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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.
Like this post? Save it to read again later… or share with others on Pinterest!
I like to help people find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Household Tips and Life Hacks that most wouldn’t think of. I’m super-organized. And I LOVE to clean! I even enjoy doing laundry (but not ironing). I’m also a lifelong dog owner — so I often share my favorite tips for living with dogs inside your home (like smart home design choices and dog-friendly cleaning & decorating ideas). Career-wise, I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). Prior to that, I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I’m truly passionate about instead. For example, I’ve worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo — to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. When I’m not cleaning, organizing, decorating, or fixing something… you’ll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve personally written over 200 articles about cleaning, organization, DIY repairs, and household hacks on this site! A few have over 2M shares; many others have over 100K shares.
These “sponges” are made of melamine foam, which works by being rubbed over the stain, acting kind of like a fine sandpaper. I fail to see how a cut-off piece floating in the toilet overnight can clean the ring from the bowl. I call BS on that particular top!
I myself was wondering about cleaning a toilet bowl ring by leaving a piece in overnight. I wonder, has anyone actually tried it and if so, how did it work??
Did not work. It was a waste of eraser.
This stuff works great on removing permanent ink. Some vandals tagged our galvanized light post outside our house. With a little effort, I got the ink out in less than 15 minutes! The Magic Eraser really works!
where can i buy it?
where to buy it??
Generic melamine foam sponges are cheap on Amazon.
Will it work on removing overspray construction paint from a fiberglass shower?
Cool post – I really like being able to stretch an item to get the most out of it as possible. You’ve given me some great ideas – I’m also looking for uses for baby powder, so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! Thanks.
I have always been a fan of the magic eraser. It cleans anything I can think of. Recently, I have discovered something else it cleans. I am a smoker and my teeth were stained. Not terrible, but noticeable. I used the eraser on my teeth and they are the best they have looked in years. No more stains. Truly an amazing product.
There is a product made for that, a tiny piece of ME on a stick, for about a dollar per scrap.
yes. I use it on the interior or my car and it looks like new
You will have some people who just blabber with no intelligence, Magic Eraser is okay to whiten teeth. https://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp
This is an awesome product. I used it to help a client clean crayon marks off the walls.
While I agree melamine foam pads are great cleaners, your suggestion of using them remove toilet bowl rings by cutting a piece off & letting it set in your toilet overnight, is total nonsense. They only work by scrubbing and are chemically inert. The next day all you would have is a wet pad and the same toilet bowl rings.
I agree. I tried it and it did NOT work.
Unless you are using the kind with chemical cleaners in them. But even then, the magic eraser is irrelevant unless you scrub with it.
You’ve given me some great ideas – I’m also looking for uses for baby
powder, so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! Thanks.
Caution, I had a nice doctor tell me that baby powder can cause lung problems in boys and girls, and has a link to cervical cancer in girls….
Don’t use them on the smooth finish doors from Ikea.. you’ll see scratches
I must add:Never, never, never use it on the painted surfaces of your car. It will damage the clearcoat
I definetly agree. Never on a black car to remove love bugs.. Not me, but my daughter.
What are love bugs?
These are love bugs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebug
😀
After my bridal party used “water resistant” window chalk all over my car to decorate it for our honeymoon, we could NOT get the chalk off the car. It came off any glass surfaces fine. Excessive scrubbing with a plastic green scouring pad could get MOST of it off of painted surfaces, but nothing would take it off of the clear plastic paint protecting sticker on the front of my car. I read the Magic Eraser warnings about using it on my car, but decided to risk it. It removed the remnants of chalk from my car paint with just a light wipe of the Eraser; no scrubbing needed. It also removed the chalk from the clear sticker on the front of my car with only a couple of rubs with the eraser. So….the moral of my story is that you CAN use it to clean at least SOMEthings from your car, especially if you’ve run out of options.
Excellent point! Thanks so much for sharing 😀
DO NOT clean collectible coins. That “tip” should be removed from the list.
Thanks! You’re right – I’ve updated that tip 😀
You should always wear gloves when using a product that may contain formaldehyde in the formula. Also only in a space with plenty of fresh air, or with a respirator on just for safety and well being.
You can get melamine sponges(what magic erasures are) on ebay for SUPER cheap.
I bought the knockoff ones on ebay for 50 cents a pop, which is 1/2 of the name brand.
