The item works in minutes to scrub off any oil or grease from the air fryer (Image: Nicola Roy)
It’s hard to imagine a time before air fryers. These handy gadgets arrived on the scene a few years ago, and I know I’m not the only one who now probably couldn’t do without it in the kitchen.
I bought my trusty Russell Hobbs air fryer a few years ago now, and despite it being tiny, it’s served me very well. Keeping it clean is one of the most vital air fryer tasks, as this prevents buildup of grease and grime, which can affect the heating element and cause the appliance to break down. It’s a task you have to do pretty much every day, but it’s worth it, and I recently discovered a simple and cheap Home Bargains item that makes the job an absolute breeze.
Home Bargains is my go-to for cheap cleaning products, and I could honestly spend hours browsing the aisles there. On a trip a couple of weeks ago, I was searching for sponges for my Dishmatic – another true kitchen essential for me.
Whoever invented those handy tubes with the sponges on the end is an absolute genius in my book. It makes washing up so much easier, so I always make sure to have a couple of spares in the cupboard.
But this time around, I noticed a different variety – the Dishmatic Wonder Wand Scrub. These sponges had a pointed end like a triangle, and it said on the label that they’re especially good for cleaning the air fryer. So of course, I had to try them out, and at around £2 for a pack of three, you really can’t go wrong.
The pointed sponge is so good for getting in all the crevices (Image: Nicola Roy)
How to clean your air fryer
Putting the sponges to the test, I got to work cleaning my air fryer after making a batch of crispy tofu. This is a particularly messy dish, so there was oil splatters, cornflour and seasoning all over the basket.
I waited until it had cooled down a little after cooking, then I squeezed a small amount of washing up liquid inside. The Dishmastic obviously already has that all ready to go, but a little more can’t hurt.
Then, it’s just a case of scrubbing dry for a minute, before adding some warm water and going again. These sponges are so much firmer than the regular ones, so I feel like they work much better at getting any stubborn marks off.
You’ll want to wash it with warm, soapy water (Image: Nicola Roy)
They’re also a lot bigger too, and the pointed edge makes it brilliant for reaching into all of those awkward holes in the air fryer drawer.
And although the sponge is thick and durable, it’s made from fibres that are non-abraisive, so you don’t need to worry about it scratching or damaging your air fryer either.
After repeating the scrub and rinse a couple of times, making sure to take out the grate and do this seperately, my air fryer was looking so clean and fresh. I dried off each piece thoroughly – an essential step to avoid mould buildup – and put it back together.
It’s just a simple swap, but I honestly don’t see myself ever going back to the normal Dishmatic sponges after trying these ones. They’re also said to be great for cleaning your bathroom, specifically the tiles and shower area, so I may have to go back and purchase another wand to keep in this room.