The Six Best Cleaning Tips I Learned From TikTok
With TikTok saved (temporarily) from a nationwide ban, it’s worth checking out all the ways it can be a useful resource rather than just a time-sucker. TikTok is especially useful when it comes to cleaning ideas, since you can follow CleanTok influencers and see reviews of cleaning products that actually work. The app is also full of cleaning methods, although many of them are dubious at best . Here are a few that are really useful.
Clean in a circle
I discovered this approach last fall during a routine scrolling session and was immediately impressed by the clear, simple steps it offers for effectively cleaning any space in the house. It was inspired by a video by Sindell Kimbrough, a former professional cleaner who prioritizes efficiency.
Essentially, after tidying up a certain area (like a messy kids room), you pick a corner and start tidying in a circle, moving around the room and doing important tasks like making the bed. Repeat the circle in smaller steps, such as dusting. Finish mopping, mopping, and vacuuming. Moving in a circle keeps you on task and focused, and ensures you hit every part of the room.
Evil cleaning
Another quality cleaning technique that arrived on the app a few months ago is ” angry cleaning ,” which involves using negative emotions as your primary means of cleaning, usually when performing tasks that require some dexterity, such as scrubbing or vacuuming. Not only can this take your mind off whatever is annoying you, but it will also push your cleaning efforts to become more efficient. The positive outcome at the end—a clear space—can lift your mood even more after you’ve worked through your negativity. Overall, this is a great hack that has a lot of benefits and produces reliable before and after results that form the basis of TikTok videos.
Undressing underwear
Laundry stripping is popular on TikTok because it creates visual proof that your clothes are being washed. Of course, it’s not always necessary to “cleanse” dirty clothes of dirt before washing them, but if you’re washing them incorrectly or they’re badly damaged, this can be a great first step to getting them extra clean. You pre-soak the laundry for several hours in a bathtub using borax and baking soda. You will find that the water becomes thicker and thicker over time, especially if you shake it with your hands periodically.
Sweep Smarter
This is my favorite cleaning trick on TikTok, and I’ve been using it faithfully since I discovered it a few years ago : Next time you sweep, dampen the edges of a paper towel and place it on the ground. Sweep up debris with a paper towel, which will pick up dirt, dust, hair and everything else much easier than a dustpan. Then just throw in the towel. Garbage pans have ridges where they meet the floor, which can make it a pain to scoop up all the dirt, but the paper towel trick works great.
5×5 method
I’m also a fan of this viral technique that prioritizes cleaning quickly so you don’t feel overwhelmed. I’ve often seen this promoted on TikTok, where users say it helps them keep their home tidy without overwhelming themselves. You’ll need a timer, which you set in five-minute increments, and a list of five areas in your home that need attention. You’ll be working on each area for five minutes before moving on to the next, so it’s best to choose small areas that can be tackled in such a short period of time. In 25 minutes you will have five cleaner places. Try this with, say, a table: spend five minutes on one drawer, five minutes on another, five minutes on the surface, and so on.
Core 4 method
Finally, learning the Core 4 approach through TikTok has been very helpful for me, not only in terms of cleaning, but also maintaining my home. Organizer Kaylin Kelly came up with this decluttering technique that will teach you not only how to get rid of things, but also how to organize what you decide to keep. You move through the rooms of your home with four steps in mind: clean, classify, cut and maintain. Clear everything in one room (or better yet, from one part of the room, like a closet), put it in a pile, categorize it, cut out what you don’t need and hide the rest. This approach has become very popular on the video sharing platform because it works and is easy to learn. Watch the video that started it all: