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<ul class="summary-list"><li>As a stay-at-home mother for 11 years, I did my fair share of cleaning.</li><li>I've also owned two professional cleaning services and cleaned hundreds of homes.</li></ul><p><span>I was fortunate enough to be a </span><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/husband-paid-me-stay-home-mom-heres-what-i-learned-2019-9"><span>stay-at-home parent</span></a><span> to four children for 11 years. As you can imagine, I did a lot of cleaning. </span></p><p><span>I previously owned a traditional </span><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/having-cleaning-person-takes-up-budget-but-its-worth-it-2022-4"><span>cleaning service</span></a><span> with over 300 residential and commercial clients.</span></p><p><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teen-mom-adult-kids-life-back-pros-upside-2024-1"><span>My children are now adults</span></a><span>. I'm a grandmother who owns a second cleaning business, this time as an empty nester and solopreneur. I cater to those who desire luxury cleaning care. My clients are primarily executives.</span></p><p><span>As someone who's </span><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/professional-airbnb-cleaner-favorite-cleaning-supplies-2023-10"><span>cleaned professionally</span></a><span> her whole life, I've seen firsthand what works and what won't to clean a house. I've seen what products and methods get houses to sparkle and shine and what is a waste of time.</span></p><p><span>As a </span><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/palm-beach-housekeeper-earning-high-salary-2024-6"><span>luxury cleaning service</span></a><span> owner, here are five things people get wrong when cleaning.</span></p><h2 id="01aac258-6a7f-4ab5-9df0-0d567f0f739b"><strong><span>Smelly clothes, sheets, and bathroom rugs need to be washed</span></strong></h2><p><span>If you have to smell an article of clothing to see if it is clean, it's dirty. Same with bed sheets and bathroom rugs. Bed sheets should be washed weekly. Depending on how much traffic is in each bathroom, the bathroom rugs may need to be cleaned weekly — they should be fluffed in the dryer on a delicate cycle at least once a week.</span></p><h2 id="584b60c1-dee9-4b51-a790-6e4ada47ccd6"><strong><span>The cycle you put your washer on matters</span></strong></h2><p><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mistakes-everyone-does-when-doing-laundry-from-a-laundry-expert-2024-9"><span>If you wash all of your clothes</span></a><span> on the same cycle, you are probably wasting more time, water, and energy than necessary and possibly ruining your clothes.</span></p><p><span>If you're washing sheets, blankets, or even towels, I highly recommend using the setting for each. However, if you're doing a mixed load consisting of a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, a couple of towels, and a sheet, I recommend putting on the bedding/bulky cycle.</span></p><p><span>You can also use the quick wash option as well. However, the items inside may get a shorter wash cycle than is needed. Some clothes need a longer wash cycle — for example, your family's sports choices.</span></p><h2 id="eb8317b4-8a94-417b-a2c1-6be13a35945a"><strong><span>Here's  a checklist of dryer do's and don'ts</span></strong></h2><p><span>Some items can and should be dried using a drying rack.</span></p><p><span>Not all items washed in the washing machine need to go into your dryer. For example, if you'd like the jeans to last longer, you have them hung dry or brought to a dry cleaner, especially if they are black; you don't want the colors to fade.</span></p><p><span>Some items, especially those with embellishments, need to be hand-washed. Bathroom rugs need to be refreshed in the dryer or shaken outside, at minimum, weekly.</span></p><p><span>When washing a comforter, quilt, blanket, or event sheets, you can let them air dry as soon as they come out of the washing machine. Then, refresh in the dryer to give it a soft feel to save energy and save on your electric bill.</span></p><h2 id="9e3d21a4-a0c6-4471-9e94-5e6ab8c5f4b7"><strong><span>Do this to leave your floors sparkling</span></strong></h2><p><span>Hand- and foot-washing your floors helps keep you fit and your home clean. Cleaning a home is a full-body workout. The more you clean, the cleaner your home will be, and your body will thank you for the exercise. </span></p><p><span>The closer you are to the floor, the more you will see with hand washing. The dirtier the floor is, foot washing will help make cleaning easier and offer a deeper clean due to the strength of your legs.</span></p><p><span>Mops are only sometimes necessary. Should you use a traditional mop to wash your floors, you could miss quite a bit of debris, and you'll need to clean the mop head, which creates more laundry items. </span></p><h2 id="f9a7d2dc-721e-4d90-aa92-fc710ab75234"><strong><span>Don't forget to clean kitchen cabinets and shelves</span></strong></h2><p><span>If your kitchen cabinets aren't flush with the ceiling and you have an air conditioning vent just over the top of the cabinet and just underneath is your stove, the air blowing out of the air conditioning is not only spreading the dirt around the house. It is also getting in the food that you are serving your family. I recommend this type of cleaning quarterly, semi-annually, and, at the very least, annually.</span></p>

I own a luxury cleaning service. Here are the 5 things people do wrong when cleaning.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Six moms say they spend $500 to $2,600 a month to create their <keyword id="23551039" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paid-village" source="keywords">paid village</keyword>.</li><li><keyword id="20826057" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="childcare" source="keywords">Childcare</keyword> is the most substantial cost, while many also hire cleaners.</li></ul>Amy Johnson, a mom of two in <keyword id="19991752" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cleveland" source="keywords">Cleveland</keyword>, can count on both her mother and mother-in-law to help with the kids and with domestic chores every month. Despite having that unpaid support, Johnson and her husband pay $2,600 a month for childcare and cleaning — the sort of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grandparents-cant-look-after-grandkids-still-work-full-time-2024-9">paid village</a> that Johnson says is essential when both <keyword id="19987662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parents" source="keywords">parents</keyword> are working.<br /><br />"Life is currently a juggle between time and money," said Johnson, whose kids are 2 and 3. Johnson and her husband both work full-time, and Johnson also runs a website,<a target="_blank" href="https://amybabys.com/"> Amy Baby</a>.<br /><br />"I feel if we don't use the time wisely to create more revenue streams, we're just going to sink," she told BI.<br /><br />Parents around the country are struggling to pay for <keyword id="23417837" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="childcare-costs" source="keywords">childcare costs</keyword>—which are often higher than a mortgage or rent. In 2018 (the most recent year for which data is available), median childcare costs ranged from $4,800 in small counties for a school-age kid at home to $15,400 for an infant at a center, <a href="https://blog.dol.gov/2023/01/24/new-childcare-data-shows-prices-are-untenable-for-families" target="_blank">according</a> to the Department of Labor. Adjusted for inflation, that was $5,000 to $17,000 in 2022 money.<br /><br />In addition to childcare, many families find they need to pay for other domestic services, like transportation for their kids, grocery pickup, or cleaning—essentials that parents say they simply don't have time for while juggling their careers.<br /><br />That leaves families like Johnson's "trying our best to keep our heads above water," she said.<br /><br />It's a familiar refrain for many parents around the country. Here's what five other parents are paying to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/family-tiny-house-village-kids-have-own-homes-3-years-later-2023-5">create the village</a> they need to survive.<br /><br /><h2>A mom of 3 in rural North Dakota: $1,300+ a month</h2>Katie Nostrum relies on unpaid childcare from her three kids, who are 9, 2, and 6 months old. When the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/school-start-times-in-conflict-dont-mesh-with-work-2023-9">kids aren't in school</a> or at day care, Nostrum's grandparents watch them as Nostrum works as a postmaster and her partner works in a welding shop.<br /><br />Day care for the two younger kids costs $650 every two weeks, or over $1,300 a month. Nostrum's town is very rural — about 45 minutes away from the nearest store. Like many rural Americans, she has limited options for childcare and other support.<br /><br />"There are not a lot of options to create a village, no after or before school programs, etc," she said.<br /><br /><h2>A Texas mom of 3: $1,090 a month</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/notastarvingartistgirl/?hl=en">Jessica Lemmons</a> lives in Bryan, Texas, with her husband and three kids, ages 10, 5, and 2. She pays about $1,090 a month for childcare, which includes day care tuition for her youngest and occasional babysitting for all three.<br /><br />The costs would be a lot higher if Lemmons couldn't count on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/having-children-pushed-me-away-from-my-career-2022-4">unpaid help</a> from friends and bartering the skills of her husband, who is a chef.<br /><br />"I am very fortunate in that I have close friends here who are childless by choice, who genuinely love spending time with my kids," she said. "I do make sure I have the capacity to feed them tasty meals whenever they're doing so."<br /><br /><h2>Mom of 1, outside Chicago: $2,000+ a month</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lorealthompsonpayton.com/">L'Oreal Thompson Payton</a>, a freelance writer who lives outside Chicago, pays $497 each week to send her 3-year-old to preschool. On rare occasions, she <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-saved-childcare-costs-by-swapping-babysitting-with-a-mom-2021-10">uses a babysitter</a>. She and her husband also pay $25 an hour for a cleaner and hire one occasionally if they have guests coming to stay.<br /><br />While she pays for some of her village, Thompson Payton also cultivates unpaid support by connecting with day care parents and neighbors who also have young children. While the costs are high, Thompson Payton said the benefits are well worth the money.<br /><br />"I think there's a lot of unnecessary guilt and shame that can come up with having a 'paid' village,'" she said. "As much as I love being a mom, it's important for me, my sanity, and our marriage that I have an identity outside that, which would simply not be possible if we didn't have paid support."<br /><br /><h2>Mom of 2 in Tennessee: $520 a month</h2>Miriam Udy was paying $1,600 a month for childcare in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intergenerational-living-benefits-for-kids-free-babysitting-2024-10">the San Francisco Bay Area</a> when she got pregnant with her second. She and her husband relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, in part because they couldn't afford to pay more than $3,000 a month in childcare costs.<br /><br />After moving, she paid $520 a month for care for her daughter. Her son qualified for free preschool because he has special needs. Now that both kids are in school, Udy is looking for a helper to get the kids off the bus, do homework with them, and drive them to activities. She also budgets for summer camp costs, which exceeded $4,000 last year.<br /><br /><h2>A mom of 2 in New York: $500 a month</h2>Aghogho Oluese quit her job when she got pregnant with her second.<br /><br />"The cost of childcare was so high that I would've only netted $500 a month if I had stayed in my former job," she said.<br /><br />Since then, she's launched<a target="_blank" href="https://blwforbusymoms.com/"> Baby-Led Weaning For Busy Moms</a>. She provides the bulk of childcare for her two children but still pays to build her village. Her older child goes to aftercare which is $15 an hour, and the family has a weekly cleaner at $30 an hour. Occasionally, Oluese pays a babysitter $30 an hour to watch both kids. Overall, she spends about $500 a month on paid help.<br /><br />"I wouldn't be able to do all that I do during the day without it," she said.<br /><br /><em>Correction: October 2, 2024</em><strong><em> </em></strong><em>— An earlier version of this story misstated which year the Department of Labor's childcare-cost figures came from. They're from 2018, not 2022. They also were the median costs, not the average costs.</em><br />