I made the stupid mistake or not reading the box and tried to use my magic eraser on my toddler’s hands to get rid of Sharpie marker and it can cause chemical burns. I love my magic eraser but I would never use it on skin. Thankfully I barely used it on his fingers and he had a small red rash. I love all your tips, I am headed to the kitchen to use it on my silver jewelry now 🙂
I just tried it to remove adhesive residue from duct tape, but it didn’t work. Maybe there’s something I’m doing wrong?
Try Goof Off spray. Gets off everything a Magic Eraser won’t.
Or Goo Be Gone
The magic erasers are fantastic!
For tape residue or similar stickies, use WD-40. It even takes aluminum paint out of clothing!
Best ever sticky residue remover: Ronsinol (yes, the lighter fluid stuff). The guy who does our returns for our store uses it to remove price stickers in literally seconds, and he showed me this hint. Pour a little onto a paper towel, swipe over the price sticker, wait a few seconds, then peel off. It dissolves the glue underneath!
That is basically all Goo Be Gone is. It smells just like lighter fluid and is just as flammable.
rubbing alcohol does the same thing 😉
use wd40 it also has alot of uses
They do sell off brand versions as well. WalMart’s Great Value has them.
OMG NEVER use it on your skin! It will cause a burn-like rash from irritation (not chemical burn, they have no chemicals). Terrible advice! Read the box!!
I can vouch for the horrible burn/rash it gave my grandson when I tried to remove a little tattoo he got out of the gum ball machine his poor little arms looked like I had scrubbed the skin off. I felt horrible he was in a lot of pain. Do not use on skin.
FYI for next time, Baby oil (maybe others?) will remove a temporary tattoo!
While I absolutely LOVE my Magic Erasers, I definitely agree with other posters….NEVER, EVER USE IT ON YOUR SKIN!!! I tried once to remove a small bit of paint on the back of my hand, with VERY light rubbing and it still did terrible damage to my skin and burned for days.
Also, from experience, I have learned that you should NOT use them on any type of hard clear plastic. It will scratch it and leave it hazy/cloudy looking. Also not a good idea to use it on any teflon or non-stick surface (which includes most of the air-bake cookware). It will damage the surface – also learned this from experience on one of my good cookie sheets. Now everything sticks in that one spot.
Also, be careful using on plastic/fiberglass shower inserts/tubs. I have used them on the shower floors and over time, it takes the white finish off!! Then it looks worse than being dirty! These have also scratched my shower doors over a few years, too. I quit using them on glass or plastic, at all.
Just one thing about Magic Erasers — watch it doesn’t ruin the surface of whatever you are cleaning. It might dull counter tops or baseboards, test a small area first. But yeah these things are amazing. The bottom of the bathtub always gets really dirty (my youngest refuses to wear shoes and her feet get very dirty, which transfers to the bottom of the tub). Nothing I tried was working until I tried these. Mixed with a little cleaning spray and water, scrub, scrub, scrub and voila! all clean. Makes me wonder what the heck this thing is made of and is it safe though.
Magic erasers are just melamine foam, like the stuff used for sound proofing studios. It’s a micro abrasive. Unless it has cleaners added, like the different varieties of the brand name ones, that;s all it is. That’s why it can dull finishes. You can buy the stuff really cheap on Amazon.
I love magic erasers I need to find the foam on it’s own to save money because I use them so much. Unfortunately in my condo the magic eraser didn’t agree with my walls and ate the paint away, but luckily I found a way to fix it, I used a soapy sponge I washed the wall and dried it immediately. You can’t even tell it happened, there is no funny marks or anything I am so happy and I continue to use the eraser on my walls cause nothing works like it!
My husband uses black car wax on his car and “accidentally” sprayed a drinking mug (Bill Miller’s kind, he hates that thing for some reason) with it. I used a Magic Eraser to get the wax off. I also use them on my glass top stove to make the deep cleanings last longer. They’re horrible on flat or eggshell paint, though. I haven’t tried them on a gloss paint… I use these things for everything, and I use them until they’re so saturated with nasty that they’re flat and have completely ripped to shreds.
But what is in them? I heard formaldehyde? Is this left behind on the surfaces??
