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Updated
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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
New foams, textures, sponges… Everything seems to be done today to make cleaning more fun and more efficient. But the cleaning depicted in many mesmerizing videos on TikTok omits some safety principles. Update with Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician.
A colorful and fragrant foam that fills your sink, scouring sponges in the shape of a face, ranges of magical, candy pink products that promise to remove everything… On the internet and in our homes, cleaning seems to have taken a new direction: this one must be fun, full of different textures and above all reveal a dazzling before/after. Thus, the hashtag #Cleantok continues to gain many new followers every day, fascinated by these videos described as satisfactory. However, on closer inspection, the methods used are not recommended, and in some cases even dangerous. Here are 3 trends not to be reproduced.
Dilute your laundry detergent pods to wash your interior
Many videos invite you to use laundry detergent pods, these translucent liquid capsules, to clean textiles, sofas, or even floors. Internet users show how they dissolve the capsule in a bucket of hot water, then immerse a microfiber towel or mop in it for a more effective result than your usual cleaner. Why is this not ideal? Because these capsules are very concentrated in chemicals and can damage coatings, or even release substances that have no place in your living room. The comments, moreover, are not always convinced.
Clean your toilet bowl with a multitude of products
The other big trend at the moment is to clean your toilet bowl by sliding numerous products into it: cleaning foams, powders, colored liquids, even adding bleach, until you obtain a mixture. thick (and close to children’s slime) which once evacuated should leave the ceramic sparkling. But playing the little chemist is not without risks.
“Be careful with the chemicals you mix. This risks creating unwanted interactions, with risks of toxic chemical reactions but also inhalation of toxic vapors…” warns Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo.
Wash your household appliances… with soapy water
Finally, other TikTokers reveal supporting images how they manage to keep their airfryer, or their toaster clean as new, despite their daily use, by using only water, or soapy water.
However, in addition to damaging the electrical components of your devices, “You especially risk an electrical accident” calls our emergency doctor back. In the case of the airfryer, the self-cleaning mode, combined with soapy water, will only have the effect of putting it out of use.
It is then better to follow the conditions of use and cleaning delivered with the product. The videos will be less impressive but you will keep your devices longer and will not put your health at risk.
@kamkamixx If you too are struggling to clean your Airfryer. Here’s a tip that I found on TikTok and honestly it removes grease well. I gave you the details on the video. ⚠️ I would like to point out that I do this occasionally even though I wash it after each use. My brothers returned it to me in a bad state 😅 so I had to get down to business. #airfryercleaning#airfryerphilips #philipsairfryer #cleaning ♬ original sound – Kamkam