Parents are turning to a 'paid village' to handle childcare and cleaning. Costs range from $500 to $2,600 a month.

<keyword id="19895037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bengaluru" source="keywords">Bengaluru</keyword> has been suffering from a pretty nasty streak of flooding every time the rains come rolling around, leaving residents struggling with power outages, flooded streets, and impassable roads. With this scenario in mind, let’s dive into how you can protect your vehicle during such conditions and how to care for it afterward. Driving through waterlogged roads can be intimidating, but with the right precautions, you can minimise damage to your vehicle.<br /><h4>1. Assess the <keyword id="23569146" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-depth" source="keywords">Water Depth</keyword></h4>Before attempting to cross a flooded road, take a moment to gauge how deep the water is. This isn’t just about looking at how far the water reaches on your tires, but also how other cars are handling it. Water deeper than 6 inches (about ankle height) can pose significant risks. For moving water, the danger is even greater. In fact, as little as 4 inches of fast-flowing water can sweep away a vehicle, leading to potentially life-threatening situations. Be cautious — if you're uncertain about the depth, turn around and take a different route.<br /><h4>2. Enter the Water Slowly and Steadily</h4>If there’s no way around the flooded street, approach it slowly. When you enter too fast, your car may aquaplane, which is when the tires lose contact with the road, making it easy to lose control. Aim for a slow and steady speed. as this allows your tires to maintain traction while reducing the chances of creating waves that could send water into the engine. Once in, keep your car moving at a steady pace without stopping.<br /><h4>3. Keep Your Engine Revved Up</h4>One of the major risks when driving through water is <keyword id="22589183" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="engine-damage" source="keywords">engine damage</keyword>. If water enters the exhaust pipe, it can cause the engine to seize, potentially leading to a costly repair. To avoid this, keep your engine’s revs high as you navigate through the water. In manual cars, slipping the clutch slightly while staying in a low gear helps maintain higher revs without speeding up too much. For automatic cars, switching to the lowest possible gear before entering the water is a smart move.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114274586" title="Bengaluru rains bring life to a standstill; relief likely after October 18" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h4>4. Beware of Large Vehicles</h4>If you’re driving near trucks or buses, be mindful of the large waves they create as they plow through floodwaters. These waves can wash over your car, increasing the likelihood of water entering your engine bay or cabin. It’s best to wait for larger vehicles to clear the flooded area before attempting to drive through yourself. Keeping a safe distance ensures you’re not caught in their wake.<br /><h4>5. Know What to Do if You Stall</h4>If your vehicle stalls while driving through water, the immediate response is crucial. Try to restart the car as quickly as possible because the longer the car remains stationary, the greater the chance of water entering critical parts like the exhaust system. However, if the water is too deep or you're unsure, it’s best to avoid restarting to prevent further damage. Instead, push the car to safety if possible, or call for help.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114136105" title="Heavy rains to lash across the country between Oct 12-16, here&amp;#39;s how you can insure your home from rain&amp;#39;s fury" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Flood-aftercare for your vehicle</h2>Once you've navigated through the floodwaters, your car still requires attention to minimise long-term damage.<br /><h5>1. Dry Your Brakes</h5>Driving through water can leave your brakes wet and less effective, increasing your stopping distance. To dry them out, gently tap the brake pedal once you’re back on dry land. This friction helps evaporate any water that may have settled on the brake discs, allowing them to return to full function. Testing the brakes in a safe spot ensures they’re responsive when needed.<br /><h5>2. Inspect the Air Filter</h5>After driving through a flood, one of the first things to check is the air filter. If water has entered the air intake system, it can damage the engine. A soggy or dirty air filter should be replaced immediately to avoid contaminants entering the engine and causing performance issues later on.<br /><h5>3. Look for Signs of Water in the Engine</h5>If you suspect that water has entered the engine, especially if your vehicle stalled, resist the urge to restart the car. Instead, have the vehicle towed to a mechanic. Starting the engine with water inside can lead to hydrolock, where water in the cylinders causes the engine to seize, potentially requiring a costly engine replacement.<br /><h5>4. Thoroughly Clean the Undercarriage</h5>Floodwater is often filled with debris, dirt, and contaminants that can settle on your car’s undercarriage, leading to rust or corrosion over time. Once the water recedes, give your car a thorough wash, paying special attention to the underside. This will help prevent rust and other issues that could develop due to prolonged exposure to dirty water.<br /><h5>5. Monitor Electrical Components</h5>Flooding can wreak havoc on your car’s electrical systems. After driving through water, test all your vehicle's electronics — lights, indicators, power windows, and infotainment system. Water intrusion can cause malfunctions or short circuits, so if you notice any irregularities, have them inspected by a professional to prevent further issues.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114242444" title="Severe cyclone threat looms large near Chennai as IMD GFS predict landfall by Thursday!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>By staying cautious during floods and following these post-care steps, you can keep your vehicle in good shape and avoid the worst of water damage.<br />

Rains forcing you to ride through waterlogged areas? Here’s how to safely traverse flooded roads and minimise damage to your vehicles

