If, like me, you rely on your air fryer several times throughout the week, you'll appreciate just how much easier it makes mealtimes. However, its rapid cooking and straightforward operation don't necessarily translate into a hassle-free clean-up, and you may find yourself scrubbing relentlessly to remove those persistent grease stains. Since trying out Fairy Liquid Skip The Soak washing-up spray on my air fryer, it has made cleaning this kitchen appliance considerably quicker and simpler.

The main drawback of the Fairy Liquid Skip The Soak washing-up spray is its price tag. I purchased a bottle from my local supermarket for approximately £3.75, so upon discovering that Elbow Grease offered a comparable product for £2.56 less, I was eager to establish whether it would perform equally well, if not better.

Priced at around £1.19, the Elbow Grease washing-up spray is marketed in a similar fashion to the Fairy product, boasting a potent degreasing formula that tackles the most stubborn grease, baked-on food residue and persistent oil stains, delivering brilliantly clean results without any scrubbing required.

Having put both products through their paces, I found that both performed admirably, though a clear victor emerged.

For this cleaning test, I used both products simultaneously, applying an identical number of sprays to each basket.

After cooking succulent chicken in both air fryer baskets, I applied 10 sprays to each and let them soak for approximately 10 minutes. When applying the sprays to the baskets, the scent of the Elbow Grease spray was far more pleasant, as the Fairy Liquid alternative carried a notably harsh chemical smell.

After 10 minutes, the grease appeared to have loosened from both baskets, prompting me to use a sponge to check for any burnt-on marks.

Remarkably, on the Elbow Grease side, all the grease was wiped away the first time with a sponge, whereas on the Fairy Liquid side, a little additional scrubbing was needed in the centre of the tray.

I then removed the air fryer trays and rinsed the baskets under the tap. The Elbow Grease side showed no remaining stains; however, a few stubborn patches of grease lingered on the Fairy Liquid side, though nothing that required any vigorous scrubbing.

I found that both products performed well at removing grease from the air fryer baskets, yet the Elbow Grease Washing Liquid undoubtedly came out on top - and at that price point, it really is exceptional value.