Formaldehyde is not and has never been an ingredient in Magic Erasers. One ingredient in Magic Erasers (formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer) contains the word “formaldehyde” in it’s chemical name. However, this ingredient is not formaldehyde and poses no health or safety risks. (Like “sodium chloride,” which is common table salt, “sodium” on it’s own is dangerous and can explode or catch fire suddenly, but “sodium chloride” is perfectly safe.)
That’s a great explanation, Kristina. Thanks!!
Do yourself a favor and buy the cheap versions… Same material, same results for much less! I just bought home depot brand today priced $2 less than brand name + 2 more pads. The dollarstore ones work too!!
Today I cleaned years of grime off our pool liner we inherited with the purchase of our new home. I scrubbed with a regular rough scrubber last week, and followed up with an eraser on the remaining parts to find much less work was involved… Amazing!
after using them on our pool liner, the areas where the sun shines the longest disintegrated and we had to replace the liner. $5,000 mistake! I hope you don’t experience the same thing.
Using a Magic eraser on silver and gold is a BAD IDEA. Because the eraser is impregnated with ceramic flakes, it actually removes bits of the precious metals you are cleaning. Sure they will look great now, but as time goes on the value is being diminished. In the case of plated items, it can quickly ruin them because the precious metals are so thinly adhered to a lesser metal such as brass in the first place.
As a jeweler I agree it probably isn’t the best thing to polish jewelry with but, any polish is actually an abrasive and will remove minute amounts of the metal.
You should always wear gloves when using a product that may contain formaldehyde in the formula. Also only in a space with plenty of fresh air, or with a respirator on just for safety and well being.
My two favorites uses for Magic Erasers are cleaning my cream colored leather furniture and my white 6 paneled interior doors. I have bought many types of expensive leather cleaner and nothing removes all the dirt like this wonderful product. However, I do apply a good leather conditioner afterwards to prevent the leather from drying out. Cleaning my white paneled interior doors had been on of my least favorite household chores until I used the Magic Eraser!! It gets the grime out of the little “wood grain” crevices and they look brand new afterwards. I love this product and always have them on hand.
It will scratch – they are abrasive. They don’t clean the paint on yout wall, they actually takeit off with the dirt. Using it on your car’sw paint job is a horrible idea! And using it on any rough surface, plastic fridge handle, will over time make the surface smooth. You can do many of the things listed with good ole soap & water and elbow grease – you don’t need a magic eraser!
they do burn skin… keep them away from your kids!!
Always spot test first! It discolored my light colored interior-wall paint. Just had to repaint my entire living room (which needed don anyway)! Also, it took the white paint off of my metal kitchen cabinets. I was trying to get off pen scribbles courtesy my three year old. Since I had used them for scuffs on white interior walls and trim, I didn’t think anything of it. I will now limit their use to scuffs on the white walls! Also, if you use it on kids toys or a bath tub where you and your family soak, don’t forget to thoroughly wash the surface with water just as you would with any chemical cleaner.
there are no chemicals in magic erasers, but you probably want to wash all the residue off. 😉
Every time I have tried to use the magic eraser it shreds up very quickly – I can’t even get the whole shower wiped down without it shreding up.
They make “shower scrub” magic erasers now…with a side just for the shower!! I bought it for the same reason as you…ugh, shower grime..
from personal experience do not use on skin. it will give you a chemical burn.
I second this! It hurt for days! I was trying to get india ink off my arm and for 5 days it looked like i had burned my arm.
its not a burn, its sandpaper. its a million tiny scratches.
it’s a chemical burn…….believe me, cuz I’ve experienced both types.
Love the Magic Eraser but I got carried away with my ceramic top stove. It took the picture and writing off of the label for the stove burner legend. example…low, med, high.
I used to like Magic Erasers (when they first came out) but now all they do is fall apart. Not a fan.
I ADORE Magic Erasers but I disagree with the one about dirty elbows. There is a disclaimer on the box about NOT using on skin. I ignored this once and came up with a horrible injury on my arm just from a few scrubs to try to remove bandage residue. Please do not use on skin. Otherwise, thanks – I learned to so much from this post! You rock!
I didn’t read through the over 100 comments so sorry if this has already been asked. If it’s the super fine abrasiveness that does the cleaning and not some chemical in it, then how does it clean the water ring in a toilet if you just leave one sitting in there overnight? I’m not trying to argue, just trying to figure out how it would work without scrubbing/rubbing/wiping.