<ul class="summary-list"><li>RFK Jr. says under President Trump, he'll advise US water systems to remove fluoride.</li><li>The federal government is not in charge of the US water supply. It's a local thing.</li></ul><p><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/rfk-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, the man widely expected to become a health leader in President-elect Donald Trump's White House, has promised to lobby to remove fluoride from the American water supply.</p><p>Nearly 63% of the US population has fluoridated water flowing through their taps, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/php/statistics/2022-water-fluoridation-statistics.html">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC).</p><p>US health experts describe fluoridated water — a voluntary practice for local water districts — as one of modern medicine's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4850bx.htm">greatest public health achievements</a>, up there with the recognition that smoking is bad for you.</p><p>Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-views-vaccines-autism-testing-debunked-2023-7">Kennedy</a>, a former environmental lawyer who was instrumental in the fight to clean up the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/blogs/honoring-our-foundation-in-science/">Hudson River in New York</a>, says there's no need to fluoridate drinking water anymore since most toothpaste contains fluoride. </p><p>He's not alone. An important debate over fluoride is gaining fresh steam among scientists and legal experts. Some recent studies suggest more research is still needed on safe fluoride levels for kids. Plus, a federal ruling in California this year questioned the US government's recommended dose.</p><p>While many medical professionals — chiefly dentists — support some level of fluoridation, there is growing<strong> </strong>agreement that we still aren't sure how much fluoride is too much.</p><h2 id="73e9cfea-f185-4392-8a29-deb966cdc1f8"><strong>120 years ago, fluoride was the mystery culprit behind brown teeth in Colorado</strong></h2><div type="image" title="woman with brown teeth" height="2752" width="1912" msid="115231235" hostid="261" sizebytes="398436"></div><p>The reason most Americans have fluoride in their drinking water stretches back more than a century to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/the-story-of-fluoridation">mysterious outbreak</a> scattered across the Midwest and western US.</p><p>In the early 1900s, dentists started noticing that children in specific towns, including Colorado Springs, Colorado; Oakley, Idaho; and Bauxite, Arkansas, were developing hard, chocolate-colored teeth.</p><p>It took more than 20 years, but eventually, researchers discovered that these unusual brown stains were caused by high amounts of naturally occurring fluoride in the drinking water in certain areas of the country.</p><p>They also found that the fluoride — a mineral compound found in rocks and dirt — was strengthening teeth. It was hardening tooth enamel and helping to repair some early-stage tooth decay.</p><p>By 1945, scientists had learned enough about fluoride to harness the technique to prevent cavities for the masses. They proposed microdosing the mineral into the public water supply to give kids just enough fluoride to protect their teeth and help heal dental decay without giving them so much that their teeth would go brown.</p><p>The experiment worked.</p><p>In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first city to purposefully fluoridate its water. In the first 10 years of the program, the rate of cavities in kids decreased by more than <a target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1551218/?page=1">60%</a>. Thus, the idea of fluoridated water as a boon for public health was born.</p><h2 id="ffc42276-b971-4331-bd76-9f4c2877d29f"><strong>US water districts decide their own fluoride levels</strong></h2><div type="image" title="tap water" height="4000" width="6000" msid="115231232" hostid="261" sizebytes="655952"></div><p>Kennedy has <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1852812012478398923">said</a> he'd aim to convince local authorities nationwide to remove any added fluoride from taps.</p><p>"I think fluoride is on its way out," Kennedy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/video/rfk-jr-talks-health-care-agenda-following-trump-win-223717957893">told NBC</a> News the day after the election, adding: "I'm not going to compel anybody to take it out, but I'm going to advise the water districts. I'm going to give them good information about the science, and I think fluoride will disappear."</p><p>The federal government does not control water supplies in the US. That task is up to states and local water systems.</p><p>The US Environmental Protection Agency does mandate a limit for fluoride in tap water: four milligrams per liter. That limit is meant to prevent crippling health issues caused by excess fluoride intake, like a bone-weakening disease called skeletal fluorosis.</p><h2 id="e730cbbb-f6d0-4962-9881-0475436e9095">The US lowered fluoride levels in drinking water in 2015</h2><div type="image" title="crest toothpaste vintage ad w nina simone and daughter" height="4416" width="3531" msid="115231221" hostid="261" sizebytes="896112"></div><p>The amount of fluoride added to a water supply varies not only by city and county but also by the individual water system supplying a given neighborhood.</p><p>For many years, the federal recommendation fluctuated based on location. In warmer climates — where it was assumed that kids consumed more water to stay cool — officials recommended 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter. Colder areas were advised to add 1.2 milligrams per liter.</p><p>After reviewing evidence in 2015, the US Public Health Service decided that the discrepancy wasn't needed. The recommendation for fluoridation is now set at 0.7 milligrams per liter nationwide.</p><p>Most major cities in the US hover around the 0.7 figure. Some places naturally have elevated levels of fluoride in their water due to geological factors. In Lordsburg, New Mexico, for example, water samples collected earlier this year had concentrations of fluoride between <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://cityoflordsburg.com/fluoride-mcl-notice-2024/">5.2 and 6.4 milligrams</a> per liter. Authorities there advise that children under 9 years old shouldn't drink tap water.</p><h2 id="c03fabfb-6a1d-488a-8229-718ca0e2727d"><strong>Places with fluoride-free water generally have worse dental health</strong></h2><div type="image" title="toothbrush with paste" height="3209" width="4813" msid="115231228" hostid="261" sizebytes="238252"></div><p>Proponents of ditching fluoride often point to the many European countries that do not fluoridate their water. Those countries are not 100% fluoride-free, though: unlike people in the US, many Europeans consume fluoridated salt.</p><p>Hawaii is the only US state without any fluoride in municipal taps; fluoridated water is only available there on military bases. A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://health.hawaii.gov/about/files/2013/06/Hawaii-Smiles-Report.pdf">2015 report</a> from Hawaii's health department said the state also has the highest prevalence of tooth decay among 3rd graders in the US.</p><p>"It's obvious; you can see it in the quality of their enamel," Anthony Kim, dental director at the Waimanalo Health Clinic, told the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/02/why-hawaii-continues-to-keep-fluoride-out-of-its-drinking-water/">Honolulu Civil Beat in 2020</a>. "Sadly, especially among the kids."</p><p>Researchers in Canada see the same phenomenon. The rate of cavities detected in Alberta spiked after the city went fluoride-free in 2011, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.17269/s41997-024-00858-w">February 2024 study</a>. Calgary did the same and saw <a target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9542152/">similar tooth issues</a> in kids. The city now plans to re-fluoridate its water supply, but cost issues and global supply chain problems post-pandemic have <a target="_blank" href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-s-plan-to-reintroduce-fluoride-into-drinking-water-pushed-back-to-2025-1.6845098">created delays</a>.</p><p>The military supports fluoridation. In 2016, the <a target="_blank" href="https://ilikemyteeth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DoD-Fluoridation-Memo-March-2013.pdf">US Department of Defense</a> said dental decay was a "significant" reason military personnel were classified as non-deployable. As such, fluoridated water is now mandated on any military base with more than 3,300 people.</p><p>Rumors have circulated that drinking fluoridated water can lead to bone cancer (osteosarcoma), but long-term studies from both <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/43/1/224/736028">the UK</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877782111001822">US</a> haven't found any credible evidence of higher rates in areas where people drink fluoridated water.</p><h2 id="726f1d49-c5ff-447d-b2cc-6cf2412f9906"><strong>Is there any truth to claims of IQ issues?</strong></h2><div type="image" title="anti fluoride protesters" height="2574" width="3594" msid="115231239" hostid="261" sizebytes="497810"></div><p>On November 2, Kennedy said on X that fluoride is an "industrial waste" that is linked to "IQ loss."</p><p>He linked to a ruling from a federal judge in California in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17-cv-2162-Food-_-Water-Watch-Inc.-et-al.-v.-EPA-et-al-Opinion.pdf">October.</a> The judge, appointed by former President Obama, said that while he could not "conclude with certainty" that fluoridated water could reduce the IQ of children, there is evidence that it can be "hazardous at dosages that are far too close to fluoride levels in the drinking water of the United States."</p><p>His ruling came weeks after a headline-grabbing paper in which a group of independent scientists reviewed existing evidence on fluoridation for the <a target="_blank" href="https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/fluoride_final_508.pdf">US National Toxicology Program</a>. Their review concluded that some studies of fluoride consumption have found links between higher fluoride water levels and lower IQs in kids.</p><p>There are a couple of big caveats to keep in mind. First, those studies were conducted in other countries, including Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico, not the US.</p><p>Second, the association with lower IQs was only apparent when children were drinking water loaded with fluoride, at more than 1.5 milligrams per liter. That's double what's recommended in the US and 50% more fluoride than what was first used in Grand Rapids in 1945.</p><p>"More studies are needed to fully understand the potential for lower fluoride exposure to affect children's IQ," the experts said.</p><p>Those new studies are starting to trickle out. Fluoride and aluminum researcher Ashley Malin, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Florida, recently found <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38767917/">a potential link</a> between a woman's fluoride levels during pregnancy and neurobehavioral problems in her toddler three years later.</p><p>"At this point, I would advise that pregnant women reduce their fluoride intake," Malin told Business Insider.</p><p>Malin brushes her teeth without fluoride, drinks filtered water (using a reverse osmosis water purifier or buying bottled water), and says that the most fluoride she consumes is probably from the black chai tea she occasionally drinks.</p><h2 id="5b5f129c-cdf6-4dba-a89c-6887474b296d"><strong>Settling on the right dose</strong></h2><div type="image" title="retro photo of kid brushing teeth" height="3000" width="2487" msid="115231240" hostid="261" sizebytes="496682"></div><p>It's hard to tease out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD010856/ORAL_does-adding-fluoride-water-supplies-prevent-tooth-decay">exactly how beneficial fluoridated water is</a> for preventing cavities, in part because fluoridating water isn't the only way that tooth care has improved dramatically since the 1940s. (The level of fluoride in many toothpastes is much higher than what's in the water.)</p><p>The California ruling last month didn't get prescriptive about what the EPA should do about all this uncertainty. It only recommended some kind of "regulatory action" on fluoride.</p><p>"It should be noted that this finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health," the verdict read.</p><p>A federal judge wants the EPA to better answer now whether 0.7 milligrams per liter of fluoride is safe enough.</p><p>The EPA has said in the past that reviewing their fluoride numbers is a "low priority" item for the agency. Public health experts and dentists generally agree that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/news-events/nidcr-news/2024/big-hopes-little-teeth">fluoridated tap water</a> is a safe, effortless, and equitable way to ensure people get enough fluoride to prevent most childhood cavities.</p><p>However, scientists haven't quite settled on the optimal fluoride level in tap water to maintain healthy teeth yet.</p>

