I tried TikTok's viral aluminum foil dishwasher hack, and while my silverware was a bit shinier, it wasn't worth the hype

• A viral TikTok hack advises users to put aluminum foil in their dishwasher for shiny silverware.
• I tried this hack to see if it really worked and wasn't impressed with the results.
• While the silverware appeared to be a bit shinier and brighter, it wasn't completely spotless.

A cleaning hack where TikTokers place aluminum foil in their dishwasher to make their silverware sparkle has been making the rounds on the app. 

TikTok users shared videos of themselves balling up sheets of aluminum foil and placing it inside their dishwasher's silverware compartment, producing spot-free and shiny cutlery.

In 2021, TikTok user @carolina.mccauley demonstrated the hack, and her video got over 335,000 views and 19,000 likes as of Sunday. 

Overall, reactions in the comments section were mixed.

"Why does my brain think it's not okay to put aluminum foil inside appliances because of the microwave, " one user wrote.

"I need to know the science on this," another person commented. 

One person offered a possible scientific explanation and wrote: "It's the chemical reaction between the aluminum foil and dishwashing tablets."

According to Reader's Digest, oxidation occurs, and tarnish is lifted from cutlery when the foil interacts with the silverware.

To see if this trick actually works, I tried it for myself. 

I washed three pieces of silverware as usual inside the dishwasher 

First, I passed the silverware with a dishwasher pod to see how clean it would get without aluminum foil.

After the wash cycle, I noticed some water spots on the silverware, and they looked a bit dull.

Next, I balled up the foil and placed it in my dishwasher's silverware compartment, and added a pod

I've seen people place the ball inside the basket to keep it in place or just let it sit on the top. I chose the ladder, and the aluminum foil stayed in place for the entire cycle. 

Once finished, I noticed the ball changed colors and took on a rusty hue.

The silverware was clean but not completely spotless and dazzling like TikTok said it would be. Several streaks were still visible on the handle part of the spoon and fork. 

I will most likely use this hack again, even though I was not amazed by the result

Time-wise, the hack requires little prep, which is a bonus. It took me about three hours for my dishwasher to run the washing and drying cycles. Then I could see the results for myself. 

The hack was easy and low-stakes, plus it made the silverware shiner if nothing else.