Is Tiktok's Acid-Spraying Cleaning Trend Safe For You And Your Family?

TikTok is a treasure trove of information on all things home, especially the CleanTok side, where users show what products they use to keep their homes looking and feeling great. It's wonderful to be able to scroll and see new methods, but the problem is that not all TikTok cleaning hacks are worth the hype. Some content creators don't verify their information, which can lead to unnecessary purchases at best, and cause damage to your home and family's health at worst. So when we saw videos floating around about a new multipurpose cleaner called hypochlorous acid, we knew we needed to do some digging. 

Video creators said they used this product to clean and disinfect everything from floors to countertops to mirrors and toilets, and that it was totally non-toxic. Scientific research actually backs these claims up! Hypochlorous acid is a chlorine oxoacid, part of the same family as bleach. Hypochlorous acid is a very weak acid that's safe enough that it's even recommended as a dermatological treatment against acne, and it's also a great alternative to bleach. 

Despite this, it's a powerful disinfectant that can be safely used with no immediate health concerns when used under normal, expected conditions, and is strong enough to kill many viruses, including Covid-19 according to the Environmental Protective Agency. It's able to work so effectively against viruses and bacteria because it has significant anti-microbial properties, making it suitable for industrial, food, and medical environments, as well as everyday home use. As an added bonus, it also tends to be very affordable and easy to use, making this an excellent addition to your home cleaning toolkit. 

You can safely use hypochlorous acid nearly anywhere you want to both clean and disinfect. That can include countertops and food prep areas, hard floors such as tile and wood, as well as bathroom fixtures like toilets, tubs, and sinks. Thanks to its non-toxic safety profile, you don't need to worry about using PPE such as gloves or masks when using this solution. To get started cleaning your home with it, buy a large diluted bottle hypochlorous acid from Amazon. To make it easier to clean with, transfer a small amount of it to a labeled spray bottle. Just spray down the surface with the solution, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe away with a clean rag. This product does not require any rinsing, so you only need to spray and wipe. 

While hypochlorous acid is non-toxic, it's still a chlorine-based solution, which means, like bleach, it shouldn't be mixed with other cleaning products and detergents as this can create chlorine gas. If you want to use a product in conjunction with hypochlorous acid, try an everyday all-purpose cleaner first, then follow up with hypochlorous acid to disinfect the surface.