Who knew, that I’d first hear about Mr. Clean Magic Erasers at a conference about blogging?
It’s true. When Glenn Reynolds (a.k.a. “The Instapundit” and godfather of the blogging world) mentioned in passing how much he liked this handy household gadget called the Magic Eraser, I knew it must be great. And when he commented on its ability to work on a wide variety of surfaces, rather than just those stated on the box, I knew this product would be right up my alley.
I’m not kidding when I say that Magic Erasers truly work miracles — and they’re only about a buck apiece! (You can actually buy them in bulk for less than $10!)
- These foam-like sponges are extremely lightweight and resemble pieces of styrofoam.
- They’re made of a porous melamine material that gets into hard-to-clean surfaces and tiny grooves — like magic!
- All it takes is a dab of water to moisten the Magic Eraser. No other cleaning chemicals needed …and no elbow grease.
Must read: Do Generic Melamine Sponges Work As Well As Mr. Clean Magic Erasers?
My Favorite Uses For Mr. Clean Magic Erasers
The very first time I tried a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, I was SHOCKED. It worked so well — but what really sold me was its ability to clean the slightly rough, textured surfaces that the handles of kitchen appliances are made of.
After a few minutes of wiping down our appliances, light switches, and cupboards (also lightly textured), I decided to go all around the house looking for stuff to clean.
These little sponges are great at getting into the tiny cracks & crevices of virtually any surface!
My other favorite uses for a Magic Eraser
In addition to the ideas I’ve mentioned above, these are some of the other ways I have personally found to use a Magic Eraser around the house:
Cleaning a white phone charger cord (yep, that cord starts looking gray after awhile!)
Removing soap scum and gunk from around the bathroom faucets
Cleaning inside the refrigerator (all shelves, including in-the-door shelving)
Removing scuff marks from floors, doors, and baseboards (…not only scuff marks, but also years of black grime & built-up hairspray on white baseboards in the bathrooms & door panels of cabinets/doors)
Dusting the top, flat surfaces on wainscoting trim throughout the house
Removing dirt and stains from plastic trash cans
Cleaning the nooks & crannies around and under the washing machine lid
Making tennis shoes look like new again
Removing stains on the underside of the toilet seat and around the toilet seat hinges
Cleaning white grout effortlessly
Removing soap scum in the tub and shower
Cleaning plastic coolers inside and out (…even dirty grimy ones used by men with greasy hands!)
Removing marks on walls
Cleaning & shining things up before you sell them in a yard sale
Removing set-in stains inside glass and plastic pitchers
Cleaning the plastic agitator and rubbery pieces inside your washing machine
Removing hair dye from countertops & floors
Cleaning non-skid surfaces with tiny grooves (bathtub floors, refrigerator handles, pool steps, cooler lids)
Removing set-in tea stains in the Mr. Coffee Instant Tea Maker (both, the pitcher and the tea holder) or any plastic pitcher
Cleaning the textured plastic parts of the computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse
Removing set-in stains from drink coasters (…even those ceramic ones)
Cleaning in the tiny nooks & crannies of the can opener
Removing muddy dog “splashes” on wainscoting after the dogs shook their wet fur
Removing coffee & tea stains that remain inside a mug, carafe, thermos even after washing
…But wait, there’s more!
Following are dozens of creative uses for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers — from others who’ve used them.
In general, magic erasers can “remove” or “clean” virtually anything! (For the record, that Magic Erasers warning that’s floating around stating they’re dangerous is a hoax.)
Here’s what Magic Erasers are made of and how a melamine sponge really works.
Now, onto all the miracles of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers…
If you’re enjoying the clever tips & tricks found here, it would mean the world to me if you’d share with others on Pinterest:
Other Things Mr. Clean Magic Erasers Can Do
- remove dried paint from door hinges
- remove tarnish from silver
- remove mold & mildew from anything plastic
- clean & polish gold jewelry
- clean splatters inside the microwave
- remove marks on vinyl siding
- clean mirrors in the bathroom (keeps shower mirrors from fogging)
- remove adhesive residue after removing stickers
- remove waterline mark around the pool
- clean light-colored suede
- remove black scuff marks from baseboards (where the vacuum cleaner hits)
- clean the outdoor side of window sills stained from leaves, dust and dirt
- remove rust spots & stains on countertop
- remove cooked-on stains in pots and pans
- remove soot off the walls near the fireplace
- clean within the grooves of lawn ornaments
- clean sticky/dusty range hood over the stove
- remove nail polish spills or stains
- clean airbake cookie sheets & bakeware (the kind with all those tiny grooves)
- clean oven shelves & the grates on the grill
- remove wet nose marks from pets on the windows (even car windows)
- remove toothpaste splashes from bathroom mirrors
- remove melted plastic on the side of the toaster oven
- remove grimey green algae from cement (bird baths, steps, ponds, etc)
- clean stained elbows from dirty work
- remove green mildew from siding and gutters
- remove paint spills & oversprays
- remove toilet bowl rings (cut a piece off & let it set in your toilet overnight; don’t flush it; doesn’t always work)
- remove built-up algae, water deposits, etc from ceramic flower pots
- clean dish drainers that are gunked with lime and build-up
- remove bird poop from concrete bird bath
- clean window screens (even when they are still in the window)
- remove built-up baked on grease inside the deep fryer
- clean inside the crock pot
- remove melted plastic on a glass top stove
- clean swimming pool steps
- remove baked on brown spots on cookware
- clean antiques & collectibles
- polish collectible coins (UPDATE: coin experts recommend that you do NOT clean coins.)
