A Chinese influencer, known for his unconventional cleaning tutorials, has stirred concern with content that some believe could have criminal implications. The influencer, identified by the pseudonym Hua, hails from Guangdong province and claims to be a senior researcher at a biotechnology institute.
Hua’s cleaning tutorials, which he posts on a popular short-video platform, have attracted a significant following of over 350,000 people. His videos include techniques to remove bloodstains using hydrogen peroxide, toilet cleaner, and luminol reagent. One of his videos, where he uses luminol and UV light to detect blood traces, has been saved 120,000 times.
In another video, Hua demonstrates how to dissolve chicken bones using drain cleaner and hot water, explaining the chemical reaction between hydroxide and calcium. The process, according to Hua, reduces the bones to a red liquid in 30 minutes. He has also shared tutorials on how to extract fingerprints from phone screens using talcum powder, which gained 28,000 likes.
Though Hua claims his techniques are aimed at household cleaning, he also sells the drain cleaner used in his videos for 34 yuan (approximately $5) per bottle, with over 300 units sold.
The videos have raised concerns among viewers on social media, some of whom questioned whether the tutorials could help criminals. One user commented, “Removing bloodstains and dissolving bones feels like a guide to the ‘perfect crime’.”
While some viewers criticized Hua for promoting criminal activity to sell products, others defended him, citing practical uses of his cleaning tips. One supporter stated, “He taught me to remove mould stains with toothpaste and vinegar. Hua is a helpful and kind influencer.”
In response to the controversy, a spokesperson from Hua’s institute clarified that the content is educational, focusing on chemical principles and safe cleaning practices. “We would never teach people to commit crimes,” they assured.
Despite this, a forensic scientist expressed concerns that such methods could potentially be misused to hide criminal activity and called for stricter content regulation. A legal expert pointed out that while Hua’s videos do not directly violate laws, teaching techniques related to criminal activities could lead to prosecution in China, where such teachings can carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
Hua has not publicly addressed the issue, but some of his more controversial videos have been removed, leaving only standard cleaning tutorials on his profile.