A brief history of America's love affair with fluoridated water — and why it's now up for debate

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I made scrambled eggs using different <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-scrambled-eggs-recipe-chef-bobby-flay-review-2022-3">well-known tricks and a few methods</a> I had never heard of.</li><li>Microwaving and baking the dish in the oven were the worst methods, as they made the eggs rubbery.</li></ul><p>It seems that almost <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-scrambled-eggs-recipe-chef-bobby-flay-review-2022-3">everyone has their own special method of making scrambled eggs</a> — there are so many ways to change the flavor and texture.</p><p>I love to throw scrambled eggs on breakfast sandwiches or mix them with veggies, but I had never found the ideal method to get a soft texture that isn't too wet or dry.</p><p>So, I decided to try a mix of easy and unique tricks for making the classic breakfast.</p><h2><strong>I first tried the 'low-and-slow' method, a technique I've actually tested before</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Eggs are mixed in spatula in a pan" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315135" hostid="261" sizebytes="536750"></div><p>I've previously tried making scrambled eggs on very low heat for a long amount of time à la <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-scrambled-egg-recipes-review-from-celebrity-chefs">Tyler Florence's recipe</a>. <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/jesseszewczyk/chrissy-teigen-scrambled-eggs">Chrissy Teigen's method is similar</a> in that she makes a very soft scramble by cooking eggs over the lowest heat for 20 to 30 minutes.</p><p>I followed this same method, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/which-chef-has-the-best-recipe-for-deviled-eggs">my eggs took about 30 minutes before they were solid</a> enough to move from pan to plate. However, their orange, gooey appearance put me off, and I couldn't bring myself to take a bite.</p><div type="image" title="Runny, orange eggs sit on a plate on a black table" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315159" hostid="261" sizebytes="500850"></div><p>Wet scrambled eggs are not for me, and the orange color these took on from a long time over heat, unfortunately, made them really unappealing to me.</p><h2><strong>The results from incorporating boiling water shocked me the most</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Ribbons of scrambled eggs in a pot of boiling water with a lid" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315191" hostid="261" sizebytes="407712"></div><p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-29/you-are-making-scrambled-eggs-all-wrong">This method</a> seemed like one of the weirdest tricks of the bunch because it involved mixing a bowl of boiling water so that it swirled — like a whirlpool — and then pouring in whisked eggs.</p><p>I did just that, and the eggs instantly firmed up into delicate ribbons. This looked pretty gross, to be honest, but it was also fun to watch it happen.</p><p>I used a small strainer to pull the eggs out of the water, placed them in a bowl, and topped them with a little butter, salt, and pepper.</p><div type="image" title="Scrambled eggs in a blue bowl with pepper and a pad of butter sit on a wooden table" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315138" hostid="261" sizebytes="870950"></div>The result was so impressive as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-tried-the-easy-folded-egg-recipe-reviewed-photos">the eggs were so light and bouncy, and not too dry or wet either</a>. They weren't rubbery at all, and adding a bit of butter on top made them rich and creamy.<p>Cleaning the mixture out of the strainer was a little messy, and I had to blot some extra water out of the eggs, but it was worth it. The eggs had a great taste and texture, and once the water was boiling, they took just seconds to cook.</p><div type="image" title="The writer holds a sandwich with scrambled eggs and a few bites taken out of it over a blue plate" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315143" hostid="261" sizebytes="681846"></div><p>Because these scrambled eggs held some water even after straining, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-breakfast-recipe-for-egg-sandwich-from-chef-2021-9">I wasn't sure that they'd hold up on a breakfast sandwich</a>, so I used a piece of cheese as a barrier to prevent the eggs from making the bread wet. This worked like a charm.</p><h2><strong>Adding a splash of plain water was one of the easiest tips to follow</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="The writer pours water out of a measuring cup into a bowl of raw mixed eggs and a whisk" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315184" hostid="261" sizebytes="693352"></div><p><a href="https://www.southernliving.com/dairy/eggs/how-to-make-fluffy-scrambled-eggs">This tip</a> is as easy as it gets — and free. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/which-chef-has-the-best-recipe-for-omelets-reviewed-photos">I just added a splash of plain water to my eggs</a> before whisking and cooking them.</p><p>These eggs came out just how I like them, thoroughly cooked and fluffy without being wet or runny. I needed to add more salt, but the overall flavor was still good.</p><div type="image" title="Bright yellow scrambled eggs on a white plate on a wooden table" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315171" hostid="261" sizebytes="633150"></div><p>This method was super easy. The eggs were done in no time, and I always have this secret ingredient on hand.</p><h2><strong>Cooking in the microwave gave the eggs a spongy, unappealing texture</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Half-cooked eggs in a blue bowl with runny, raw eggs in the middle and pepper sprinkled over mixture" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315179" hostid="261" sizebytes="631982"></div><p>When I think of microwaved eggs, I think of a dry, rubbery texture, which is exactly what <a href="https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-scrambled-eggs-in-the-microwave-article">this method</a> gave me.</p><p>I started by whisking the eggs, milk, and seasoning together in a microwave-safe mug. I microwaved the eggs for 30 seconds at a time, and they took about two minutes to cook completely.</p><div type="image" title="Rubbery-looking scrambled eggs in a blue bowl on wooden table" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315144" hostid="261" sizebytes="644306"></div><p>In a pinch, these would be fine because they cooked quickly, required few ingredients, and were easy to make. Bread also masked the not-so-great texture.</p><h2><strong>Making this dish in the slow cooker took an hour, but the eggs turned out great</strong></h2><div type="image" title="A single layer of bright-yellow eggs in black slow-cooker pot" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315149" hostid="261" sizebytes="675466"></div><p>This slow-cooker option yields a lot of scrambled eggs, making it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/good-easy-breakfast-recipes-to-make-in-air-fryer-reviewed-photos">ideal for meal-prepping or serving a crowd</a>. Though slow-cooker recipes typically take a long time until they're done, the eggs only needed an hour.</p><p>I cut <a href="https://www.recipesthatcrock.com/crock-pot-scrambled-eggs/">this recipe</a> down a bit, and used six eggs, just shy of a cup of cream, and about a cup of mozzarella cheese. I whisked these ingredients together while a tablespoon of butter melted in the slow cooker. Then, I just poured in the eggs, covered the pot, and let them cook on high for an hour.</p><div type="image" title="Fully-cooked eggs in a slow-cooker pot. Eggs are folded over to reveal browned area of eggs that was against the pot" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315188" hostid="261" sizebytes="876636"></div><p>This method surprised and impressed me because <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-add-to-scrambled-eggs-to-make-them-better-2021-6">the eggs were very light, soft, and fluffy</a>. The only downside is that the bottom got pretty brown, but the flavor was still very buttery and cheesy.</p><p>They also didn't stick to the slow-cooker pot at all, making for easy cleanup.</p><div type="image" title="Chunks of scrambled eggs, some areas browned, on a white plate" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315192" hostid="261" sizebytes="509276"></div><p>This method was much easier than cooking a lot of eggs on the stove, so I'll definitely be trying this again when I need larger portions of scrambled eggs — but next time, I'll be sure to keep the heat at low or medium.</p><h2><strong>The oven method is also meant to serve a crowd, but it didn't impress me</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="White mug with scrambled eggs molded into shape with pepper mixed in" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315155" hostid="261" sizebytes="481736"></div><p><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=ea3647b6aa06d666d3fba59e9066930766325dede4e9722b15df18b0b0f6b32c&amp;postID=62683465f9954a1faf17d234&amp;postSlug=best-trick-to-make-perfect-scrambled-eggs-recipes-review-photos-2022-4&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Ffood52.com%2Frecipes%2F81082-oven-scrambled-eggs">Making scrambled eggs in the oven</a> is also meant to cook large portions for a crowd in a short amount of time.</p><p>This recipe called for 24 eggs and a large dish, but I scaled it down to one serving in a smaller, oven-safe ceramic mug.</p><div type="image" title="Circular-shaped piece of scrambled egg cut in half and on piece of bread on blue plate on wooden table" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315140" hostid="261" sizebytes="861442"></div><p>The eggs, especially the edges, came out dry and rubbery. Whether I'm making a single serving or cooking for several people, I wouldn't turn to the oven to make scrambled eggs again.</p><h2><strong>The cocktail-shaker method was OK, but it was too messy for me</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Foamy raw eggs in a metal cocktail shaker" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315152" hostid="261" sizebytes="643092"></div><p>Making scrambled <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/recipes/water-bottle-hack-scrambled-eggs">eggs in a cocktail shaker</a>, or wide-mouth water bottle, instead of whisking makes sense to me. It's common to mix egg whites in a shaker for the foam to top cocktails — this was similar, but I was leaving the yolks in.</p><div type="image" title="Raw egg spilled on black counter" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315165" hostid="261" sizebytes="389696"></div><p>I simply shook a couple of eggs in a metal cocktail shaker. But when I removed the lid, the pressure led the eggs to explode a bit, so it was messy.</p><div type="image" title="Chunky-looking bright-yellow eggs on white plate with wooden board" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315150" hostid="261" sizebytes="483836"></div><p>When I cooked them, the eggs came together in large, folding ribbons, and the final texture was slightly rubbery but moist. The eggs were fine, but I think the texture and taste weren't worth the mess.</p><h2><strong>The super-whisk method took a little more time and effort, but the eggs were decadent</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Raw eggs in a metal bowl being whisked" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315173" hostid="261" sizebytes="439290"></div><p>I'm not one to eat wet eggs, so I wasn't sure that I'd like this <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2015/05/french-style-soft-spoonable-scrambled-eggs-recipe.html">"spoonable" scramble</a>.</p><p>However, this method was easy enough since all I had to do was whisk eggs, butter, cream, salt, and pepper in a saucepan over low heat. When I say whisk, I mean really it — I mixed them nearly nonstop for 15 minutes in order to achieve the tiniest curds.</p><div type="image" title="Scrambled eggs in metal pot with small curds in it" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315182" hostid="261" sizebytes="327122"></div><p>I knew I'd have trouble stomaching these very wet eggs, so I poured them over a sturdy piece of bread. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/weird-things-about-eggs-that-arent-true-2019-7">I ate one spoonful of the eggs alone</a>, and I found they had a velvety texture and rich flavor thanks to the butter and cream.</p><div type="image" title="Scrambled eggs on toast with a rosemary sprig on top on blue plate" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315177" hostid="261" sizebytes="623606"></div><p>I don't expect to make these often, but for wet eggs, they did turn out amazing.</p><h2><strong>Overall, I picked up several new favorite ways to make scrambled eggs</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="The writer smiles and holds a plate of scrambled eggs toward camera" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115315175" hostid="261" sizebytes="654384"></div><p>I'd probably use about half of these methods again, but my absolute favorites were the boiled-water and the slow-cooker ones. I'll be using the boiling-water method as my new go-to and the slow-cooker option for making brunch for friends or <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-frozen-breakfast-sandwich-you-can-buy-review">preparing breakfast sandwiches or burritos for the freezer</a>.</p><p>I didn't mind the super-whisk method, and I can see myself trying that one again. The plain-water method was also incredibly easy and is ideal for times when I am out of milk and want to make fluffy scrambled eggs.</p><p>But after multiple attempts with cooking eggs low and slow, I won't be trying that again. The microwave and oven options also didn't work out for me, and the shaker method made too much of a mess.</p><p>Overall, I'm glad to have found at least a handful of easy, go-to methods for scrambled eggs that work for any occasion.</p><p><em>This story was originally published on May 1, 2022, and most recently updated on November 14, 2024.</em></p>

