19 TikTok cleaning and decorating trends to avoid
While many of us think of TikTok as the go-to for grumpy cat memes and viral dances, those looking to spruce up their home or try out a new cleaning hack are increasingly turning to the video-sharing platform for decorating or decluttering advice.
While there’s a whole wealth of clips from content creators promising quick-fix solutions to common household dilemmas, not all the tips and tricks shared will have the desired effect.
“You can find some genuinely helpful tips for decorating and cleaning on TikTok, but not all of them are worth copying,” explains structural design and renovation expert, Gary Tidman.
“Lots of things look very impressive in a short clip but don’t show the potential damage they can cause or how quickly the results wear off.
“If something seems too good to be true or skips over proper prep, there’s usually a reason.”
From ice mopping your floors to using a tanning mitt to paint your banisters, we spoke to the decorating and cleaning experts about the hottest trends on the video sharing platform to find out which are maybes on the must-try lists and which we should skip altogether.
TikTok trend: Ice mopping
The trending “ice mop bucket” hack on TikTok, which involves using ice cubes in mopping routines, has garnered 20.6 million posts, with advocates claiming it “shocks germs” and removes stubborn marks.
However some experts believe the method can be counterproductive and even hazardous.
“Cold water can harbour some very nasty bacteria which can thrive and remain viable in these conditions, including E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria, especially if the ice is from an unfiltered source,” explains Yarl Christie, flooring expert and founder of Stories Flooring.
“Furthermore, cold water fails to activate cleaning agents effectively, potentially leaving floors less hygienic and increasing the risk of bacterial spread. It can also damage flooring materials, leading to issues like wood swelling and mould growth.”
For better hygiene and improved floor longevity, Yarl advises sticking to warm water for cleaning.
TikTok trend: Using vinegar and baking soda to clean kitchen cabinets
Kitchen cabinets represent a significant investment, yet their surfaces can be prone to damage over time.
Factors such as exposure to moisture, heat and the demands of daily use can all lead to the deterioration of finishes and the wood itself.
Recently TikTokers have suggested using vinegar and baking soda to clean kitchen cabinets, but experts are warning that this can actually exacerbate damage.
“While these ingredients can be effective for some cleaning tasks, the combination can create a messy reaction that doesn’t effectively remove grease or grime,” explains Mohammed Bharucha, a renovation expert at Doorfinder.
“Additionally, the acidity of vinegar can harm the finish of wooden cabinets over time, leading to dullness and potential discolouration.”
TikTok trend: Using a walnut to remove scratches from wood
Whether it is a deep scratch on your floor or a nick on your wooden kitchen cabinets, one quick-fix hack suggested on TikTok is using a walnut to remove the indent.
“While this can sometimes help mask minor scratches due to the natural oils in the walnut, it’s not a permanent solution and may not work for deeper imperfections,” Mohammed warns.
For best results, he recommends that you use a gentle soap solution and a soft cloth for cleaning, and consider using proper wood fillers or professional restoration techniques for scratch repair to maintain the long-term integrity of the wood.
TikTok trend: Painting tiles
There’s no doubt those transformation videos of DIY-ers giving their bathroom a makeover by painting their tiles look impressive, but is it really as easy and effective as it looks?
In the last 30 days alone there’s been a 1000% increase in TikTok searches for ‘paint bathroom tiles’ as people increasingly look for cost-effective ways to update their interiors.
While painting floor and wall tiles can be a quick and easy route to brightening up a small space like a bathroom, and is a task that even DIY novices can achieve, according to Alex Heslop, trend expert at Flooring Superstore, it isn’t a long term solution and can sometimes do more harm than good to your overall décor.
“The finished look will really rely on the quality of your tiles in the first place, if they are poor quality or damaged, paint will likely highlight these imperfections further, rather than conceal them,” he says.
“Painted tiles are more prone to wear and tear, especially in high footfall rooms like the bathroom.
“The painted finish will also have a flat appearance and won’t emulate the feel of high-end materials like natural stone or marble, which natural porcelain tiles and even vinyl tile options will offer.”
In some instances, Alex says investing in a new floor could be the best option.
“While ceramic and porcelain tiles are a fantastic and hardwearing solution for bathrooms, hallways and kitchens which will be sure to stand the test of time, Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT), are also extremely durable and can emulate the look of natural tiles for a fraction of the price.”
TikTok trend: Painting floorboards
Painting floorboards can be a cost-effective way to freshen up and extend the life of your wooden flooring.
It can also be a great way to change the overall look of your room and brighten up a space and is a job that anyone can do, without calling in the professionals.
However, it’s all in the preparation to ensure a finished look which has the wow factor, particularly where your floorboards are already showing signs of wear and tear as these imperfections will be even more visible when painted.
“Painting floorboards shouldn’t be viewed as a temporary fix or trend-led décor update, as it’s very difficult to reverse,” warns Alex.
“You could change a painted floor by re-painting it, but it’s almost impossible to go back to the original wood grain after painting. Paint removal is possible, however very time consuming, particularly if the paint is oil based.”
