By Arabella Peterson 19.12.2024

#CleanTok Trends To Try (And Avoid) in 2025

Starting 2025 with a deep clean? Here’s what you need to know.

There’s nothing more satisfying than starting a new year with a deep clean. It makes you feel on top of everything, even if that ‘new year, new me’ energy only lasts a few weeks. And if, like us, you get excited over cleaning tips, #CleanTok is the place for you. Over the past year, we’ve saved the useful ideas we see during our daily scroll, so that when the urge to do a deep clean arises, we’re prepped with creative new methods to try.

Here, we’ll take you through some of the most valuable cleaning hacks we’ve found in our favorite corner of the internet, room by room. But beware, for every piece of solid advice on TikTok, there’s a suggestion that might be ineffective or downright dangerous. Not to fear, we’ve included the less-than-helpful tricks to keep your eye out for, too!

#CleanTok Trends To Try

Bedroom and living areas

Newspapers for dusting tall shelves
We all have those tall pieces of furniture in our house that we neglect to regularly dust. To avoid having to climb up to reach the back of towering surfaces, line them with old newspaper sheets (out of eye sight, of course) to act as a dust barrier. This prevents dust buildup and eliminates the need for frequent cleaning. Just replace the newspaper when it gets dirty, and layer two sheets for extra durability. You can also use magazine pages or paper bags if you don't have newspapers.

Essential oil for vacuum odours
Vacuuming your home regularly is always a good thing, but have you noticed the musty smells that wafts from the machine? Put a few drops of your favorite extract or essential oil on a few cotton balls and place them inside the vacuum bag or canister. Who knows, maybe this will encourage everyone in your household to get out the vacuum more often!

A pot lid for cleaning the couch
Start by vacuuming the couch to remove loose dirt. Then, add your upholstery cleaner to water as directed. Wrap a microfiber cloth around a pot lid, tying it under the lid so it stays secure. Dip the lid into the solution, let excess water drip off and scrub the cushions and frame, rinsing the cloth as needed. The benefit of this method is the time-saving aspect of using a large lid, allowing you to quickly cover more surface area. A variation of this idea was all over TikTok, suggesting dissolving a laundry detergent pod in a bucket of boiling water rather than using a proper fabric cleaning solution, but that might be risky. Always check whether the fabric your couch is made from is suitable for the products you’re using!

Bathroom

DIY solution for rust stains
The only place we want to see this color is our bed linen. No matter how clean your bathroom is, rust always makes it feel a little worse for wear. To help budge the build up, apply a paste made of lemon juice and baking soda to the affected area. Cover the paste with plastic wrap to keep it moist, and let it sit for an hour. This helps break down the rust particles, making them easier to scrub away.

Shaving cream for foggy mirrors
A bit of fog in the bathroom is inevitable, but it can lead to streaking and haziness. Plus, if you’re rushing in the morning, it’s nice not to have to wipe the mirror down or wait until the fog clears. Spread a little bit of shaving cream over the mirror and wipe it clean with a towel or microfiber cloth. This will last a few weeks, so you’ll only need to do it every fortnight or so.

DIY spray for killing mould
Yes, there are bathroom mould sprays, but if you prefer the natural route, this concoction works wonders on your bathroom tiles and toilet. Combine ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and about 10 drops clove or tea tree oil in a glass spray bottle. This will kill the mould spores to prevent it coming back.

Kitchen

Coffee grounds for fridge odours
This one works as the nitrogen contained in coffee helps neutralise odours. Pop a small container of used coffee grounds in the fridge to absorb the odour. We’re stating the obvious here, but this will give your fridge a slight coffee scent. If that’s not your thing, place a thin layer of baking soda on some baking paper and refrigerate it overnight.

Fabric softener for kitchen cleaning
Combine fabric softener, surface-cleaner and hot water in the sink and leave a sponge to soak. Clean your kitchen benches, cupboards, dishwasher and microwave using the sponge and wipe afterwards with a microfiber cloth. Meanwhile, leave the mixture to sit in the sink for a few hours. This will gently lift and remove dirt and leave the room smelling fresh.

