One of the worst parts of having an aquarium is cleaning it. It takes up a lot of time, it often makes a mess, and it can be pretty gross if we’re being honest! These reasons have people turning to magnetic cleaners. We know what you’re thinking — can you put magnets in water? The simple answer is yes. Though, if you don’t believe us, we tested it for you! You can see how this experiment proves that magnets won’t lose their power in water. Here’s how popular aquarium cleaners are using magnets to get the job done.  How They’re Made Popular aquarium cleaners consist of two magnets. Usually, one side of one magnet is the scrubber that features coarse, textured, or velcro-like material and goes inside the tank — some even have a scraper attached. The other side is soft, like felt, and goes on the outside. With most magnetic cleaners, rare earth neodymium magnets are used, but the magnets are usually covered by an injection-molded and toxic-free plastic to prevent water contact with the magnet. Without this protective layer, the magnets could easily rust. Some cleaners are also buoyant, so when the magnet becomes undone, the one in the water will float up to the top. This saves you from having to plunge your hand into the water. How They Work Basically, the magnetic force of the outside magnet will move the interior magnet along the side of the tank. Since the magnets have scrubbers on them, as they move across the tank they’ll wipe away any dirt built up inside the tank. It’s that simple!  Concerns If debris such as sand or rocks gets between the magnets, it could scratch the glass and ruin your aquarium. Also, your tank size, glass thickness, and shape will make a difference between what cleaner you need, as the magnetic forces of the magnets may be too strong for some tank materials.  To see other ways that magnets are used in your everyday products, follow along with our blog!