Instead Alex suggests opting for rugs and runners to update your decor, as well as refreshing existing hardwood flooring by sanding and re-varnishing every couple of years.
“Where the floor is beyond repair, a new floor can be well worth the investment and with advances in technology and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) options available, homeowners can achieve the charm of real wood for a fraction of the price,” he adds.
TikTok trend: Carpet scraping
In recent months there has been a spike in searches for ‘carpet scraper tool’ and the hashtag #carpetscraper now has over 45m views on TikTok.
In a typical clip, you’ll see a carpet scraper being repeatedly pulled across a carpet or rug to collect everything from dust and fibres to dirt and pet hair.
But while there’s no doubt the vids are satisfying to watch, scraping your carpets or rugs comes with risks.
“Carpet scraping can be an effective way to remove lint and pet hair, but particularly when using a metal rather than rubber scraper, you need to be aware of the potential pitfalls,” explains Ryan McDonough at MyJobQuote.co.uk.
“Scraping a carpet can pull out and damage fibres, especially on Berber and loop-pile carpets.”
If you want to deep clean your carpet, Ryan says it is often better to use a carpet cleaning machine.
“You don’t need to splash out hundreds of pounds on your own machine as you can hire a commercial carpet cleaner for around £30.”
If you do want to try this cleaning hack, however, Ryan suggests testing the scraper on an inconspicuous area first and avoiding scraping too frequently, so you don’t end up with a worn or balding carpet.
TikTok trend: Painting your kitchen worktops
Painting your kitchen worktops can seem like an affordable way to upcycle your kitchen but there are some serious drawbacks to doing this.
“Firstly, it can be hard to get a good, lasting finish on stone materials, including granite and marble,” warns Ryan.
“So, you could potentially make a mess of an expensive worktop.
“Also, unless it’s a wooden worktop, it’s not feasible to remove all of the paint afterwards – once you’ve painted a worktop, you’re pretty much stuck with it until you can replace it.”
Even if you do a good job of the painting, Ryan says it is important to be aware that it will be prone to chips and scratches.
“Therefore, it’s a decorating trend to avoid if you need a durable, low-maintenance surface,” he adds.
If you do want to give your worktops a refresh, Ryan says it may be a better option to vinyl wrap them.
“Depending on the quality, vinyl can still be prone to scratches and wear and tear, but it is removable so you can redo it as necessary.
“For best results, however, it might be worth getting the wrapping done professionally.”
TikTok trend: Using ketchup to clean silverware
The idea is if you rub silver with tomato ketchup, the tarnish will come off and it will become shiny again.
While the idea of using an everyday condiment to clean up your silver may be tempting, Nichola Kelleher, an interior design presenter and expert who is currently renovating her house @thehousemagpie, says it comes with a messiness warning.
“I have tried this method and found it to be messy, smelly and ineffective,” she explains.
“The best method I have found for cleaning silver safely is to add boiling water to a bowl lined with tin foil, shiny side up, and add your silverware in small batches with a table spoon of bicarbonate of soda and around 100 ml of any vinegar, malt is fine.
” Leave to bubble and when cooled remove and buff with a microfibre cloth.”
TikTok trend: Using household products to clean a blackened pan
One TikTok trend currently gaining traction involves the use of household items to clean the black bits off a pan.
“I have seen hacks from using white vinegar, Bar Keepers Friend, or even a potato to clean badly tarnished pans,” explains Nichola.
“Whilst these simple steps can work, albeit with a lot of elbow grease, you should avoid scraping too hard particularly if you have Teflon or no stick pans as it can rub off the coating.”
Additionally Nichola says studies have shown these types of pans can release tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics and nano plastics, which may be cancer-causing.
“If a pan is very blackened and the coating is coming off it’s just better to buy new and opt for a ceramic version which are said to be safer options,” she adds.
TikTok trend: Using a tanning mitt or sock to paint stair banisters
Painting stair banisters is a labour-heavy job, so it’s little wonder that video clips highlighting how much easier the task can be when a sock or tanning mitt is used are clocking up shares.
“As both a tanner and a painter I have seen this method and wanted it to be effective, but in this case it’s better to use the tan mitt for your sunless tan and a good roller or paint brush for your banister,” Nichola says.
“Tanning mitts are designed to apply sunless tan to the skin and if you have ever done so, you will find that after a while the lotion penetrates the mitt so you could be left with paint on your hands, and it could become very messy.”
Also depending on the type of tan mitt, Nichola says you might not achieve the best finish.
“Tanning mitts may be great for applying a wax however but for a nice finish on the paint opt for a paint sprayer or a well-made paintbrush,” she adds.
“Cheap synthetic brushes often shed hair and can be troublesome when removing mid-paint.
“Use the best brushes you can afford and clean them well after use.
“If you are still keen to use a tanning mitt many hardware stores sell padded utensils for a fast paint job.”
TikTok trend: Using an iron to fix a dent in a carpet
This TikTok hack is actually not all that new, and in fact brought up distant memories for Nichola who was reminded of the time in she tried this at a friend’s house and ended up burning her mother’s very expensive carpet.