I tried 8 tricks for making perfect scrambled eggs, and the best called for a whirlpool of boiling water

If you’ve ever wondered whether fish can suffocate in water, the answer is yes.<br /><br />Our planet's waters, from the tiniest pond to the vast expanse of the ocean, are experiencing a silent crisis: a rapid and dramatic decline in <keyword id="21181078" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="oxygen-levels" source="keywords">oxygen levels</keyword>. This "<keyword id="22526914" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aquatic-deoxygenation" source="keywords">aquatic deoxygenation</keyword>," as scientists call it, poses a major threat not just to marine ecosystems, but to the very fabric of human society and the stability of life on Earth.<br /><br />An international study in <em>Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</em>, involving researchers from GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, urges world leaders to recognise this oxygen loss as a new planetary boundary. <keyword id="22526915" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="planetary-boundaries" source="keywords">Planetary boundaries</keyword> are critical thresholds that, if crossed, can trigger large-scale and irreversible environmental damage.<br /><br />Just like we need oxygen to breathe, so do <keyword id="22526918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aquatic-ecosystems" source="keywords">aquatic ecosystems</keyword> — from microscopic plankton to bigger fish. The decline in <keyword id="21809938" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dissolved-oxygen" source="keywords">dissolved oxygen</keyword> (DO) threatens the survival of countless species at all levels of the food chain.<br /><br />The study reveals a disturbing trend. Across all aquatic environments, from lakes and rivers to coastal waters and the open ocean, dissolved oxygen levels have dropped substantially in recent decades. <keyword id="22526916" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="oceanic-oxygen-loss" source="keywords">Oceanic oxygen loss</keyword> may seem small at 2% since 1960, but due to the ocean's vast volume, this translates to a significant loss. Even more alarming is the case of specific regions, like the midwaters off Central California, where oxygen levels have plummeted by 40% in just a few decades.<br /><br />The research team warns that this isn't just an environmental concern; it's an economic and social one too. Billions of people rely on healthy aquatic ecosystems for food, income from fisheries and tourism, and clean drinking water.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111566431" title="June warmest on record; every month since July 2023 breached 1.5 deg C threshold" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The culprit behind this oxygen depletion is a combination of factors. <keyword id="19942740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-warming" source="keywords">Global warming</keyword>, fueled by greenhouse gas emissions, raises water temperatures, decreasing the amount of oxygen water can hold. Additionally, nutrient runoff from land use changes stimulates massive <keyword id="22526917" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="algal-blooms" source="keywords">algal blooms</keyword>. These blooms, while initially appearing productive, consume vast amounts of oxygen as they decompose, creating oxygen-depleted dead zones.<br /><br />Dr Rose, lead author of the study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, emphasises the urgency of addressing this issue. Adding aquatic deoxygenation to the list of planetary boundaries will focus global efforts on monitoring, research, and policy changes to protect our vital aquatic ecosystems and, in turn, human society.<br /><br />The root causes are global warming and nutrient runoff from land use, explains co-author Dr Andreas Oschlies of GEOMAR. Warmer water hinders oxygen exchange between deep and surface layers, and nutrient influx fuels algal blooms that deplete oxygen further.<br /><br />These oxygen-depleted zones aren't just lifeless wastelands; they have a ripple effect that threatens our planet's health. Microbes in these zones produce potent greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide and methane, contributing further to global warming and exacerbating the very problem they were created by.<br /><br />We are approaching critical thresholds, warns Professor Rose. Aquatic deoxygenation disrupts the delicate balance of Earth's climate system. Addressing the root causes, like climate change and unsustainable land practices, is crucial.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111609639" title="Groundwater temperatures could rise several notches by 2100, making it too hot to drink for millions!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

Oxygen is disappearing from Earth’s water; this endangers marine life and human society!

