🔘 Getting to Know Your Reencle — Buttons & ControlsUpdated 27 minutes ago

⬜ Overview

The Reencle Essential has a manually operated lid and three fixed-function touch buttons located on the upper right side of the front panel: Power, Dry, and Purify.

To open the lid, press the round physical Open button located on the top of the unit, then lift the lid by hand. To close it, gently press the lid down until it clicks securely into place.

The Power, Dry, and Purify buttons are touch-sensitive controls, not physical push buttons. Each button has a preset function, and its settings cannot be modified by the user.

This article explains how to operate the lid and use each control correctly.

1. Power Button

◾Function: Turns the unit on or off.

Turn On: Touch and hold for 1 second.
Turn Off: Touch and hold for 3 seconds.

For normal daily use, we recommend keeping your Reencle powered on. Reencle relies on a living microbial system, and maintaining the proper internal environment helps keep the microbes active and supports continuous decomposition.

When the unit is powered off, the internal temperature gradually drops and microbial activity slows. Over time, the microbes may enter a dormant (spore) state, pausing decomposition and potentially allowing odors to develop.

Only power off the unit when necessary, such as during travel, moving, or an extended absence.

For extended periods away, see:

👉 Daily Use & Maintenance — Vacation Mode: Preparing for Absence

⚠️ Touch Response Area:
All buttons on the Reencle Essential are touch-sensitive rather than physical push buttons. The touch-sensitive area includes both the button label (e.g., “Power”) and the white indicator light. Touch anywhere within this combined area to activate the button.

2. Dry Button

◾Function: Runs a 24-hour drying cycle to help reduce excess moisture in the microbial bed. The cycle turns off automatically after 24 hours.

◾How to activate: Touch the Dry button for 1 second.

◾When to use: Use Dry mode when the microbial bed is overly wet or clumping, as confirmed by the Squeeze Test.

◾How it works: Dry mode significantly increases fan speed to improve airflow and evaporation while slightly raising the internal temperature.

⚠️ Important: Dry mode is a supplementary recovery tool, not an instant fix for excess moisture. If the microbial bed is significantly wet or clumped, additional moisture-recovery steps may be needed.

For complete recovery instructions, see:

👉Microbes — Wet Microbe Recovery Guide

3. Purify Button

◾Function: Runs a 24-hour enhanced deodorizing cycle when odors become unusually strong. The cycle turns off automatically after 24 hours.

◾How to activate: Touch the Purify button for 1 second.

◾How it works: Purify mode increases fan speed to improve airflow and accelerate odor removal through the carbon filter.

⚠Important: Purify mode helps reduce odor, but it does not correct the underlying cause. Because Reencle creates real compost through a living microbial system, unusual odors are often related to moisture balance, cleanliness, or the types of food waste being added.

🔸Common causes and recommended adjustments:

Common Odor Cause	Recommended Action
Microbes too wet or too dry	Restore the proper moisture level. See: 👉 Wet Microbe Recovery Guide
Dirty interior (mesh filter, inner walls, lid)	Clean the affected interior components.
C:N ratio imbalance (excess nitrogen)	Add a small amount of carbon-rich material, such as bread or finger-sized pieces of unbleached paper towel.
Acidic/sour smell specifically	Add a small amount of used coffee grounds (note: Do not add large amounts, as coffee grounds do not decompose in Reencle.)

💡 For detailed guidance, see: 👉 Microbes — Why Do My Microbes Smell?

4. Opening Button

◾Function: Opens the lid.

◾How to use: Press the round physical Opening button located on the top of the unit.

Once pressed, the lid will open automatically. You do not need to lift the lid by hand.

To close the lid, gently press it down by hand until it clicks securely into place.

⚠️ Important: The Opening button is a physical push button and is separate from the touch-sensitive Power, Dry, and Purify buttons on the front panel.

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