14 January 2024 , 07:00
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None of us are ever keen on spending hours scrubbing our toilets or kitchens, which is why we often search for cleaning hacks to help make our lives easier - but one expert is warning people against using one particular cleaning method as it could wreak havoc in your home.
Bathrooms are riddled with bacteria and germs, including streptococcus, staphylococcus, and E. coli, which means it's important to give areas of the room a good wash, and most importantly your toilet seat. While everyday chores may not fill with you joy, it's important to keep on top of them to make your household safe. But, a recent viral hack promising to freshen up your toilet has been debunked by experts.
Lifestyle content creator Lexi Gray posted a video on TikTok in which she shared her toilet-cleaning hack that left fans amazed. The social media user advised cutting a slit into a bottle of floor cleaner containing baking soda and placing it in the toilet tank. When Gray flushed her toilet, the red liquid came through the tank into the bowl, and she declared the hack made her toilet smell "so good".
However, some plumbers were left unimpressed by her technique. They warned people of the dangers of her hack and said that it could cause damage to the house's plumbing. "Do not do this. Trust me, I'm a plumber," one user commented.
Another added: "Plumber here, this will eat away at any rubber gasket connection, damage the fill valve and flapper. Put cleaning agents in the bowl, not the tank."
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A third plumber hilariously encouraged the cleaning 'hack', saying it would guarantee 'job security' for him. Other TikTok users say the cleaning method wouldn't be suited for those with dogs, in case they attempt to drink water from the toilet bowl.
Meanwhile, experts at Mr Rooter Plumbing company have also advised against using bleach tablets to lift hard-to-remove stains from the loo. Instead, they recommend simply sticking to a toilet brush and a cleaner such as a spray to scrub away any unsightly marks. The experts said: "The longer the tablet sits, the longer its chemicals chip away at your toilet's materials. Your toilet pipes will eventually begin to leak often, and your toilet won't flush properly."