<ul class="summary-list"><li>California has spent decades battling droughts and water insecurity.</li><li>Startups like Epic Cleantec are innovating with on-site water reuse.</li></ul><p>Despite enduring droughts for <a target="_blank" href="https://ca.water.usgs.gov/california-drought/california-drought-runoff.html">much of the past 15 years</a>, California continues to lead the nation in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-qa-which-states-use-most-water">water consumption</a>.</p><p>During these <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-drought-could-impact-agriculture-tourism-wildlife-2021-6">dry periods</a>, some of the state's local governments began to look for ways to <a target="_blank" href="https://andthewest.stanford.edu/2023/in-times-of-scarcity-californias-best-new-source-of-water-reuse/">diversify their water supplies</a> away from lengthy pipelines and expensive, out-of-state sources.</p><p>In 2012, San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission began developing the Onsite Water Reuse Program to investigate whether water reuse, also known as water recycling, in buildings could be a solution to California's water problem.</p><p>"There weren't any state or national regulations," Paula Kehoe, the director of water resources at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, told Business Insider. Kehoe and her team created a permitting program to streamline the adoption of on-site water-reuse systems developed by private businesses.</p><p>As the US faces a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2023/09/25/more-federal-funding-needed-to-improve-drinking-water-epa-study-finds#:~:text=Water%20utilities%20throughout%20the%20United,Environmental%20Protection%20Agency%20(EPA).">$625 billion cost to address the nation's need to repair drinking- and clean-water infrastructure</a>, on-site water reuse is quickly becoming a strong alternative to the historically slow and expensive process of building large water-recycling plants.</p><p>With droughts predicted to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://apnews.com/article/california-droughts-gavin-newsom-recycling-c22de8f25b9d6a2bf69277a7185abc0f">reduce California's water supply by 10%</a> over the next 20 years, the success of these systems could lay the foundation for how the state sources its water over several decades.</p><h2 id="8b14ae19-3316-4bcf-9798-263a2b1e1e25"><strong>Silicon Valley is investing in on-site water recycling</strong></h2><p>In 2015, during the height of California's drought and after three years of development, San Francisco unveiled the Onsite Water Reuse Program requiring all new buildings of 250,000 square feet or more to install an on-site water-treatment system for nonpotable uses, a cap that was lowered to 100,000 square feet in 2021.</p><p>The city's tech background and proximity to Silicon Valley gave some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gradiant-water-startup-helps-businesses-recycle-water-2023-7">startups an opportunity</a> to enter the market. In 2019, Epic Cleantec, a maker of on-site water-reuse systems, emerged to meet the necessary demand for new large buildings.</p><p>Aaron Tartakovsky, Epic Cleantec's cofounder and CEO, developed the company to address the water-reuse needs of large city buildings.</p><p>He told BI he took inspiration from the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solar-careers-in-demand-workforce-shortage-2024-7">solar industry</a>, which he said had turned to local installation projects after prioritizing large-scale solar-panel farms. "Can we do the same thing for water and wastewater?" Tartakovsky<strong> </strong>said. "Can this be water's solar moment?"</p><div type="image" title="Aaron Tartovsky, founder of epic cleantec" height="2268" width="3024" msid="111870886" hostid="261" sizebytes="137524"></div><p>Epic Cleantec's on-site systems can recycle building gray water for nonpotable uses, including toilet flushing and irrigation, through their filtration and disinfection process. The company's systems also incorporate an energy-saving mechanism to limit the amount of wasted heat.</p><p>"We have big tanks in these buildings that are collecting all this heated wastewater," Tartakovsky said. "Rather than just sending all that heat away, we are using heat exchangers to take all of that energy from the water and then to reuse that energy within the building."</p><p>Epic Cleantec has six active projects in California, including a recent system in San Francisco's Salesforce Tower that the company says is the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://epiccleantec.com/projects/salesforce">largest on-site water-reuse system in a US commercial high-rise</a>.</p><p>The company has also entered the hotel sector with a recycling system in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Beverly Hills. Recycled water is being used for on-site irrigation.</p><p>In a drought-conscious state, Tartakovsky<strong> </strong>said the on-site recycling systems had become more appealing to tenants looking for ways to contribute to the state's water-conservation mindset.</p><p>The adoption of on-site water reuse can also be a sensible decision for developers. "They're not working with us just because it's a nice thing to do and it's good for the planet," he said. "They're doing it because it makes business sense — it saves them a lot of money to incorporate technologies like ours into these projects."</p><h2 id="075e558b-3852-4981-bc08-a5e2095ce6fb"><strong>Water reuse to overcome hurdles</strong></h2><p>While large plants and on-site water systems in major buildings have been California's <a target="_blank" href="https://andthewest.stanford.edu/2023/in-times-of-scarcity-californias-best-new-source-of-water-reuse/">more established methods</a> of water reuse, the state's biggest hurdle is retrofitting systems for existing buildings.</p><p>As part of San Francisco's water-recycling initiative, the city published a list of 30 vendors that provide on-site systems that can be installed in existing buildings and new constructions to collect different types of water, including rainwater, gray water, and black water.</p><p>While most of the vendors offer reuse systems and water management for new constructions, some companies, such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bioclere.co.uk/bioclere.php">Bioclere</a>, Phoenix's <a target="_blank" href="https://dewater.com/markets/aquacell-water-recycling/">Aquacell</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://innovatreat.com/">Innovatreat</a>, make systems designed to be retrofitted into existing buildings and community infrastructure.</p><div type="image" title="Epic Cleantec One Water system installed" height="2626" width="1751" msid="111870887" hostid="261" sizebytes="125772"></div><p>Erik Porse, the director and associate cooperative extension specialist at the California Institute for Water Resources, told BI these retrofits are more difficult to install because of the limitations of size and existing water pipes. "If you have a larger facility, like more area, then you can think about on-site treatment of some sort," he said. "But if you're kind of working in an existing building, like a small building, it can be kind of tough to integrate in lots of treatments."</p><p>California's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-central-valley-farms-groundwater-dought-2023-7">agriculture sector</a> also relies on water-reuse systems for nonpotable water — a key part of crop irrigation. Since the state has the highest agricultural output in the country, recycled water is important for maintaining crops, especially in times of drought. California is the leader in <a target="_blank" href="https://watereuse.org/educate/water-reuse-101/agricultural-reuse/">using reused water for agriculture</a> across the US.</p><p>However, the extent to which recycled water is used in agriculture depends on a state's guidelines, many of which are underdeveloped. For example, Iowa is one of the highest producers of crops but does not have any regulations for the use of reused water in agriculture. Instead, the state is experimenting with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cals.iastate.edu/inrc/news/2024/new-report-shares-latest-research-potential-ag-drainage-water-recycling">drainage-water recycling</a>, or collecting water from farming, and local infrastructure that captures used drainage and rainfall for reuse in on-site irrigation.</p><p>Nonpotable water can also help in one of the country's newest sources of water loss: data centers. States like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsweek.com/why-ai-so-thirsty-data-centers-use-massive-amounts-water-1882374">Iowa</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://grist.org/technology/surging-demand-data-guzzling-water-ai/">Virginia</a> have seen massive strains on their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-energy-centers-water-energy-land-2023-10">water supplies</a> due to the increased construction of these facilities. "Those data centers use huge amounts of water to cool themselves," Tartakovsky said.</p><p>Tartakovsky hopes Epic Cleantec's recent expansions to states such as Texas, Florida, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-water-crisis-climate-change/">Hawaii</a> can help in ways beyond water scarcity. "A lot of people think you only need it in the Western states, but in places like the East Coast, a lot of times what they have is wastewater-infrastructure issues," he said. "We have pipes and sewers that were put in place anywhere from 30 to 100 years ago."</p><h2 id="8d5654cd-d3b7-4f2e-89c8-d5d9a678cdde"><strong>Rethinking our relationship with water</strong></h2><p>To help promote the safety of its recycled water, Epic Cleantec partnered with a brewery near San Francisco, Devil's Canyon Brewing Co., to make a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-moon-bay-brewery-california-recycled-wastewater-nasa-astronauts-2023-7">safe-to-drink beer</a> out of its nonpotable water. The beer could not be sold commercially since the state has not cleared nonpotable water for drinking, but Tartakovsky credits the campaign with highlighting the company's purification process.</p><p>Other states could learn from the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/04/14/state-expands-save-our-water-public-awareness-campaign-as-drought-intensifies/">public-awareness campaigns</a> California has promoted for several decades to help residents embrace water reuse. During times of drought, the state has encouraged water conservation and water recycling, such as the use of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2022-06-21/gardening-with-recycled-water">recycled water for plants</a>. "We've seen a pretty big evolution in California cities, especially in Southern California, that folks understand that water reuse is a treatment technology that we use in the state, and it's important, and it provides supply resilience," Porse said.</p><p>In Texas, a fellow drought-prone state, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://takecareoftexas.org/water">Take Care of Texas </a>campaign similarly encourages community support for water conservation so the state can survive in times of water scarcity.</p><p>Porse told BI that in California as public support grows, so will government regulations. In 2023, California made progress toward establishing recycled water for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/press_room/press_releases/2023/pr20231219-dpr-regulations-adoption.pdf">direct potable reuse</a> and allowing recycled water to be used in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-drinking-toilet-water-sewage-waste-drought-climate-crisis-solution-2023-12">state's drinking-water supply</a>.</p><p>For Kehoe, the key to creating stronger water infrastructure is a partnership between communities that endures beyond times of scarcity.</p><p>"We always talk about water conservation as a way of life," Kehoe said. "It's not just during the drought."</p>