“I would avoid using an iron anywhere near the carpet,” she says.
“You can become distracted or the iron can become too hot and any burns cannot be removed.
“Dents from furniture can be annoying but to play it safe, move the furniture to one side leave ice cubes on the mark, and wait for the water to melt.
“Once melted use a toothbrush to brush over the area and a towel to remove the water.
“Apply again if the mark is deep. The iron hack can work well but proceed with caution,” she adds.
TikTok trend: Using toilet bleach on tile grout.
Gary says this TikTok hack proves popular with people believing the bleach will quickly whiten the grout. “While it might work short-term, most toilet cleaners are far too harsh,” he explains. “They can break down the grout or stain nearby tiles.”
Instead he suggests using something specifically designed for grout or making a gentler cleaning paste.
“If the grout still looks tired afterwards, a grout pen can refresh it without damage,” Gary adds.
TikTok trend: Spray painting handles or hardware without removing them
Though this is designed to save time, even with careful taping Gary says the finish rarely lasts.
“It chips, it rubs off, and it often ends up uneven,” he explains.
“Taking the time to remove the hardware and use the right primer and paint gives a much cleaner, more durable result.”
TikTok trend: Product overload
Appropriately known as “product overload”, this particular trend involves loading up a toilet, bath or sink with copious amounts of astringent cleaning products, with the tag #ProductOverload clocking up millions of views since the concept first began trending in early 2021.
But Laura Mountford, AKA @lauracleanaholic, a cleaning content creator, podcaster and author, says this is a trend to be avoided as although it may look satisfying and pretty, it can be potentially lethal.
“Many of the videos involve mixing chemicals which are toxic,” she says.
“These videos are usually created for clickbait as they get a lot of attention, but they serve no purpose in reality.
“Overloading product is not only dangerous, but also wasteful and usually creates more mess!”
TikTok trend: Mopping your walls to clean them
Wall mopping has become another big cleaning hack on the video sharing platform, with the #wallmopping racking up over a million views.
The idea is people use a mop to clean dirt and dust from their walls.
Sounds practical, but there are some things to be aware of before testing it out.
“This hack is only beneficial if you have washable paint or the paint will be stripped off the wall,” warns Laura.
“If you do have washable paint on your walls, then you can mop them using a very small amount of washing up liquid in warm water as an effective way to remove scuff and grease marks.”
If you do not have washable paint however, Laura says you can still dust them using the Flash Speedmop, attaching the dry dusting cloths to remove dust and lose dirt, then touching in any marks with paint.
TikTok trend: Laundry stripping
This involves soaking your laundry to deep clean it and “strip” out any excess detergent, minerals or other build up.
“This is a very satisfying trend as after several hours the water turns a murky brown,” Laura explains.
“We live in a hard water area so I like to do this with towels to restore their softness.
However, it is really not necessary for any other laundry items that the washing machine is more than capable of!”
Not only does the trend use a lot of water, it is also time consuming and can cause damage to the fabrics.
“Using a stain removal detergent like Ariel Platinum gel is the most effective way of removing stains and dirt from fabrics on a cool wash,” Laura adds.
TikTok trend: Using lemons and toothpaste to clean your washing machine
While lemons are a great natural cleaner, using them in your washing machine can potentially clog up the filter and invalidate the warranty.
“Additionally, toothpaste is not cheap and does not contain enough bicarbonate of soda to effectively clean the washing machine,” Laura adds.
“Save the lemon for your gin and tonic and the toothpaste for your pearly whites and instead use white vinegar and soda crystals to leave your washing machine sparkling and smelling fresh.”
TikTok trend: Using a pan lid and a dishwasher tablet to clean your sofa
This is another seemingly simple cleaning hack all over TikTok, but there are some downsides.
“A dishwasher tablet is a concentrated formula designed to remove stubborn grease from dirty dishes, so using one to clean your sofa is likely to damage the fabric and leave a residue,” Laura warns.
Instead she suggests using a steam cleaner to freshen up your sofa.
“It will kill germs and remove dirt using water alone so there will be no chemical residue,” she explains.
“For spot stains use Dr Beckmann upholstery cleaner which has a brush so that you can easily apply the product and work it into the fabric.
“To deep clean your sofa invest in a Bissell handheld spot cleaner which will remove stubborn stains.”
TikTok trend: Cleaning carpets and rugs using laundry detergent or disinfectant
According to Laura the surfactants in laundry detergent or disinfectant need to be rinsed away after cleaning so using them on your carpets can damage and discolour the carpet fibres.
“In addition, the residue left behind could attract more dirt and cause a musty smell,” she adds.
“Carpets and rugs are expensive items so it is worth investing in looking after them properly.
“To give them a freshen up sprinkle bicarbonate of soda, leave for an hour or so to absorb odours and then vacuum up.
“For a deep clean use a carpet cleaner with a dedicated carpet cleaning shampoo.”
Looking for more cleaning inspiration? Lynsey Crombie AKA the Queen of Clean shared her expert tips for faster, greener cleaning or find out more about whether the Closing shift is really the secret to a tidy home