by Bernard Thornhill

TikTok is better known for its crazy dances and lip-syncing. Yet, even though cleaning is one of the nation’s least favourite activities, hacks have made it to a fun-filled platform. With the arrival of CleanTok, cleaning videos have become hugely popular. How popular? Well, by May 2021, #CleanTok received 13.6 billion views and continues to grow.

Billions… what the heck?

This arrival of viral cleaning has come from nowhere but has undoubtedly blown up in people’s imagination. COVID-19 has likely played a part, as TikTok users have experienced multiple lockdowns. We have all been forced to stay home, and cleaning has become one way to pass all that time. While it seems strange to document the household chores, people have certainly been applying some imagination as they sit bored.

The pandemic explains why people have turned to videoing housework and having some fun in the home. However, does it explain why someone else will watch others limescale treat their toilets and more? The truth is that anyone ending up on CleanTok will likely find themselves 5 hours later, still learning from the hacks available. There is something wonderfully satisfying about an object going from dirty to one that is sparkling. It just calms our mind as we see the order come from chaos.

What is popular?

There are ever-changing trends with any hashtag, and cleaning hashtags are no different. What we tell you is a top trend now is probably so out-of-date it’s embarrassing. But, right now, these were of interest to the TikTok users.

At the top of the charts comes #cleaningTikTok, leading by a massive 4 billion. Next comes #cleaninghacks coming next; the only other hashtag to top a billion hits. #cleanwithme. #cleaningasmr, #deepclean; #cleaningtip, # cleaningmotivation all come high in the millions too. How #toiletcleaning gets 95.5 million views still amazes us, but the trend continues. #Poolcleaning is even more of a hot trend, with 597.3 million views. Yep, we don’t get it either.

The best cleaning hacks

So, cleaning on TikTok is officially famous. While we can pretend there is something odd about watching toilet cleaning, we understand there are lots to learn from those who have hints and tips for cleaning. Getting that oven clean without much effort or removing that stain from a quality rug, of course, people will want to know about it. It is these hacks that drive the popularity of cleaning on TikTok. Here are the best hacks we found.

Laundry stripping

Laundry stripping is a means of aggressively cleaning fabric items to get rid of any deep-set dirt. In the video, you will watch as a bath is turned into a cleaning container. The warm water is a mix of borax, washing powder and laundry detergent in a 2:1:1 ratio. Drop the item needing a clean into the mixture, whether towels or rugs or even hats. The water will turn a somewhat gross brown as all the dirt exits the item.

Paint removal from a carpet

To get rid of a paint stain from your carpet, you need hot water, a bucket, and a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. Scrape off the excess paint from the carpet. Then, pour water onto the paint and then scrape the water up with the vacuum. Keep repeating this process until the pain is completely lifted. This is a perfect hack for those oops moments straight after the spill.

Clean your plughole

A stinky sink is a fact of life. Eventually, your sinks will stink because of the dirt that builds up in the pipe. Did you know your kitchen sink plug hole unscrews? Then, how you can remove the grime and food residue with some bleach and a toothbrush. It will revolutionise your kitchen.

Stovetop stains

If you have ever burnt water onto your stovetop, which is just regular wear and tear, you will know it takes some effort to clean it. The best way to renew your stovetop, you can use some oven cleaner and elbow grease and get it back to a shiny brilliance. You have to be careful with oven cleaner, as it is a powerful and potentially harmful chemical.

Time for a fancy faucet

If you take a close look at your taps, you will see a white stain. This calcification will stick around no matter how much you scrub. You may think you will never get your taps shiny again. Fear not! With a toothbrush, white vinegar, a Ziploc bag, and patience, you will get your super shiny taps back. This hack is perfect because it does not involve dangerous chemicals but has a powerful impact.

If you fancy making your TikTok video, you only need to find your fantastic cleaning hack video.