An online influencer in China shares tutorials on cleaning bloodstains and dissolving bones, sparking crime fears. -- Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
BEIJING (SCMP): An influencer in China who teaches people how to clean bloodstains and bone residue has sparked concerns about the crime-related implications of his work.
The man, who uses the pseudonym Hua, hails from Guangdong province in southern China and claims to be a senior researcher at a biotechnology institute.
He shares household cleaning tutorials on a mainland Chinese short-video sharing platform, where he has attracted more than 350,000 followers.
In one video, Hua demonstrates how to clean bloodstains from a bathroom floor.
He pours hydrogen peroxide and toilet cleaner on the bloodstains, scrubs the area and successfully removes the stains, before telling viewers: “The internet is not a lawless place.”
In another video, Hua shows how toothpaste can be applied to bloodstains on pants, which can then be rinsed off with water.
He also uses luminol reagent and a UV light to detect any remaining traces of blood. This video has received 120,000 saves.
Influencer “Hua” says he works as a senior researcher at a biotechnology institute. -- Photo: Douyin
Online sources reveal that luminol is widely used in forensic science to detect wiped or old blood traces.
Hua also shows how to dissolve kitchen bones by soaking those from a chicken in drain cleaner and hot water.
Within 30 minutes, the bones break down into a red liquid.
“Drain cleaner contains hydroxide, a strong base that reacts with calcium in bones, causing decomposition,” says Hua.
He even demonstrates how to extract fingerprints from a phone screen using talcum powder in a video that earned 28,000 likes.
While he claims his tips are meant for tackling household problems, he also sells the drain cleaner used in his videos for 34 yuan (US$5) per bottle, with over 300 bottles sold online.
Hua’s videos have sparked widespread attention on mainland social media.
One online observer said: “Removing bloodstains and dissolving bones. This feels like a guide to the ‘perfect crime’. What if criminals start using these techniques?”
“Using such tutorials to sell cleaning products seems to incite crime. Hua should be worried about breaking the law,” said another.
However, one person defended the influencer, calling his tips practical.
“He has taught me to remove mould stains from clothes with toothpaste and vinegar. Hua is a very helpful and kind influencer. I trust he would not do anything illegal,” he said.
In one of his videos “Hua” demonstrates how to clean blood stains from a bathroom floor. -- Photo: Douyin
Hua’s research institute responded to the online criticism, saying that they are an internal corporate institute primarily focused on science popularisation rather than product sales.
A spokesperson explained that the videos, including those about bloodstains and bones, are designed to be engaging content.
“We would never teach people to commit crimes. Our goal is to educate on chemical principles and safe cleaning practices,” the spokesperson said.
Mainland media reported concerns from an anonymous forensic scientist, who noted that the luminol reagent in the video is commonly used in police investigations.
“I fear someone might use these methods to cover up crime scenes. Such sensational content should be removed,” the expert said.
A lawyer told the mainland media outlet Xinwen Fang that the videos do not break the law since they do not “directly” teach criminal methods.
However, the lawyer added: “If Hua were to advise netizens on committing crimes, like disposing of corpses, it could become an offence.”
In China, teaching criminal methods can result in up to 10 years in prison.
So far, Hua has not commented on the controversy. Some of his videos have been removed, leaving only normal tutorials, such as cleaning oil stains and appliance grime. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
