We Tested 5 Viral TikTok Cleaning Hacks: Here's What Actually Worked

Scroll through TikTok for ten minutes, and you’re guaranteed to see them: viral "cleaning hacks" that promise miraculous results with everyday household items. They’re slick, they’re satisfying, and they make cleaning look almost magical.

But do they actually work? Or are they just clever video editing?

As Phoenix's authority on all things clean, we decided to put them to the test. We are Arizona Reliably Clean, and our job is to deliver professional, guaranteed results, not just chase trends. We took five of the most popular viral hacks and put them through a professional-grade trial. Here's the unfiltered verdict.

1. The Hack: Cleaning Greasy Pans with a Dryer Sheet

• The Claim: Place a dryer sheet in a greasy pan, fill it with hot water, let it sit for an hour, and the baked-on grease will wipe away effortlessly.

• The Test: We tried this on a pan with cooked-on grease from searing steaks. After an hour, some of the lighter grease did loosen, but the tough, baked-on spots remained firmly attached.

• The Verdict: Mostly Fiction. It’s better than just soaking in water, but it’s not the miracle it claims to be. Plus, many dryer sheets contain chemicals you may not want leaching into your cookware.

• The Pro Method: A sprinkle of Bar Keepers Friend or baking soda, a bit of dish soap, and hot water. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub with a non-scratch pad. It's faster, more effective, and uses food-safe materials.

2. The Hack: Using Shaving Cream to Remove Carpet Stains

• The Claim: Spray regular foam shaving cream on a carpet stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then blot it away for a spotless result.

• The Test: We tested this on a fresh coffee spill on a light-colored carpet. The shaving cream did lift some of the stain, but it also left behind a sticky, soapy residue that will attract more dirt over time.

• The Verdict: Fiction. This is a temporary fix that creates a bigger problem down the road. The residue is a dirt magnet.

• The Pro Method: Blot the fresh stain immediately with a clean, dry cloth. Mix a solution of clear dish soap and water. Gently dab the solution onto the stain (don't rub), then blot again with a dry cloth. For set-in stains, a professional-grade carpet extractor is the only way to remove the stain and the residue completely.

3. The Hack: Using a Squeegee for Pet Hair on Carpet

• The Claim: Drag a simple window squeegee across your carpeted floors or stairs to pull up huge amounts of embedded pet hair that your vacuum misses.

• The Test: We used a standard squeegee on a low-pile carpet in a home with two dogs. The results were immediate and impressive. The rubber blade grabbed and piled up an astonishing amount of fur.

• The Verdict: Fact! This hack absolutely works. It’s a fantastic trick for getting that deep-down pet hair out of carpet fibers, especially on stairs where vacuums can be clumsy.

4. The Hack: Boiling Greasy Oven Racks in Water and Dishwasher Tabs

• The Claim: Place your greasy oven racks in the bathtub, cover them with hot water and a few dishwasher tablets, let them soak overnight, and the grime will fall off.

• The Test: The logistics are messy (carrying greasy racks through the house), but after soaking, a significant amount of the grease did dissolve. However, it still required serious scrubbing to get them completely clean, and it left a grimy ring in the bathtub.

• The Verdict: It Works, but... it’s a huge hassle. The results aren't perfect without scrubbing, and you're left with a dirty bathtub to clean.

• The Pro Method: A heavy-duty, fume-free oven cleaner applied directly to the racks (placed on newspaper or outside) is far more effective and contains the mess. It’s a tough job, which is why it’s a cornerstone of any professional deep clean.

5. The Hack: Cleaning a Wood Cutting Board with Lemon and Salt

• The Claim: Sprinkle coarse salt on a wood cutting board, then use half a lemon to scrub the surface. This supposedly cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects.

• The Test: We performed this on a well-used wooden board. The abrasive salt did a great job of lifting minor stains, and the lemon left a fresh, clean scent.

• The Verdict: Fact! This is a fantastic, natural way to deodorize and surface-clean your cutting boards between regular deep cleanings. The lemon's acidity provides mild antibacterial properties.

The Final Verdict

While some TikTok hacks are genuinely useful for daily maintenance, most are not a substitute for a true, professional deep clean. They often require just as much effort, create a secondary mess, or simply don't work as advertised.

Your time is valuable. Don't waste it on hacks that might not work. When you need guaranteed results that go beyond the surface, you need a professional crew with the right tools and expertise.

Ready to skip the hacks and get a guaranteed clean? [Get Your Instant Quote from Arizona Reliably Clean]