YouTuber who copied viral craze for filling a bath with Orbeez beads that expand in water blocks his entire neighbourhood’s drain system when he tries to empty it by pulling the plug
- Social media influencer Cyril Schreiner, from France, uploaded the viral video
- He filled a bath full of orbeez, beads that expand in water, and pulled the plug
- The beads filled his sink and toilet when they poured into the drainage system
- Mayor is on the hunt for the culprit after the beads blocked the town’s drains
A French social media influencer has gone viral after he filled his bath with orbeez and managed to block his entire neighbourhood’s drainage systems with the jelly-like balls.
YouTuber Cyril Schreiner, from Alsace, poured three boxes of Orbeez – beads that expand in water – into a bath for his latest video.
But events took a turn for the worst when he decided to unplug the bath to try to get rid of the jelly balls down the drain.
Youtuber Cyril Schreiner (pictured), from Alsace, poured three boxes of orbeez – beads that expand in water – into a bath for his latest video, which he posted four days ago
Events took a turn for the worst when he decided to unplug the bath to try to get rid of the jelly balls down the drain
The balls filled the pipes and flooded into the toilet and sink. Cyril then made it even worse by trying to flush the toilet, which only resulted in it overflowing and flooding his bathroom.
A further update revealed the entire neighbourhood’s drainage system had been blocked and the mayor was looking for the culprit.
Although the videos were all in French, one English-speaking Twitter user – with the username @yuqheis – translated the events in a thread that has been viewed six-million times.
They wrote: ‘This French guy filled his tub with orbeez then had no idea how to get rid of them so he just pulled the plug which resulted in orbeez overflowing both in his toilet and sink.’
The orbeez filled the drains around the French town and the mayor sent a letter to each house explaining they were searching for the culprit
Although the videos were all in French, one English-speaking Twitter user – with the username @yuqheis – translated the events in a thread that has been viewed six-million times
It was one disaster after another when his vacuum cleaner caught on fire while he tried to clean the mess.
The Twitter user added: ‘His hoover caught on fire when he tried to hoover them up, then he found out the Orbeez invaded the entire sewer system in his neighbourhood.
‘Someone suggested to use salt and it actually worked until poop started flooding not only his house but the neighbourhood too. There are genuine tears streaming down my face at this point.
What are Orbeez – the tiny balls also known as water jellies, water beads, water gems?
An Orbeez footspa
Orbeez are superabsorbent polymers that grow to 100 times their original size when submerged in water.
They absorb liquids and a version of Orbeez are used in babies’ nappies to keep them dry.
Why were they created?
They were originally invented as a way to keep moisture in soil for plants.
The plant roots can take the water out of the beads as soon as the soil gets dry, and then the beads absorb more water again once they’re watered.
So the plants are always the perfect level of damp.
What are they used for now?
The beads are hugely popular with children and YouTube content creators.
Many videos have been created showing people filling paddling pools and baths with the colourful jellies.
Are they harmful to the environment?
Orbeez are non-toxic and biodegradable but they can clog up waste and pipe systems so should never be flushed or poured into plugs.
‘The Orbeez actually blocked the entire water system in his neighbourhood and he received a letter from town hall saying cops are searching for the culprit.’
Cyril, who has half a million subscribers, originally posted the full video on his YouTube channel.
And when he saw the English translation of his antics on Twitter he commented: ‘HELLO IT’S ME THE IDIOT.’
Other Twitter users couldn’t believe what they were seeing and commented their shock underneath the post.
When he saw the English translation of his antics on Twitter he commented: HELLO IT’S ME THE IDIOT’
Other Twitter users couldn’t believe what they were seeing and commented their shock underneath the post
One said: ‘but WHY? why would you fill the tub with them? I personally would have scooped them out with a bucket into trash bags, assuming I had a tub full of them for some reason.’
Another added: ‘Okay you know what. I’m just wondering why you didn’t just vacuum clean them all up and just dumped them in the trash bags. You could have hired somebody to industrially clean this.’
One penned: ‘Time to blame Orbeez for damages coz they dont specify not to do this on the packet, good luck mate.’
Another was less sympathetic: ‘Man that would wreck the sewage system and cost tens of thousands of dollars.’