I’ve been a big fan of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for years now — in fact, they are one of the essential supplies I recommend for spring cleaning. After I bought my first package, they sat forgotten under my kitchen sink for quite some time. One day my son Kell was looking for something to clean his golf shoes. I wasn’t sure what to tell him until I remembered those Magic Erasers under the sink. I told him to try one, and it worked like MAGIC!
It made me curious about just how these babies work, and it turns out the answer is pretty darn interesting.
Check out these magic eraser tricks in action in my video at the end of the post!
What Are Magic Erasers, and How Do Magic Erasers Work?
Magic Erasers are sponges made of melamine foam, which have been used for decades as an insulation and soundproofing material. About ten years ago, some smarty-pants discovered that melamine foam was also an effective abrasive cleaner! It works because when melamine resin cures into foam, its microstructure becomes almost as hard as glass – causing it to act like super-fine sandpaper on stains. The abrasive foam loosens up dirt and grime, and the open microstructure of the foam sucks it in and traps it there. Neat, right?
While a magic sponge will work when it’s dry, adding some water makes the job of cleaning tough messes a little easier. It’s similar to getting a washcloth wet before scrubbing the kitchen counter.
The only drawback I’ve found regarding these erasers is that much like a pencil eraser, they will break down and fall apart as they are used. However, I’ve found that a small piece of Magic Eraser works just as well as a larger piece, so you end up getting a lot more use out of each sponge if you cut it up into smaller pieces.
That one little tip will extend the life of each eraser dramatically and keep costs low for you. Another way to keep costs down is to avoid brand name erasers (like Mr. Clean Magic Erasers) and buy generic ones. I like to get my melamine foam erasers in bulk online! We buy them in packs of 20. They cost about $0.20 less per eraser than the name brand ones, and work just as well, in our opinion!
Are Magic Erasers Safe?
It’s so hard to find a cleaning product that can do such a good job without using chemicals. This little cleaning scrubber is just that. If you’re still worried about the safety of a melamine foam sponge, here are a few facts to help put you at ease.
- The ingredients in Magic Eraser have been safely and commonly used for many years in a wide range of household products and are considered non-toxic.
- No ingredients are subject to any health-related labeling laws in North America or Europe.
- Formaldehyde is not and never has been an ingredient in Magic Eraser. One ingredient in Magic Eraser (formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer) contains the word “formaldehyde” in its chemical name. However, this ingredient is not formaldehyde and poses no health or safety risks.
How to Use Magic Erasers
To use a magic eraser, add water to the sponge, squeeze as much water out as you can, scrub the surface with light pressure, and watch the grime disappear.
Magic erasers work extremely well as a wall cleaner. I use them to remove scuff marks on my walls and baseboards. Every once in a while, I tackle all my baseboards, and every time they end up looking practically brand new!
- Remove marker, pen, and crayon marks off high touch areas (like walls, light switches, and furniture.
- Remove sticker and label residue.
- Clean those notoriously hard-to-clean fiberglass shower floors.
- Polish your silver jewelry, and remove tarnish from jewelry and silver utensils.
- Clean residue off-dry erase marker boards. (You can remove permanent marker from whiteboards, too!)
- Remove scuff marks, pen marks, and dirt build-up on leather couches, shoes, purses, and luggage.
- Clean countertops and other finished surfaces. (Always perform a spot test first, or check with your countertop manufacturer.)
- Remove spray paint from vandals or mischievous 3 year olds!
- Clean keyboards, mouses, and other electronics. Use on everything except the screen!
- Remove scum from your shower and glass door.
- Remove stains on clothing.
- Scrub tile grout.
- Clean grease from stovetops.
- Remove coffee, tea, and kool-aid stains from countertops. Be especially careful when it comes to granite and marble countertops – scrubbing too hard could remove the sealant.
- Clean microfiber couches and chairs.
- Remove scuff marks on shoes, as well as scuff marks on the floor.
- Scrub your plastic and metal patio furniture.
- Clean car interiors, exteriors, wheels, and paint scratches.
- Clean RVs and boats, inside and out.
- Remove bugs that are stuck on cars, windshields, house siding, etc. (Always spot test on glossy finishes, and rub very gently.)
- Remove ink and paint stains from hands.
- Sprinkle some baking soda into your toilet bowl and use the magic eraser to clean toilet bowl stains without harsh chemicals.
Check out these and other magic eraser tips in action:
What do you use Magic Erasers for?
NEW! Can you guess the 5-letter word related to today’s post?
More Ideas You'll Love
Do you use them wet or dry? Couldn’t figure that out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think it depends on the surface. If you wet a melamine sponge it provides less friction. If I were removing a stain from a microfiber sofa, I would use it dry. On hard surfaces, I use it dry first, then wet. As you can see, I don’t know the answer to your question. These are just my thoughts.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wet! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee. While gardening, I accidentally hurt a finger. I didn´t notice until I saw blood stains on my shirt. I´ve tried all sorts of products and the stains are still visible. Baking soda, washing soda, lemon juice, salt, Tide pens. Nothing worked. Any suggestioins?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hydrogen peroxide is the best for blood stains! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Some people find this solution a little weird and disgusting, but spit is best. The enzymes break down the proteins perfectly. And it is free! Launder the garmet as usual.
