The world of social media is a treasure trove of tips and tricks, promising to make our lives easier and more efficient.

But what happens when a seemingly harmless trick goes horribly wrong?

Social media user Kandy Kitty found out the hard way when a popular sink-cleaning method turned into a home disaster.

The method in question involved removing the strainer from the drain hole and using it to unscrew the part underneath it.

The idea is to expose and clean the grimy build-up that accumulates beneath the main sink strainer. Sounds simple enough, right? Kandy Kitty thought so, too, and she decided to try it.

A social media user tried a popular cleaning trend, but it went horribly wrong. Credit: @kandy_kitty87/TikTok

She documented her experience in a video that has since amassed over 5.5 million views. The video showed Kitty following the instructions and unscrewing the sink with her strainer.

'Listen to me now, do not copy [tricks] on [social media],' she warned her viewers.

As she removed the parts, a grimy build-up was revealed.

'Look how disgusting it is,' she exclaimed. She then sprinkled a popular cleaning powder over the sink and its parts, letting it sit and foam up.

But then things started to go wrong. As Kitty scrubbed away the grime, she noticed the sink moving. She joked that any plumber watching her video would probably have a heart attack. Little did she know, her disaster was just moments away.

In just a few moments, her kitchen was flooded. 'Don't worry guys, this [trick’s] “fine”, they don't tell you that the [...] sink moves,' she said while rushing to put towels over the water.

Kitty's video has received a lot of comments from viewers sharing their sink-cleaning nightmares.

'I knew EXACTLY what this was going to be because I did the EXACT same thing a year or two ago. The worst thing was, it wasn't at my house,' one viewer wrote.

Another added, 'I did this with my shower. I live above a restaurant. The whole bar was soaked.'

A third comment read: ‘Advice from a plumber: that nut you removed is what seals the drain to your sink! It’s okay to remove it and clean [it]. But do not run water!’

Mitchell Vidler, an experienced plumber, explained the problem.

'Removing that screw loosens the seal which connects the pipes, and not many know how to tighten it back up to its original state. So, washing the drain out while it's not tightened up can lead to a slow leak underneath the sink, one that many homeowners won't notice until it's too late and their shelves are damaged,' he said.

You can watch Kitty’s video here:

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The Dangers of DIY Plumbing

While it's tempting to try and fix minor plumbing issues yourself, especially with the plethora of DIY videos available online, it's important to remember that plumbing is a skilled trade. Even seemingly simple tasks can lead to major problems if not done correctly.

If you're considering trying a plumbing tip you found online, it's always a good idea to consult with a professional first. They can advise you on whether the task is safe to do yourself or if it's best left to the experts.

Remember, while it might cost more upfront to hire a professional, it could save you a lot of money in the long run by preventing costly damage to your home.

So, the next time you encounter a viral cleaning tip on social media, remember Kandy Kitty's story. Not all tricks are created equal, and some are best left untried.

Key Takeaways

• A social media user, Kandy Kitty, followed a popular sink-cleaning method that flooded her kitchen.
  
• It involved unscrewing parts of the sink to clean the grimy build-up underneath, but the sink loosened and moved whilst cleaned.
  
• Kitty shared a video of her experience on social media, warning others not to replicate the method, which received 5.5 million views and many comments from viewers who experienced similar problems.
  
• A plumber in the comment section explained you can still perform the hack but should avoid using water.
  

Have you ever tried a cleaning method that ended in disaster, members? Share your stories in the comments below.

 

[magpie1]

I used to work part time on a Sunday 5am-7pm at a local service station....one out, on my own. It was a small servo back in the early 90's, normally just a two man operation, the Boss and one worker all day. Anyway one Sunday it was very quiet, more so than usual, and in order to fill in the time I started doing some cleaning around the shop....it was pretty dusty, due to the main doors being open all of the time.....all was going well, the day was flying by and when I had finished the shop I decided to clean around the counter.....then disaster struck as I wiped the very new Computer keyboard with a rather damp cloth and then nothing worked on the Computer at all.....I quickly rang the boss, who was very peeved I can tell you and he came down and tried to get it going but to no avail.....bloody hell. For the rest of the day I had to write down all fuel sales into a ledger form and pay out money from the cash drawer......thankfully in those days at this servo there was not too many 'shop sales'.....all of their prices were in the computer so a bit of guesswork was required at times.
That episode must have impacted me immensely...as I now have no affinity to clean too much.
ps.....the Boss rang me next day to tell me everything was in order again, that the books balanced, and to thank me for cleaning the shop.....but next time, to leave the computer alone ok......aaah Happy days.