- clean boat & outdoor furniture upholstery
- clean vinyl striping on motorhomes, vans, boats
- clean car tires, including white walls
- remove pet & child vomit from carpet or clothing
- remove scuff marks on motorcycle & ATV helmets
- remove grass stains from shoes after mowing the lawn
- remove scuff marks from hangers/shoes in the walk-in closet
- clean oven door
- Cleaning textured handles on major appliances (dishwasher, refrigerator, stove)
- remove pollen from patio furniture, cars, etc.
- remove hairspray build-up on countertops and vanities
- remove soap scum inside porcelain & utility sinks
- clean stained caulking along the kitchen sink & countertop
- clean your bicycle, even the tires & rims
- clean tile & grout
- remove mildew from tents, vinyl canopies, awnings, fiberglass items
- remove paint overspray that has dried
- clean pebbled surfaces like the outside of plastic coolers
- remove shoe marks from the kickplate of house doors & car doors
- clean inside your car (along the handles, window ledge, arm rests, dashboard)
- remove scuff marks and dirt from linoleum floors
- remove stains on leather seats, purses, chairs, etc.
- remove food stains inside plastic food containers
- remove brake dust from tire rims
- remove dirt and grime on a vinyl convertible top
- remove nail polish from walls, carpets, wooden objects, plastic
- remove soil or scuff marks from ceramic tile flooring
- clean & shine bathroom faucets & fixtures
- remove magic marker, permanent marker, and ballpoint ink from virtually any surface
- clean doll faces
- remove fingerprints and dirt on light-colored kitchen cupboards
- remove crayon marks from walls
- remove dark paint on light-colored carpet
- clean soap scum and oils from hot tub
- clean a car’s vinyl interior (gets into the tiny crinkles in the vinyl armrest, etc.)
- clean white porch railings, columns & pillars
- remove bugs from car windshield, grille, and bumper
- remove paint scratches on your car from minor fender benders
- remove rust and corrosion that’s built-up on the outside of pipes (kitchen/bathroom)
- clean & shine hubcaps
- remove built-up grime on the car steering wheel
- remove finger prints & build-up on the keyboard and mouse
- remove oxidized paint from an old car
- remove built-up gunk from vinyl seats
- remove tar from your car’s paint
- remove scuff marks from the back of car seats (from kids’ shoes)
- clean kids’ plastic toys
- remove dirt and grime from athletic shoes and shoes with leather uppers
- remove fingerprint & handprints from light-colored doors & walls
- remove scuff marks from your patio furniture
- remove built up dirt & grime from RV awnings and door frames
But wait, there’s even more! I keep finding more and more ways to use Magic Erasers around my house. Here are some very unique uses for Magic Erasers that I’ve personally tried!
My Best Tip: How To Get The Most Out Of Magic Eraser Blocks
The only downside to Mr. Clean Magic Eraser blocks is that they don’t last long. But that’s a testament to their cleaning power — their tiny pores get filled with all the gunk that’s hiding in small spaces.
To get more life out of your Magic Erasers, try this:
1. Cut each Magic Eraser into 8 or 9 equal-sized pieces — across the shortest width of the eraser, rather than lengthwise. This way, you get 8 to 9 times the amount of cleaning out of 1 single block!
2. Lightly mist 1 small piece of the cleaning block with water (using a spray bottle or the kitchen sink sprayer) rather than saturating it with water (which causes it to shrivel up more).
3. Scrub lightly with the Magic Eraser, then wipe the area with a wet towel to avoid smearing the dirt & grime and remove any residue.
4. When your tiny cleaning block starts to get yucky (after cleaning a few different items), simply spray rinse it again to revive it a bit. Squeeze the excess water out, and continue using it until it physically starts to shred apart.
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