Do yourself a favor and avoid putting Fabuloso in the toilet tank and other tricks seen on TikTok
By Jodhaira Rodriguez
Although it may not be the best all-purpose cleaner based on our lab evaluations, Fabuloso is an essential cleaning product in many Latino homes. For me (and probably many others who remember the scent as children), it symbolizes the Saturday morning ritual that my mother continues to follow to this day.
The lavender scent of Fabuloso and the familiar sound of Latin love songs were a sign that I should wake up to help clean the house. When I asked my colleagues who use Fabuloso at home why the all-purpose cleaner is special to them, I heard things like: “It brings back childhood memories,” says Camele Barrett, and “I like buying it because I like the Spanish name. the very bright label of the product and the Latin origins of the cleaner,” according to Daniela Nuñez.
In addition to the emotional attachment many users have to the scent of the all-purpose cleaner, it has a really long list of surfaces it can be used on, is affordably priced, is available at most local grocery stores, and comes in more of half a dozen aromas.
The instructions are not as clear as we would hope about exactly what types of furniture, counters, and floors it is safe to use the cleaner on. But we’ll talk about that later.
As versatile as it is, there are some places you shouldn’t clean with Fabuloso, even if TikTok tells you it’s okay. As with any cleaning product, you should always follow the instructions on the label and never leave open bottles within the reach of children and pets. We searched the app for some of the ways people use the colorful all-purpose cleaner at home and compiled the worst tips for you in this article.
Do not put a bottle of Fabuloso inside the toilet tank
In my house, we often pour a little lavender-scented Fabuloso into the toilet bowl to add a nice little scent to the bathroom after a cleaning session. One of the most popular Fabuloso hacks we found on TikTok goes a step further, instructing users to make a small hole in the bottom of a bottle and then place it inside the toilet cistern. This way, every time the toilet is flushed, a little of the all-purpose cleaner is also released into the toilet bowl, providing a dose of sweet aroma. This is a tempting trick, but we don’t recommend trying it at home. We found several TikTok videos of people complaining that the hack was causing their toilets to run constantly or that the bottle was getting in the tank’s flush system.
“The plastic parts of fill valves and sealing rubber corrode much faster when these cleaning chemicals are added,” says Nicholas Hotujec, owner of Cheddar’s Plumbing Co. LLC in Pittsburgh. “Your toilet may be a little cleaner, but you’ll be calling a plumber to replace toilet parts a lot sooner than you think,” he adds.
What to do instead: To keep the toilet smelling clean after each flush, consider using a toilet spray, like Poo-Pourri, that your family can spray before going to the bathroom. You Is your family forgetful like mine? There is an automatic toilet freshener called Looloo that we have installed in the bathroom at my house that sprays a little mild scent every time someone sits down. (But this solution also has a drawback. More on this below.)
Do not recharge your plug-in air fresheners with Fabuloso
There are several ways we’ve seen TikTokers use Fabuloso to keep their homes smelling fresh. One of these popular tricks sees users refilling plug-in air fresheners with the all-purpose cleaner. When you put the product in these plug-in air fresheners, Fabuloso heats and vaporizes to spread the scent throughout the room. The brand directly addresses this trick on its online FAQ page, warning that none of its products should be heated at all.
There is also some evidence that the use of air fresheners could potentially be dangerous to your health. A 2015 review in the Journal of Toxicological Sciences summarized some of the research that has been done on the possible health effects of air fresheners. In the study, researchers say there are ingredients in air fresheners, including volatile organic compounds, that could pose a health risk to users, but more research is needed to determine “the concentrations of indoor pollutants and the exact components within air fresheners that can be harmful to health.”
What to do instead: If you’re still a fan of plug-in air fresheners, regardless of the scientific literature against their use, look for refills sold by the plug-in manufacturer that are available in scents similar to the ones you like from Fabuloso.
Do not simmer Fabuloso on the stove
Simmering a household cleaner in the pots you use to prepare food is never a good idea. Not only do you run the risk of leaving some of the cleaner on these cooking surfaces, but you are also inhaling the cleaner as it simmers and vaporizes on the stove. The first thing listed on the instructions on the Fabuloso first aid label is to inhale the product; The company recommends moving to a space with fresh air.
