is the #productoverload trend on tiktok dangerous?
tiktokers are filling toilet bowls and bathroom sinks with bright, candy-coloured cleaning chemicals in this, somewhat hypnotic, trend.
3 minute read
mixing cleaning chemicals carry a serious risk of deadly reactions. getty
it plays out like a fever dream. a scared looking, frowny-faced sponge is placed in the bottom of an empty toilet bowl. from behind the camera a hand appears, first pouring a hot pink liquid around and around the bowl, then switching to a deeper purple. colourful liquid after colourful liquid is dumped on the poor sponge, then powders and goopy detergents. eventually, the frowny face has completely disappeared under the sludge of chemicals, in a scene vaguely reminiscent of the joker’s origin story.
the video, with 2.1 million views, is part of tiktok’s #productoverload trend, a collection of videos where users dump copious amounts of candy-coloured cleaning chemicals into bathroom sinks and toilet bowls, often including an unsuspecting sponge. in a different video with 1.6 million views, another smiley-faced sponge is placed in a sink as the tiktoker dumps four bottles of ajax powder and two bottles of purple complete fab. “it smells so good!” a comment on the video claims.
whether you love the asmr aspects of these videos with the combined thought of getting something really, really clean, or find the trend — as one of the healthing editors put it — “disturbing,” professionals would rather you stay away.
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health risks of the #productoverload trend
dumping out huge amounts of cleaning chemicals can cause an inhalation risk, as sprays vaporize and powders go ‘poof.’ couple that with the fact that many bathrooms just aren’t well ventilated, it’s not such a great idea to be in the room when these videos are being filmed, according to good housekeeping.
mixing cleaning chemicals also carry a serious risk of deadly reactions. for example, combining bleach-containing products with acidic chemicals can create chlorine gas, a toxic fume that can burn the delicate structures of the lungs if inhaled. mixing bleach with ammonia can also cause another toxic gas called chloramine, while adding it to hydrogen peroxide can cause a potentially explosive amount of oxygen gas, according to chemical and engineering news.
#productoverload comes with environmental risks too
some of these videos use the equivalent of six months’ worth of cleaning supplies, representatives for unblocker — an environmental group focused on local water systems — told huffpost uk. for some cleaning products, such as chlorine-based bleach, dumping an entire bottle down the drain can be seriously harmful as many wastewater systems aren’t able to completely filter it out, meaning some bleach can get into the waterways.
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“when dumped in water, chlorine in bleach reacts with other chemicals and causes the formation of dioxins which are harmful to human health and wildlife,” dr. deborah brosnan, a u.s.-based marine resilience specialist, told insider. “studies indicate that they contribute to the lowering of bird and fish populations.”
phosphates found in other products can also damage the delicate balance in marine ecosystems, leading to a lack of vital oxygen and making life harder for plant and marine life.
not surprisingly, dumping a load of chemicals down the drain all at once can also wreak havoc on your drainage systems. when this amount of chemicals are flushed down the drain at once, they can have a heavy effect on the piping and could potentially be corrosive. some products just aren’t designed to be used on certain surfaces — like a stainless steel cleaner on porcelain — so taking part in this trend can do some damage.
thankfully, there is little to no need to mix cleaning chemicals together, according to carolyn forté, executive director of the good housekeeping institute’s home care & cleaning lab. cleaning products (the good ones, at least) are specially formulated to do the task they’re advertised for and mixing various products together might actually make them less effective. not to mention it’s a waste of money.
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for these reasons, if you want a candy-coloured asmr hit, try tiktok’s #slime trend — no toilet bowls required.
emma jones is a multimedia editor with healthing. you can reach her at emjones@postmedia.com or on instagram and twitter @jonesyjourn.
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