Let’s face it, CleanTok has a hold on us. One second you’re checking the weather, next thing you know it’s midnight and you’re watching someone strip their laundry in a bathtub like it’s a full-blown science experiment. Some of it’s brilliant, some of it’s bonkers, and most of it makes you wonder, “Would that actually work in my house?”

So, we decided to find out. We picked five of the most viral CleanTok hacks doing the rounds and gave them a proper go. No filters, no fancy transitions; just our team, a timer, and a bit of elbow grease.

First up: the One-Hour Declutter Challenge. This one’s less cleaning, more clearing out, you set a timer, pick a zone (pantry, bathroom drawers, that terrifying Tupperware cupboard), and go hard for 60 minutes. No multitasking, no breaks, just ruthless sorting. We finished with clearer shelves and a smug sense of achievement. It’s a good idea but certainly not a new ‘hack’ on the market and more of discipline challenge – 4/10.

Next came the viral laundry hack: stripping towels using borax, washing soda and detergent. You soak your towels in a tub of hot water mixed with the trio, then watch as the water turns alarmingly grey. Slightly gross? Yes. Deeply satisfying? Also yes. The towels came out fluffier and fresher, but would we regularly use this hack? Probably not – 6/10.

Speaking of gross: the newspaper-on-cupboards trick. Turns out lining the tops of high shelves or kitchen cupboards with newspaper is genius. Dust settles on the paper, not your surfaces, so when it’s time to clean, you just lift, toss, and replace. We love this hack, it’s a great way to recycle old newspapers and keep our home showroom ready, simple but effective – 8/10.

Another tried-and-true fave: vinegar-soaked paper towels wrapped around taps to remove limescale. Leave them for an hour, come back, and wipe. We were sceptical—but it worked. Shiny taps with basically no scrubbing? What’s not to love. The only issue is the lingering vinegar smell (not so glamorous) – 7/10.

And finally, our personal favourite: Britex Spot ‘n’ Stain as a grease-busting oven and BBQ tray cleaner. It’s not technically a TikTok hack (yet), but it should be. Spray it on your greasy trays or oven racks, let it sit for 10 minutes, then give it a quick scrub with a scour pad. The grease lifts straight off. No toxic fumes, no all-night soaking, no regrets. We’ll be doing this on repeat – 10/10.