What to do instead: An alternative I use at home is to boil a pot of water with cinnamon, cloves, quartered apples, and ginger. After a few minutes, your house will smell fresh and you can drink delicious tea afterwards.
Don’t wash dishes or clothes with Fabuloso
While we didn’t find any TikToks promoting Fabulous as dish soap, we did find some videos of people pouring the cleaner into washing machine detergent dispensers. It may be tempting to use Fabuloso on clothes because of its pleasant scent, but products that are not formulated for use in a washing machine should not be added to your laundry routine. “We generally caution against using anything that’s not designed for washing machines,” says Consumer Reports laundry expert Richard Handel. “It can cause too much suds or react with the detergent in a negative way,” he adds.
The same goes for washing dishes by hand and in the dishwasher. You should be careful when using cleaning products around items that will come into contact with the food you and your family eat, such as plates, cups, and utensils. You don’t want to feed your family all-purpose cleaner for dinner. Our expert agrees.
“Putting any all-purpose cleaner in your dishwasher can speed up the deterioration process of your appliance’s pumps, hoses, plastic, or stainless steel interior,” says Larry Ciufo, senior dishwasher testing project leader at CR. “You shouldn’t use it to clean the inside of your dishwasher either.”
What to do instead: When it’s time to use laundry detergent or dish soap again, consider purchasing a lavender-scented formula (if that’s your favorite Fabuloso scent) instead of your regular scent. To clean the outside of your dishwasher, Larry says you can use a little bit of all-purpose cleaner on a cloth (don’t spray the cleaner directly on the surface of the appliance) to wipe away any grime.
Never mix Fabuloso with other cleaning products
Mixing Fabuloso with bleach to clean and disinfect surfaces is a common trick I’ve heard from family and friends, and it’s very popular on TikTok as a floor cleaning solution. You should never mix two cleaning products. On the label, the brand specifically warns against this: ‘Do not mix with other household cleaners to avoid irritating fumes.’
Kapoor recommends always following the manufacturer’s instructions and reading warning labels before use. Fabuloso’s FAQ page addresses this trick directly by warning against using any of their products with chlorine bleach.
What to do instead: Fabuloso Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner is a surface cleaner and disinfectant that comes in three scents, one of which is the popular lavender scent of the Original All-Purpose Cleaner, which can be used to disinfect surfaces instead of mixing the Original All-Purpose Cleaner with chlorine.
Where is Fabuloso safe to use?
Using cleaning products for their intended use is important to keep you and your family safe and to protect your furniture, floors, countertops, and appliances from damage. The wrong cleaning product could cause serious damage to some surfaces, such as wood and natural stone, which benefit from a specific cleaner. All-purpose cleaner Fabuloso has a long list of surfaces it says are safe to clean, but lacks clarity on the specific materials these common household items are made of. We reached out to the brand to clarify label instructions, and Fabuloso cleaning expert Sharon Garcia shared the following general guidelines to keep in mind when using the product at home:
Floors: Fabuloso is typically safe to use on several types of floors, such as tile, linoleum, laminate, and hardwood. However, it’s always a good idea to test on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure compatibility, especially for sensitive surfaces like hardwood. And make sure the wood is sealed.
Countertops: Fabulous can often be used on kitchen and bathroom countertops made from materials such as granite, marble, quartz, and laminate. Although for natural stone surfaces such as granite and marble, it is recommended to use a cleaner designed specifically for those materials to prevent damage.
Furniture: Fabulous can be used on many types of furniture, including wood, glass, and metal. However, for upholstered and leather furniture, it is generally recommended to use cleaners specifically formulated for those materials to prevent potential damage. Remember to read labels and instructions to use the products as intended.
With these popular tricks debunked and a clearer list of ways you should use Fabuloso All-Purpose Cleaner at home, you can now go ahead and finish your Saturday morning tasks. Maybe you can also call your mom and ask for some song recommendations.
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