Also… Try meat tenderizer
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Put ice on it. Let it sit til the ice melts. If it hasn’t gone away after the ice melts , repeat it until it does. Takes it out every time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Please do not use magic erasers on marble.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank You for the tips on Magic Erasers!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve used them to get the bugs off my car with no problem. You just can’t scrub really hard. Let the eraser do the work. Cheap ones fall apart faster than Mr Clean. It’s all I use now to clean windows. Just scrub and dry with paper towels. It’s the only thing I’ve found that cleans my pool steps. As for the environment, I use them till there’s nothing left.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.So it’s just the sponge doing the work? There’s no “magic cleaning solution” on them?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve never used them but am excited to try them now.
It does say on the box not to use on car paint. Do not use on skin, causes chemical burns as diagnosed by doc. you will leave a noticable sheen difference on painted walls and cabinets.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yep! They are pretty cool :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Concerning the use on glass top stoves: I prefer to clean those with Barkeeper’s Friend and a regular sponge. The sponges clean the glass top better w/o leaving streaks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Barkeeper’s Friend is far more abrasive than Magic Erasers, so repeated use of Barkeeper’s Friend on glass top stoves will dull the finish much quicker.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Magic Erasers also work to remove coffee and tea stains from mugs – just be sure to wash them well afterward.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great tip, Dawn!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can get a purple cleaning rag sets from shop.flylady.net. I think they are made with the same material but reusable. They work just as great!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.They are not made of the same material. They are microfiber cloth.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love magic erasers but be careful! They are abrasive. Please don’t use them on your car exterior unless you don’t care about your paint job!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I work for a pool company, and these magic erasers should not be used on a swimming pools
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Vinyl liner. They damage the uv coating .
I have strongly believed in Magic Erasers for many years now. Whenever someone informs me of a stain they are unable to get out I quickly tell them Magic Eraser. I have even used them on carpet stains. I live in senior housing. There have been many tenants here before me. Unfortunately, even some that did not clean quite well. Therefore, I am playing with the idea of a thinner magic eraser being made to fit a swiffer mop.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hopefully, I will get some agreement on this idea from others and this will become a reality. I now feel, why attempt using anything else? Go straight to the magic eraser. Sue Card
Mr Clean made a magic eraser mop. I found it at the Family Dollar. It was great for cleaning tile. Try looking online for one.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.They actually make a mop just like that! Check it out: https://amzn.to/2HtT75A
Please log in or create a free account to comment.@ Susan Card. I’m with you. I have to get on a ladder to clean my shower tiles. At my age (67) I’m not comfortable doing that. I would go insane if I could teach stuff 5’2
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Awww.. Too bad this is a repeat article. I’m in love with magic erasers and thought maybe ya came up with new and more ideas. Anyway, do be careful on skin. Its like a soft micro-abrasive sandpaper and you don’t notice it removing skin till it’s too late.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great Product !!!!!!! so many good ideas to use this product on!!!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I could never get the shower pan clean and these miracles cleaned it right up!! Thanks Jillee!! You are amazing! I look forward to your post everyday!! You are a genius!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Paula!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have always wondered, do you use them wet or dry?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Always wet them before use :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If u had a drop of Dawn dishwashing soap to the magic eraser it works even better and takes grease off in a flash!! Great article. Thank you for writing it
Please log in or create a free account to comment.99 Cents Only store is a great place to buy these!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have food saver bags, I write the date and contents on the bag. The eraser removes the ink to wash and reuse the bags.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Magic Erasers are also good foe removing scuff marks on Seude shoes, especially white!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I need to ask Hubby to get me some Erasers at the Commissary today .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Take it from me and do NOT use it on your car’s exterior!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Usually new products are well advertised–not Magic Eraser. In all the years it’s been out, I’ve never tried it, knowing nothing about it. But thanks to you, I’m now anxious to. I’m partially disabled, and this may save me much “wear and tear”. Thank you, Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It is the best and most versatile cleaning product on the market. Proctor and Gamble doesn’t advertise it because they don’t want it to compete with their other products which do not work as well! There is a company called http://www.spongeoutlet.com that sells the identical product as the Magic Eraser for as little as $0.29 per sponge with free shipping. They are not those flimsy, potentially dangerous Chinese knock-offs.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do like these magic erasers, however I attempted to remove scuff marks from a painted wall and the paint rubbed off along with the scuff marks. Tried it again on the same surface and used less elbow grease, and still, it removed the paint. Suggest a test rub in an inconspicuous area.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s basically just super fine sandpaper, so it basically is removing the top layers of the surface. Usually that means the dirt, but it can sand away the paint/finish/etc also.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you, I knew they worked great but I was always fearful i was breathing a hidden chemical? Thank you, I love magic erasers.
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