This TikTok cleaning trend will ruin your pipes – Don’t do it

August 19, 2022

By Kim Komando

A plumber visit can cost anywhere from $175 to $450. If you don’t have that money lying around, you should have a chat with your TikTok-loving grandkids before they come to visit. A viral TikTok pipe cleaning trend could destroy your home’s sewage disposal system.

It’s all part of a viral trend called “product overload.” Users film themselves filling toilets, baths and sinks with a surplus of astringent cleaners. Not only is it wasteful, but it can also be dangerous.

Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick disclaimer: Not all TikTok cleaning trends are dangerous. In fact, cleaning-focused TikTokers often share some great product recommendations. But this particular trend can cause severe damage to your pipes and your lungs.

This “CleanTok” trend can poison your family

If you’ve ever wondered, “How dangerous is TikTok?” here’s a perfect example. If you’re behind on the times, here’s a quick overview of how it’s even possible for a social media video to put you in danger.

TikTok is a video-sharing app with 1 billion active users as of 2022. It’s hard for moderators to rein in so many people at once. This means dangerous trends can slip through the cracks.

Some videos with the #productoverload hashtag have warnings at the bottom. For example, a footer underneath this video says, “Participating in this activity could result in your or others getting hurt.”

It’s a bit of an understatement since the wrong combination of chemical cleaners could lead to homemade mustard gas. Just in case you forgot this historical tidbit, mustard gas is a chemical weapon of war. The Genova Convention banned it in 1925.

Maybe it’s hard for you to picture the trend when you don’t have a video. We’ve got you covered. Here’s an example:

@cleaningmamabee Reply to @asyy_yyy ✨💋💎💗 #emojiclean part 1 of 2 #MadewithKAContest #asmrcleaning #cleantok #fypシ #foryou #satisfying #toiletclean #asmr #colorfulcleaning #productoverload ♬ original sound – Cleaning Mama Bee🐝

Notice how the person behind the camera overlays different cleaners. Stacking chemicals like this can burn your throat or skin. It can also poison you or make you pass out.

Here’s why the user is doing this in the first place. They’re responding to a challenge, which you can see in the upper-left corner of the video.

One of their followers challenged them to use toilet cleaners based on emojis. So the TikTok user is cleaning their toilet bowl as an artistic challenge. They’re focusing on colors rather than ingredients.

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Aside from the dangers, this TikTok pipe cleaning trend can damage your home

Costly damage can bite a massive hole out of your bank account. Mixing corrosive cleaning chemicals can damage household drainage systems and pipes. The product overload trend introduces the risks of fires and explosions and can also cause pipe erosion or flooding.

You could even deal with clogged pipes. That’s because a sludgy mixture of cleaning products can make a thick, goopy paste that blocks your pipes. In some cases, the internal pipe damage could impact your entire community’s wastewater.

You might think your city’s wastewater treatment system is too strong to be hurt so easily. But your pipes need lots of water to flush these thick mixes down the drain. These volatile chemical combinations are demanding, which could strain local resources. Also, this could hurt the environment.

If you want to cut man-made chemical cleaners out of your life, switch to plant-based products. Here are some of the best natural cleaners you should try.

You need to know about this if you have friends or family members who love TikTok

If you have loved ones who adore TikTok, bring this to their attention. You must warn them ahead of time so they don’t hurt themselves. Actually, they might hurt you if they come to visit!

Share this article with your friends just in case they need a reminder of the most dangerous cleaner combos:

• Ammonia + Bleach = Chloramine.
• Dish detergent + Bleach = Toxic gas.
• Hydrogen peroxide + Vinegar = Peracetic acid.
• Lysol + Bleach = Toxic gas.
• Mildew stain remover + Bleach = Chlorine gas.
• Oven cleaner + Bleach = Chlorine gas.
• Rubbing alcohol + Bleach = Chloroform.
• Toilet bowl cleaner + Bleach = Toxic fumes.
• Vinegar + Bleach = Chlorine gas.

Oh, and don’t mix different drain cleaners. This can release chlorine gas, leading to fires or even an explosion!

The same goes for your kids or grandkids. Maybe they haven’t taken their chemistry class and need some guidance. Warn them about this trend, or you might catch them doing this in the sink!

@cleaningmamabee ⚠️1k PRODUCT OVERLOAD⚠️ PT. 1/5 product dump🤪 #fyp #cleaningtiktok #cleantok #foryoupage #foryou #productoverload #cleaning #asmrcleaning #asmr ♬ original sound – Cleaning Mama Bee🐝

Sadly, the TikTok pipe cleaning trend isn’t the only danger you need to know about

Alexa suggests 10-year-old girl try a dangerous challenge

A deadly online challenge is making a comeback – How to keep your kids safe