Our Most Controversial Cleaning Tips of 2024

Everyone has their unique cleaning routines, but every so often a new housekeeping trend or a fresh perspective comes along to challenge our tried-and-true methods. But just because a cleaning trend goes viral doesn’t always mean it’s popular advice. In fact, several of the cleaning tips we shared in 2024 had our readers debating best practices in our comments section.

Plenty of our cleaning articles sparked conversation, opposed long-held traditions, and led to surprising discoveries in 2024. From common cleaning mistakes to popular trends that unexpectedly worked wonders, these are the tips that had everyone talking.

1. Do You Need to Clean Your Microwave Filter?

Early on in 2024, viral TikTok and Instagram videos showed homeowners removing and cleaning their microwave filters. A quick scroll through the comments revealed that most people didn’t even know these filters existed—let alone that they need regular cleaning.

Our answer: If you’re just discovering that microwave filters exist, it’s probably time for a good scrub. Microwaves come with different types of filters, but no matter what type you have, it’s important to clean the filters regularly to prevent grease buildup. A clogged, greasy filter can affect your microwave’s performance and lead to unpleasant odors in the air.

2. Do Dishwasher Pods Put Your Plumbing at Risk?

Dishwasher pods offer a convenient, spill-proof alternative to traditional dishwasher detergent. However, there are concerns about their environmental impact and their potential effects of their thin plastic coating on your home’s plumbing—and our readers are definitely split on whether they’re a smart product.

Our answer: The plastic coating found on most pods is designed to dissolve completely during the wash cycle, so they generally won’t cause problems for most dishwashers. That said, it’s important to pay attention to whether or not your pods are compatible with your specific dishwasher model, as using the wrong size pod can lead to issues with dispensing the soap.

3. Should You Boil Kitchen Towels to Clean Them?

After all the daily spills, splatters, and drying jobs, it’s not a far stretch to assume that boiling your kitchen towels is the best way to clean them. After all, kitchen towels are a breeding ground for bacteria, and heat is known to kill bacteria.

Our answer: Boiling your kitchen towels is a fool-proof way to eliminate lingering bacteria, making it a reliable cleaning method. However, frequent exposure to high heat can cause the fabric to deteriorate faster, meaning you’ll likely need to replace your towels more often. If you’re attached to your towels (or if you collect novelty ones), a regular wash cycle in the machine should be enough to keep them clean and fresh.

4. Should Pets Be Allowed to Sleep in Your Bed?

At the end of a long day, many pet owners love nothing more than curling up in bed with their four-legged friends. Unfortunately, though the snuggles are comforting, letting your pets into bed also means welcoming fur, pet dander, and dirt into the sheets with you. But is this a deal breaker?

Our answer: If you enjoy cuddling with your pets at night, we’ve got good news for you. With a little extra effort to keep your bed clean, there’s no reason you can’t share your sleep space with a furry friend. This can include washing your bed linens more frequently, adding extra mattress protectors, and investing in laundry products that tackle stains and disinfect.

5. Can You Clean Your Oven with Aluminum Foil?

The internet was buzzing after an oven-cleaning hack went viral on Instagram and TikTok, gaining more than 77 million views. The method involves scrubbing the oven door with a ball of aluminum foil and a mixture of water and baking soda. And although the videos were enticing, our readers weren’t convinced it was a good idea.

Our answer: Using aluminum foil and baking soda to clean your oven is definitely effective, but the bigger question many viewers were asking was whether this method could cause any damage. Rest assured, as long as you clean your oven just a few times a year—which is all it really needs—this hack won’t ruin your oven.

6. Is Wet Hair in Bed Ruining Your Sheets?

Whether it’s because of a late-night shower or the viral heatless curls hack, almost all of us have gone to bed with wet hair at some point or another. However, making this a habit—or even doing it once—could lead to unwanted damage to your cozy bed sheets.

Our answer: Wet hair will dampen your pillows, pillowcases, and sheets for hours at a time, creating a perfect environment for bacteria and mold to grow. This can be damaging to your sheets, but can also make you sick if you breathe in mold spores. Though it might add some extra time to your evening routine, it’s best to ensure your hair is dry before heading to bed.

7. Does the Viral DIY Grout Cleaner Actually Work?

Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and Dawn dish soap are all you need to restore the true color of your grout, according to this viral cleaning hack. But not every DIY cleaning trick lives up to the hype, so we decided to test it ourselves and see if this method actually delivers results.

Our answer: After letting the solution sit, we wiped it away with a wet cloth to reveal a noticeably lighter-looking grout. The results weren’t as dramatic as some of the videos trending on social media, but we were still impressed by how simple and effective the method was.

8. Does This Cleaning Hack Erase Spaghetti Tupperware Stains?

Uh oh! You stored your leftover spaghetti in a plastic Tupperware container, and now it’s coated with an unappetizing red stain. It might be tempting to believe it’s a lost cause, but this trending cleaning hack promises a cleaner and clearer plastic container.

Our answer: This hack offers an easy and effective cleaning solution for any recent discoloration, but it won’t work on set-in stains. If you have a container that’s been sporting a red tinge for a few weeks, or if you’ve already run it through the dishwasher, that stain is probably here to stay.

9. Does Washing Leggings Inside Out Make a Difference?

A great pair of leggings can make you feel your best, but they can lose their impact when the material starts to pill and the fabric loses its softness. Turning clothing inside out (especially leggings) is a popular laundry strategy for preserving clothes, so we turned to a laundry expert to see if it’s true.

Our answer: You don’t necessarily need to wash your leggings inside out, but you’ll see a noticeable difference over time if you wash them often. Turning them inside out can protect them from dye transfer and shield them from rougher items, such as buttons and zippers, on other clothes.

10. Can Aluminum Foil Actually Remove Rust?

It can be frustrating to watch an unsightly patch of rust spread across your favorite metal trinkets, furniture, and silverware. But this cleaning hack claims to eliminate those annoying rust spots with just a ball of aluminum foil and a splash of water.

Our answer: When aluminum foil comes into contact with rust, a chemical reaction occurs that reverses the oxidation process that created the rust in the first place. The bottom line? This cleaning hack should have your metal fixtures shining like new. It won’t leave scratches behind, either, making it a safer alternative to using a steel wool scouring stick.