Droughts are threatening California's water supply. The state is racing to save what's left. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="21868010" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Victoria-Ou" source="keywords">Victoria Ou</keyword> and <keyword id="21868011" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Justin-Huang" source="keywords">Justin Huang</keyword>, both 17, won $50,000 for their <keyword id="21868009" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microplastic-filtration-device" source="Orion">microplastic filtration device</keyword>.</li><li>They tested a new technique using <keyword id="21403320" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ultrasound" source="keywords">ultrasound</keyword> to filter <keyword id="19970180" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="microplastics" source="keywords">microplastics</keyword> from water.</li></ul>Two teenagers from Woodlands, Texas invented a device that could help address one of the most pervasive and challenging forms of pollution on Earth: microplastics.<br /><br />These microscopic plastic particles show up in the deepest parts of the ocean, at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mount-everest-summit-microplastics-study-national-geographic-2020-11">top of Mount Everest</a>, and are in everything from the dust in your home to your food and water.<br /><br />By some estimates, we each inhale and ingest a credit card's worth of plastic per week. Thenit can end up in our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-living-human-lungs-for-the-first-time-2022-4">lungs</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-discovered-in-human-blood-for-the-first-time-2022-3">blood</a>, breastmilk, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-human-testicles-what-to-do-2024-5">testicles</a>.<br /><br />Victoria Ou and Justin Huang, both 17, hope to prevent that one day with their award-winning device that removes microplastics from water using ultrasonic — or high-frequency — sound waves.<br /><br />Ou and Huang presented their work at last week's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teen-wins-isef-science-fair-grand-prize-discovery-biomedical-devices-2024-5">Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair</a> (ISEF) in Los Angeles, where top competitors from science fairs worldwide congregated to share their projects and compete for $9 million in prizes.<br /><br />The Texas duo received first place in their Google-sponsored category, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and they also snagged the $50,000 prize from the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations.<br /><br />  <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand with their arms raised wearing giant gold medals around their necks" height="839" width="1259" msid="110377857" hostid="261"></div>Though the ultrasonic technique is in its very early stages, the high schoolers hope that one day it could filter the plastic out of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nanoplastics-water-bottle-micro-plastics-bloodsteam-tiny-pieces-plastic-2024-1">your drinking water</a> and from the industrial and wastewater that humans dump into the environment.<br /><br />"This is the first year we've done this," Huang told Business Insider backstage after receiving their award. "If we could refine this — maybe use more professional equipment, maybe go to a lab instead of testing from our home — we could really improve our device and get it ready for large-scale manufacturing."<br /><br />While it's unclear how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/you-are-consuming-microplastics-how-much-what-to-know-risks-2022-4">microplastics affect human health</a>, many common chemicals in plastic have been linked to increased risk of cancer, fertility and development issues, and hormone disruption. And we're still a long way from getting rid of microplastics.<br /><br /><h2>The challenge of filtering microplastics</h2>  <div type="image" title="White microplastic beads inside a black container under a microscope" height="683" width="1024" msid="110377858" hostid="261"></div>Last fall, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/isef-science-fair-parents-mistake-pressure-2024-5">brainstorming ideas</a> for their ISEF project, Ou and Huang visited a water treatment plant. They wanted to find out whether this type of facility already had tools that could remove microplastics from wastewater.<br /><br />The answer, they discovered, was no. The EPA doesn't regulate microplastics, the employees told Huang and Ou, so they don't remove them from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-carry-stomach-viruses-in-fresh-water-for-days-study-2022-6">wastewater</a>.<br /><br />"We knew, from then, to focus on this issue," Huang told BI.<br /><br />Even if the EPA began regulating these pernicious plastic particles tomorrow, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-water-pollution-solution-from-google-2019-8">existing removal methods</a> have problems, Huang said.<br /><br />One solution is to use chemical coagulants, such as aluminum hydroxide, that — when added to water — clump microplastics together into larger, more easily filtered chunks. However, chemical coagulants can also pollute the environment and mess with the PH of purified water. Plus, they're expensive.<br /><br />There are also some physical filters available, but they clog easily. And biological solutions, like using enzymes to break down plastics, aren't efficient enough to tackle this problem at scale.<br /><br />"We wanted to find a solution to this because current solutions aren't really effective," Huang said.<br /><br />So, Ou and Huang — who have been friends since elementary school and connected over their shared interest in the environment — set out to invent their own environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and efficient solution.<br /><br /><h2>How it works</h2>  <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand in front of their science fair poster holding a small device in their hands that they invented" height="667" width="1000" msid="110377861" hostid="261"></div>Huang and Ou's device is remarkably small, about the size of a pen. It's essentially a long tube with two stations of electric transducers that use ultrasound to act as a two-step filter.<br /><br />As water flows through the device, the ultrasound waves generate pressure, which pushes microplastics back while allowing the water to continue flowing forward, Ou explained. What comes out the other end is clean, microplastic-free water.<br /><br />The two teens tested their device on three common types of microplastics: polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyethylene. In a single pass, their device can remove between 84% and 94% of <keyword id="7791833" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microplastics-in-water" source="Orion">microplastics in water</keyword>, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.societyforscience.org/press-release/high-schoolers-win-more-than-9-million-at-regeneron-isef-2024/">press release</a>.<br /><br /><h2>Future work</h2>  <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand back to back wearing a black and blue suit" height="1667" width="2500" msid="110377862" hostid="261"></div><br />Ou and Huang believe their technology could be used in wastewater treatment plants, industrial textile plants, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-chicago-cleans-billion-gallons-wastewater-every-day-2024-4" target="_blank">sewage treatment plants</a>, and rural water sources. On a smaller scale, it could filter microplastics in laundry machines and even fish tanks.<br /><br />But first, there's more work to be done. "To reach that stage, I think we need a lot more processing," Ou said. "This is a pretty new approach. We only found one study that was trying to use ultrasound to predict the flow of particles in water, but it didn't completely filter them out yet." The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S138358662200209X" target="_blank">study</a> that inspired the two teens was by New Mexico Tech researchers and published in the peer-reviewed journal Separation and Purification Technology in 2022.<br /><br />In another 2023 <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383586623006056?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">study</a>, researchers at Shinshu University tested a similar ultrasound-filtering method to remove microplastics from water. But Ou and Huang say their device is simpler, more efficient, and the first to use ultrasound to block and filter microplastics directly.<br /><br />Their technique uses ultrasonic waves to create a pressure wall that blocks microplastics and allows water to flow through, whereas the Shinshu study focused the microplastics into a beam that must then be collected separately, which requires more steps, more infrastructure, and didn't filter as much water.<br /><br />"I hope we just are able to be able to scale this up, but first we have to refine it because this technology is still at its infancy," Huang said.<br /><br />Their $50,000 prize could help them get there. In the meantime, though, they're enjoying the moment.<br /><br />"We were just happy being able to go to ISEF. Originally, we weren't expecting too much, but getting first place and the top award is much more than we ever expected," Ou said.<br /><br />"This is something that I've been dreaming of my whole life, so I'm still pinching myself trying to figure out if this is real or not," Huang said.<br /><br /><em>Correction — May 29, 2024: An earlier version of this story misstated the novelty of Ou and Huang's invention. Ou and Huang are not the first to successfully use ultrasound to separate microplastics from water. Previous studies have tested similar methods.</em><br />

2 teens won $50,000 for inventing a device that can filter toxic microplastics from water

