How Do Magic Erasers Work? [23 Magic Erasers Uses] | March 18, 2024

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.

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.)

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