I use my Magic Eraser as a white-board eraser in my classroom! I will never use ANYTHING else to erase with to keep my white boards clean!
My kids use the Magic Eraser to clean their white tops for Cadets… It’s the only thing their allowed to use in our corps!
I have a black Silgranit sink — nothing really cleaned it nicely. Powders left a white residue . . . Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are truly magic at getting this sink clean! Less than 30 seconds of swishing one around and the sink looks better than new — when it was new, it looked streaky. I also cut my erasers in quarters — biggest bargain on the planet!
I have tried many things on our sink, my best find is to dry the sink with a dish towel and spray with Pledge type polish. Let it sit for a minute, and wipe it off with the same dish towel. Smells good, too!
We have a black granite sink also. After I clean it with Dr. Bronners pure castile soap, I dry it. Then get some oil, I use olive oil because it is what’s in the pantry, pour a few drops into the sink and rub it in with a clean dish cloth. Then wipe out any excess. It shines and it is edible so no worries about poison like with the Pledge….though same concept.
DONT USE ON UR CARS FINISH!!!!! WILL TAKE THE SHEEN RIGHT OFF!!!
Love these !! Will do all the things listed here But Please if you dumb and use them on the arm/face hands you get what you ask. Any body should know it will leave a rash.redness!! But I have used it on my heel very tought area of skin like a purmas stone! Not if you trying to get sharpe off try Rubbing alco.!
If melamine dust rendered pet and human food from China dangerous enough to have recalls issued, I’d be very concerned about using these sponges on or near anything I use to eat with. I personally won’t even buy melamine plates/bowls/cups, I’m that distrustful of the long-term exposure effects.
Melamine powder and melamine foam are not the same thing chemically, despite the name. Melamine foam is a polymer made of several chemicals (including melamine).
OMG why didn’t I think of that?!
I use them to erase spots that are too thick while water painting. They dab up the excess water and paint nicely.
best comment i’ve heard, i shy from watercolors for that reason (use acrylics)
all these people who talk about the magic eraser burning their child’s skin: why on earth would somebody use something on a child’s skin that was designed to take permanent marker off of the walls? It even says on the box not to use it on skin. It is like sand paper! It’s a micro-abrasive. You are rubbing your child’s skin off!
Did you know sunscreen can also remove permanent marker? Next time you see permanent marker on a counter/desk/table etc, put some sunscreen on it…scrub with paper towel and it will go away. Kind of makes one wonder what is in sunscreen…
please don’t be ignorant and alarmist, it’s basic chemistry. rubbing alcohol can also get rid of permanent marker.
I thunk they meant it burned their child’s hand when their child held or used it to clean something. A friend of mine let his daughter help clean around the kitchen & the eraser burned her hand. She wasn’t using it to wash herself.
I’m an art teacher and Magic Erasers are great for removing oil pastel from my art tables!
I work a housekeeping job and we use these a lot. They are great, but be careful! If you use on walls, they tend to lighten the paint and leave spots, so use VERY LIGHTLY on paint. On hard to get spots I wouldn’t recommend it because it will take the paint off.
This is coming from a teacher. Magic erasers even the generic ones from Walmart (by the way I prefer these over the brand, No1 cheaper No2 last longer) are the greatest whiteboard erasers ever…keep it dry for daily cleaning and barely moist for deep board cleaning! In the classroom I typically use them dry because they are usually equally effective. I put them on my back to school supply list and use them for…
1. Keeping the classroom whiteboard spotless.
2. Each student keeps one all year in a Ziploc baggie in their desk or cubby that they use to clean their own individual student whiteboards.
3. Every group has a pair of them that I replace once a month to clean crayon, marker, and other funky gunk (teachers will know what I mean) off their desks and chairs. (Then, because I don’t think they are antibacterial every Friday I spray down the desks with Lysol and bada-bing-bada-boom I get a germ and funky gunk free classroom)
The only con to my obsession is that if you don’t remember to only use one side to dry clean the boards you’ll get dried erased expo marker on you. On the plus side a new dry magic eraser will wipe if off quickly from your hand.
****Duh Warning… magic erasers do have chemicals in them so DO NOT put them on your face or in your mouth and wash your hands after you use them!****
As a parent i would not be happy if you had my child handling a magic eraser every day. And duh warning it says to not use on skin so rubbing it on your hand to get the expo marker off is not a very good decision.
I love this idea – does it hurt the finish of the board at all?