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Andrew Halter delivers water 1,200 miles by rail to the Navajo Nation from Mississippi.</li><li>Navajo Nation residents struggle with water scarcity, with 30% lacking reliable drinking water.</li></ul><p>Andrew Halter had been in the railroad business for 25 years, mostly in middle management roles. It was his dream job and all he ever wanted to do.</p><p>But when the world shut down in 2020, and he got laid off, he needed to figure something else out.</p><p>"It came to me one day like a clap of thunder," Halter, who is based in Pennsylvania, told Business Insider.</p><p>Halter and his brother had long talked about the possibility of using rail to help alleviate the water crisis in the Navajo Nation. His brother, Chris Halter, runs the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.stbonaventuremission.org">St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School</a>, located on the southeastern edge of the reservation, which spans more than 27,000 square miles across parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.</p><p>Nearly a third of <a target="_blank" href="https://nndwr.navajo-nsn.gov/"><u>Navajo Nation</u></a> residents do not have access to reliable, clean drinking water, according to the tribe. The estimated population was over 165,000 in 2020, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://data.census.gov/profile/Navajo_Nation_Reservation_and_Off-Reservation_Trust_Land,_AZ--NM--UT?g=2500000US2430">census data</a>.</p><p>The mission was already delivering water via trucks to 250 families, a small portion of the Navajo who are water-scarce. The families receive about 40 gallons of water a day, far less than the 300 gallons the average American family uses. The mission has relied on a local well to get the water, but if something happened to it, all those families would be without any water virtually overnight.</p><p>"To be honest, it was always the thing that would wake me up in the middle of the night," Chris Halter told BI. "If that well shuts down for some reason, what would I do next?"</p><p>Now, Halter's company, <a target="_blank" href="https://jacobswell8.godaddysites.com">Jacob's Well</a>, in partnership with the mission, delivers thousands of gallons of water each month from Mississippi to the Navajo Nation via the BNSF Railway. The water-by-rail served as a lifeline in 2022 when the well had to undergo repairs that lasted months.</p><p>The operation has grown quickly, and Halter is focused on expanding, both to provide more water to the Navajo Nation but also potentially to other places in the West, where dried up rivers and reservoirs are leaving communities increasingly desperate for solutions.</p><div type="image" title="Tank car" height="2049" width="3209" msid="110505100" hostid="261"></div><h2 id="a684fd17-93b4-488f-a009-a0f311e3306b">Some thought the water-by-rail idea was crazy</h2><p>When Halter first started calling railroads about transporting drinkable water, some thought the idea was crazy.</p><p>He finally got in touch with Eunice Sun at BNSF, who currently serves as the business development manager of emerging markets.</p><p>"We haven't moved potable water prior to this opportunity, really, because the economics don't necessarily pencil out in order to pay for that water and pay for the transport," Sun told BI. But when Halter came to her, she said he did a great job communicating his vision and business plan.</p><p>Halter said right now they can transport water, depending on fuel prices and other fluctuating costs, for around 38 cents a gallon. Currently, those costs are covered almost entirely by private donations to the mission. However, as the operation scales up and he transports more tank cars of water, those costs could come down.</p><p>Getting a public utility to sell him hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per month was another story. "A lot of times, they think you're crazy," Halter said. Still, they were able to work out a deal with the water department of Helena, Mississippi, where Jacob's Well collects its water before it travels 1,200 miles by rail to the southwest.</p><p>Once it arrives, the Navajo families can pick up water from the mission or have it delivered to their homes, just as the well water is.</p><p>Originally, Halter said he couldn't even find information about how the water would travel, and it took a lot of testing before and after transport to ensure the supply stayed safe to drink.</p><p>"We've kind of had to wing it and make up our own rules as we go along and figure some things out the hard way, which we did," he said.</p><p>It took around eight months from when Halter first contacted BNSF for the first shipment to go out, and the operation has only grown since. Halter said they currently average around two tank cars a month, which each hold 21,000 gallons of water,<em> </em>but the operation is capable of delivering 200,000 gallons a month if needed.</p><p>They sent half a million gallons of water total in 2023. He's hoping to reach 2 million this year.</p><div type="image" title="Water truck" height="400" width="600" msid="110505104" hostid="261"></div><h2 id="b3ba473f-e5dc-4635-868b-ff5aed905355">Emergency water supply and the water crisis</h2><p>It's unclear at this point how scalable or economically feasible water-by-rail will be in other places, but those involved are hopeful.</p><p>Chris Halter said he's currently conducting a study that he hopes will show the project has had a sound return on investment so that he can show tribal, local, and state governments that this is a feasible option.</p><p>Sun said expanding Jacob's Well wouldn't come without growing pains, but that BNSF is happy to help support the project's growth. "It tugs at your heartstrings," she said, adding that it's not often she gets to work on a project that has such a direct positive impact on a local community.</p><p>Halter sees water-by-rail as something that could fill a serious need in all sorts of situations, from communities whose wells run dry to natural disasters. He's already been in touch with the state of New Mexico and FEMA. He's hopeful that rail will be among the solutions that help alleviate the broader water crisis.</p><p>After getting a severe case of COVID-19, Halter lost the use of his right hand and was not able to go back to work on the railroad, so he now runs Jacob's Well full time.</p><p>"It's become a driving mission to give these people water," he said. "I want to be able to provide people with water at the lowest cost possible, and I want it to make enough money to support itself, but I don't need to get wealthy on it."</p><p>For now the operation is run on donations, but they're hoping they can get grant money or other public funds to help support it in the future.</p><p>"Water is a human right," Halter said. "And they should be able to have it."</p><p><em>Have a news tip or a story to share? Contact this reporter at </em><a target="_blank" href="mailto:kvlamis@businessinsider.com"><em><u>kvlamis@businessinsider.com</u></em></a><em>.</em></p>

A railroad worker figured out how to send thousands of gallons of drinking water by rail from Mississippi to the Navajo Nation to alleviate the water crisis

<p>Thanks to their versatility and easy operation, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/best-air-fryer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best air fryers</a> are only getting more and more popular. You can expertly cook everything from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/air-fryer-chicken-wings">air fryer chicken wings</a> to french fries in minutes, but what about cleaning this new appliance? Even the best air fryer we tested, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/instant-vortex-plus-air-fryer-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instant Vortex Plus</a>, needs to be maintained in order to avoid smells and stay in tip-top shape. </p><p>Based on our own extensive air fryer experience and interviews with Samantha Blair, senior manager of PR at SharkNinja, and Karen Diep, product expert at Breville, here are step by step instructions on how to clean your air fryer. (If you're looking to skip one the steps below, check out the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/best-silicone-air-fryer-liners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best silicone air fryer liners</a>.)</p><h2><strong>How to clean a basket-style air fryer</strong></h2><div type="image" title="The Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven with ClearCook, the best air fryer in 2023, is displayed on a kitchen counter." height="1005" width="1341" msid="107729431" hostid="261" sizebytes="86186"></div><ol><li><strong>Unplug and let it cool.</strong> Let the air fryer cool off so it is safe to handle but still warm. Unplug the unit and let it sit for about 30 minutes. This way the unit and parts won't be blazing hot, but any stuck-on food should still be easy to remove.</li><li><strong>Wash the fryer basket(s). </strong>Many baskets (sometimes called cooking trays) are dishwasher-safe, but be sure to check a manual. Otherwise, wash with hot, soapy water and a soft sponge.</li><li><strong>Wash the grease catcher. </strong>Sometimes called a crisper plate, outer basket, or pan, air fryers often have this piece under the basket to catch any drips. Many are dishwasher-safe, but they can also be cleaned with hot, soapy water.</li><li><strong>Deep clean (if needed). </strong>If the basket or grease catcher has stubborn, stuck-on food, Blair suggests soaking them in hot, soapy water for several minutes before cleaning. A mixture of baking soda and water can be used to help scrub any remaining grime.</li><li><strong>Wipe the interior and exterior. </strong>Give the main unit and control panel a wipe with a damp cloth.</li><li><strong>Check the heating element of the air fryer. </strong>The element is located at the top of the air fryer and should be checked periodically. If needed, carefully give it a wipe with a damp (not wet) cloth and let it dry completely. Consult the manual on how to access the model's element safely.</li><li><strong>Dry. </strong>Let all of the components completely air dry before reassembling.</li></ol><h2><strong>How to clean an oven-style air fryer</strong></h2><div type="image" title="The Breville Smart Oven Air cooks broccoli in a metal basket." height="900" width="1200" msid="107729432" hostid="261" sizebytes="72988"></div><ol><li><strong>Unplug and let it cool.</strong> It's easier to clean a warm air fryer, but a hot one could burn you. Unplug and let it cool for about 30 minutes.</li><li><strong>Wash all removable accessories. </strong>Oven-style units will have wire racks and many models also include broiling racks and removable pans. Remove from the air fryer and wash in warm, soapy water. "Do not use abrasive cleansers, metal scouring pads or metal utensils," says Diep.</li><li><strong>Clean the crumb tray. </strong>Diep recommends removing the tray after every use and emptying any crumbs. When cleaning, wipe the tray down using warm, soapy water and a sponge.</li><li><strong>Deep clean (if needed). </strong>If the racks or trays have baked-on grease, soak them in warm, soapy water and use a non-abrasive liquid cleaner and sponge.</li><li><strong>Wipe the interior and exterior. </strong>Give the inside and outside a once-over with a soft, damp sponge. If needed, apply a liquid cleaner to the sponge to help remove any build-up. Diep recommends using a glass cleaner to clean the glass door.</li><li><strong>Dry. </strong>Let all removable parts fully dry before reinserting them back into the air fryer, and do not use the air fryer until it is dry and the crumb tray and racks are in place.</li></ol><h2><strong>Tips for cleaning an air fryer</strong></h2><ul><li><strong>Consult the manual. </strong>As tedious as it sounds, don't skip the manual for your particular model. Air fryers can have different parts with different stipulations for proper cleaning, including which parts may be dishwasher safe. Get to know the model before cleaning.</li><li><strong>Don't submerge the unit.</strong> "When cleaning an air fryer, do not immerse the main unit in water or any other liquid and make sure that you never put the main unit in a dishwasher," says Blair. This will damage the electronics and ruin the air fryer.</li><li><strong>Use a soft sponge or damp cloth. </strong>Metal tools and scouring pads can damage the nonstick coating. If some stuck-on residue refuses to budge, soak the parts in hot, soapy water before scrubbing with a sponge. For parts that are not removable (like the interior), use a paste made from baking soda and water and wipe away with a soft sponge.</li></ul><h2><strong>How to avoid lingering smells</strong></h2><p>If you have a brand-new air fryer producing a burnt plastic smell, this may be from a protective coating burning off inside the fryer. Give the new appliance a good clean and then run it a couple of times without any food inside to get rid of the smell.</p><p>For lingering food smells, try this trick from Diep: "Place an oven-safe bowl in the oven with two cups of water mixed with the juice of half a lemon and let it steam at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. That should pull off any remaining grease on the interior surfaces and the lemon can help with covering up the smell."</p><h2><strong>Insider's takeaway</strong></h2><p>To keep any of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/best-air-fryer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best air fryers</a> working perfectly and free of unwanted smells, give them a clean after every use. Be sure to read the manual for the model since improper cleaning can damage the air fryer. Most models have dishwasher-safe components, making them especially easy to keep clean.</p>

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