Boston Man Goes Viral for Washing Clothes in Bathtub

Elie Assi's video of hand-washing his scrubs during a washing machine breakdown has amassed over 11 million views on TikTok.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:36pm

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When Elie Assi's building's washing machine broke down for several days, the 22-year-old Boston healthcare worker had to get creative to clean his scrubs before a snowstorm. He filled up his bathtub and hand-washed his clothes, documenting the process on TikTok. The video went viral, amassing over 11 million views and thousands of positive comments.

Why it matters

Assi's resourceful solution highlights how people can adapt to unexpected challenges, even in the modern age of technology. His video also resonates with viewers by tapping into nostalgic traditions of hand-washing clothes, which was common practice for previous generations.

The details

With no time to get to a laundromat before his shift, Assi filled up his bathtub and washed his scrubs by hand. He recorded a video of the process and posted it to TikTok, where it quickly gained traction and went viral, amassing over 11 million views.

  • Assi's building's washing machine broke down a few days before he needed to wash his scrubs.
  • A snowstorm was sweeping through Boston, making it difficult for Assi to get to a laundromat.

The players

Elie Assi

A 22-year-old healthcare worker in Boston who resorted to hand-washing his clothes in the bathtub when his building's washing machine broke down.

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What they’re saying

“My in-building washer was broken for a few days without being repaired, and I had to wash my scrubs one way or another.”

— Elie Assi

“It was fully appropriate and fits me as a person — goofy, and always willing to make people smile.”

— Elie Assi

What’s next

Assi plans to continue hand-washing his clothes in the bathtub, saying "I guess you'll be seeing more of me in that bathtub!"

The takeaway

Assi's creative solution to a practical problem resonated with viewers, highlighting how people can adapt to unexpected challenges and honoring the resourcefulness of past generations who relied on hand-washing clothes out of necessity.