DIY spray for fridge odours
This one comes courtesy of cleaning guru Chantel Mila, who has shared her top cleaning tips with us before. To get lingering odours out of the fridge, she combines 1.5 cups of warm water, half a cup of white vinegar and five drops of essential oil or vanilla essence. Spray the mixture on the shelves and wipe them down.

#CleanTok Trends To Avoid

PSA: always fact check what you see online! If you see these tips doing the rounds on TikTok in 2025, do not try at home (or anywhere else).

Bedroom and living areas

Hair dryers to clean electronics
To be honest, this one was tempting. Some TikTok videos suggest using a hair dryer to clean dust from electronics like TVs or computer keyboards. However, using a hair dryer can push the dust further into delicate components, potentially causing damage. Instead, use a can of compressed air to safely blow out dust from electronics.

Baby wipes to clean furniture
This is a popular one, and not the most damaging method, but it’s not very effective either. While baby wipes may seem convenient for a quick wipe down, they can leave behind a sticky residue due to their moisturising chemicals. This residue can attract dust, dirt, and grime, ultimately making your furniture look dirtier faster. The ingredients in baby wipes may not be suitable for all types of furniture, especially delicate fabrics or materials like wood, leather, or upholstery. Instead, use a microfiber cloth, which is gentle yet highly effective at trapping dust and dirt without leaving any residue behind.

Shaving cream for upholstery
TikTok users have suggested using shaving cream to clean upholstery, claiming it lifts stains. However, shaving cream can leave behind a sticky residue that attracts even more dirt and dust. Instead, use a proper upholstery cleaner or a mixture of vinegar and water for effective stain removal.

Bathroom

The #toiletoverload trend
You might have seen this super viral #CleanTok trend which involves pouring a mix of harsh cleaning products like bleach, Lysol, and dish soap into toilet bowls. It looks like it might be a quick and satisfying way to clean your toilet, but it can damage plumbing, pose health risks, and harm the environment. Experts warn that this excessive use of chemicals can clog pipes, release toxic fumes, and cause respiratory issues. Instead, consider using safer alternatives like baking soda, salt, or vinegar poultices for a cleaner toilet without the risks.

Attaching your toilet brush to a power drill
Sticking a cleaning brush on a power drill may seem like a time-saving (albeit totally over-the-top) hack, but it’s risky. The drill's high speed and power can damage delicate surfaces, and using it with water or water-based cleaners can pose serious safety hazards. Additionally, the excessive torque isn't necessary for cleaning, and it could lead to wrist strain or wear out the brush faster. It's safer and more effective to use a manual brush or a specialised power scrubber.

Using shaving cream to unclog a drain
At best, this is ineffective. At worst, it exacerbates the problem. Shaving cream doesn't break down common clogging materials like hair or grease, and it may leave a sticky residue that causes future blockages. It's better to use proper drain cleaning methods, like a plunger or baking soda and vinegar.

Kitchen

The #toasterbath trend
We can’t believe this is a thing, but it is. The #toasterbath trend saw people soaking their toasters in water. It should go without saying that even when unplugged, this is dangerous and can damage its electrical components. A better method for cleaning your toaster is unplugging it, shaking out crumbs, and using a pastry brush to remove stuck particles. For tough stains, soak the catch tray in warm soapy water, but avoid soaking the toaster itself. Wipe the exterior with a microfiber cloth to keep it clean.

Cleaning the floors with laundry detergent
Dissolving a laundry pod in a mop bucket to clean floors is quick and easy, but not recommended. Laundry detergents are too harsh for most floor types, especially hardwood and tile, and can leave residue that attracts dirt. This buildup can lead to streaks, stickiness, and quicker grime accumulation. For a safer alternative, use neutral pH cleaners or common ingredients like vinegar.

Mixing bleach and vinegar
Bleach is great for cleaning, and so is vinegar. But together? That’s a no-go. This dangerous TikTok trend claims that these two ingredients will make a powerful cleaning agent, but it actually creates poisonous chlorine gas that can irritate the eyes and throat. Instead, use cleaners specifically designed for bathrooms, like citric acid-based products, which are safer and effective. If you want to use bleach and vinegar, use them separately to avoid harmful reactions.