5 viral cleaning hacks that work (and don’t)
On TikTok, a subgenre exists for cleaning hacks that promise to easily turn grimy bathrooms, serious spills and piles of dishes into sparkling, organized neatness.
Of course, we know the internet isn’t always the most truthful. As someone who is addicted to watching #CleanTok videos and who could definitely use a few home improvement pointers, I set out to test some of the most viral cleaning advice. Could the tips actually help me tidy my apartment better while also saving me time? Read on for the results, ordered from best to worst and ranked on cleanliness, efficiency and “hackability” —- i.e., the likelihood I would try it again or suggest it to a friend.
Dust baseboards and trim with dryer sheets
In a video that was viewed more than 500,000 times, user @ken.c.long asks: “Have you ever used dryer sheets to clean your baseboards? Well, maybe you should.” Not only will this trick clean the baseboards, he claims, but the film left behind by the sheets will also prevent more dust from accumulating.
Okay, I’ll admit: I was biased going into this hack, because I’ve done it before and can attest that it absolutely works. One sweep with a
dryer sheet along the trim of my walls picks up all visible dust and dirt. This time, I ran the sheets along my doors and door frames, because I haven’t been as mindful about dusting there, and I was very satisfied by how much they were able to clean. Two weeks later, I checked the same spots, and, sure enough, they were still dust-free. So, if you already have a package of dryer sheets, you’ve also got an effective duster — and preventive measure.
Cleanliness: 5/5
Efficiency: 5/5
Hackability: 5/5
Fight pet hair with one rubber glove
Animal rescuer Felicia
Wilson shared her secret to keeping her home free of pet hair in April, and it has since gained more than a half-million views. The key? A rubber dish glove. That’s it. Put one on and run it over a surface with a lot of pet hair, and the hair will allegedly cling to the glove and come right off.
My cat Honey loves to hang out on my velvet couch, leaving behind plenty of hair. Quick backstory: I was once influenced by TikTok to buy an approximately $30 reusable contraption called the ChomChom pet-hair remover. It’s definitely better than your average lint roller, but the clingy part wore out after about a year. All in all, not worth the money, in my opinion. Would TikTok again steer me to a subpar pet-hair solution?
Not this time! Using a glove I already owned, I followed Wilson’s instructions. It took six or seven firm sweeps to collect all the cat hair, but the