touch the basket comfortably.
2. Remove the basket, drawer, and crisper plate. Tap out crumbs into the trash.
3. Wash those parts in warm water with a little dish soap, using a soft sponge or brush.
4. Rinse and dry fully so no water drips back into the cavity later.
5. Wipe the inside walls with a damp cloth to pick up splatters and steam marks.
6. Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth, then dry with a towel.

This routine takes only a few minutes once it becomes a habit. It also keeps sticky grease from turning into hard varnish on the basket and near the heater, which is harder to clean and can cause smoke during cooking.

Weekly Or Heavy-Use Deep Clean

If you use your air fryer every day, or cook a lot of fatty foods, set aside a deeper clean once a week. You still will not put soap and water inside the powered unit, but you can give all the removable parts a longer soak and pay closer attention to the heater and fan area.

1. Unplug the appliance and let it cool fully.
2. Fill the sink with hot, soapy water and soak the basket, drawer, and crisper plate for 10–15 minutes.
3. Scrub crevices, perforations, and corners with a soft brush or old toothbrush.
4. Make a paste of baking soda and water and dab it on stubborn spots, then wipe clean.
5. Turn the unit upside down or on its side, then gently wipe the heating element and nearby surfaces with a damp cloth.
6. Dry everything completely before reassembling.

If your air fryer still smells after all that, you can run a short “deodorizing” cycle: place a small oven-safe dish with water and a little lemon juice in the basket and run the unit on a moderate temperature for a few minutes. Let it cool, then dry again.

TikTok Soap-And-Water Air Fryer Hack: What You Should Know

The soap-and-water “self-clean” trick made the rounds on TikTok with videos showing baskets filled halfway with sudsy water bubbling away under the heater. In those clips, the drawer slides out looking shiny, and the hack looks almost magical.

When recipe testers and cleaning writers tried that method in controlled tests, they found that it did loosen grime, but they also raised serious concerns. Soapy water sloshed toward the heater and fan, and some units produced an odd smell afterward. Appliance makers already warn against putting liquid into the main housing or cavity, so combining those warnings with these test results gives a clear message: it is not a good cleaning method for your air fryer’s long-term health.

If you feel tempted by that shortcut, ask yourself a simple question: would you run your oven with soapy water splashing near the controls on purpose? The safer path is to wash the parts at the sink and use a cloth inside the unit instead of boiling suds under the heater.

What Liquid, If Any, Can Go Inside An Air Fryer?

Even though soap and water inside the cavity are off the list, small amounts of cooking liquid still show up in normal use. Marinades cling to chicken, juices drip from meat, and a light splash of water sometimes goes into the drawer for certain recipes. The key is that liquids should stay in the basket or drawer, not be poured over the heater or into the body of the machine.

Recipe developers sometimes use a spoon or two of water in the bottom of the drawer to soften leftovers or keep lean meat from drying out. That small amount heats, steams, and then evaporates along with the cooking process. The problem comes when the drawer is filled halfway with water, or when liquid rises near the upper vents.

As a simple rule: sauces, marinades, and small amounts of water that cling to food or sit below the basket are part of normal cooking. Large pools of water or soap poured into the drawer purely for cleaning belong in the sink, not inside a running air fryer.

Can I Put Soap And Water In Air Fryer? Recap For Busy Cooks

At this point you have heard the longer explanation, but it helps to bring the key points together in one place. When the phrase “can i put soap and water in air fryer?” pops into your head next time, you can run through this mental checklist in a few seconds.

Cleaning Habit	How Often	Main Benefit
Hand Wash Basket And Drawer	After every cook	Removes grease before it hardens and starts to smoke.
Wipe Interior Walls	After messy or greasy foods	Keeps splatter from burning near the heater on the next run.
Check Heating Element Area	Weekly	Clears crumbs and drips that can smoke or burn.
Soak Parts In Hot, Soapy Water	Weekly or when buildup appears	Loosens stuck grime without harsh scrubbing.
Use Parchment Or Liners	Whenever recipe allows	Reduces stuck bits and makes cleanup faster.
Deodorize With Lemon Water	As needed	Helps clear lingering food smells from the cavity.
Read Your Brand Manual	Once when you buy, revisit as needed	Confirms which parts can soak or go in the dishwasher.

Stick to these habits and your air fryer will stay cleaner, run more smoothly, and treat your food better than any viral shortcut that dunks the machine in suds.

How To Keep Your Air Fryer Fresh Between Deep Cleans

A few small habits make a big difference between major scrubbing sessions. Line the basket with perforated parchment sheets when recipes allow; they catch crumbs without blocking airflow. Avoid cooking foods with loose batter straight in the basket; set them on a piece of parchment or in a small oven-safe pan first so drips do not weld onto the grates.

Grease control is another area where a bit of effort pays off. Trim excess fat from meats, empty the drawer before it fills with rendered fat, and never pour used oil down the sink. Let it cool, then send it into a container or solid-waste bin.

Finally, treat your air fryer like any other small oven with a fan: give it breathing room on the counter, keep the vents clear of dust, and clean out crumbs before they bake onto hot parts. Those small details build the kind of routine that keeps your favorite kitchen helper running well, all without risking damage from soap and water in the wrong place.