YES!!!!!!!!! Aftertime it makes them very diffiult to clean at all. Use a Puffs Plus (tissue with lotion)! The lotion adds to the finish and cleans off the marker at the
same time!
Use Windex and an old strip of t-shirt on white boards. Works like a charm!
I have, on several occasions, removed HAIR DYE splatters from my bathroom counters
I disagree with the “cleaning dirty elbows” comment, Magic Erasers are great for cleaning around the house, but NEVER use on skin. When my little sister was in 9th grade she tried using one on her hand to remove permanent marker, she ended up with a chemical-type burn on her hand for 2 weeks.
Not chemical. ME is an abrasive. It doesn’t use any active chemicals to clean.
My headlight covers on my car were so opaque I was told I had to get them replaced, I used the Mr.CME and VOILA! They look brand new. They were a little hazy after the scrubbing but I put some vaseline on them after the scrub down and my headlights are perfect now.
Do not use on windows! It scratches. Learned from experience.
”
remove hair dye from countertops & floors ” haha this made me laugh only cause I knew a girl I went to school with who recently none the less used the magic eraser for cleaning hair dye….except she thought she could use it on her neck….lets just say she posted it on facebook and now many people realize why there are those stupid warning labels on things….
Careful where you use it…took the finish off my new stove when I tried to use it to clean off some grease build up.
I didn’t get to read all the uses, but want to share this one in case it’s not listed. I could not find anything to clean the white vinyl door handle on the vinyl sliding doors we use daily. After trying magic eraser : WOW–it’s magic !!
I tried putting the Magic Eraser in my toilet overnight as suggested. The next morning the ME was still there and the toilet was still dirty 🙁
Great post! I work for a company that manages rental homes, and this is the best way for tenants to clean scuff marks off walls, baseboards, light switches, counters, etc. so that they can get a full deposit refund. Thanks for sharing!
I can verify that to use these for shoe marks left on vinyl is true. For 2 YEARS I had 2 marks that would not come out with bleach, vinager, scrubbing etc.
I remembered I had one as a free sample, remembered to cut it into pieces, and so wet it and within 5 minutes the marks were completely and totally gone.
Mine was not like “sand paper” but it worked and that is all that mattered to me.
it’s not like sand paper because it is a MICRO abrasive, very very fine particles. But it works because it is like sand paper.
I use them to get koolaid stains off my counter tops!!! ITS WONDERFUL!
I tried the leave in the toilet bowl overnight and it did not work at all, didn’t even remove it somewhat.
Using the magic eraser on any paint surfaces of a car is a BAD IDEA. It’s an abrasive and it removes the clear coat from the paint and if pressed hard enough removes the paint itself. You had listed to use it for “Removal of bugs from bumper” and also “Removal of tar from car’s paint”. It should never be used for either of those, but especially not the tar removal. You use a claybar for that. It absorbs the impurities from the paint instead of scratching it away.
They clean crayon fast and easy off any surface!
Has anyone just tried baking soda to clean all these things. Safe for skin and a little paste goes a long way
It will also take off a spray tan!!! I got a spray tan the day before my wedding and it was AWFUL took a magic eraser and got it all off!!
U can’t use them on the walls unless you have wall paper, it will take the paint right off.
Untrue. I clean scuffs off my painted walls & baseboards with MC Magic Eraser quite often.
yes it does take the paint off, made that mistake as well 🙁
It depends on what kind of paint your walls are! The more glossy they are the less likely it will be for the magic eraser to remove the paint. And visa versa.
I agree that it depends on what kind of paint is on your walls. I’ve used it on flat(no shine) & semi-gloss. It worked great on the flat paint but it took the shine right off the semi-gloss paint, but I could only tell if the light hit it just right. Needless to say I painted alll the walls in my daycare with flat paint so those pretty crayon drawings on the walls are no big deal, LOL!
Love this but learned that you shouldn’t use them on the touch screen of a microwave as it will remove the labeling of the buttons
It will also take the shine out of your paint job on your car ,other than that I love them!!,
Don’t use them to get marker off your kids! Did that in 2005 and it still haunts me!
I used one to clean my white macbook laptop between all of the keys, and it looks brand new now. Keep in mind that it’s five years old and has been used daily for hours by a college student, so it was pretty disgusting.
It also safely removes crayon from LCD TV screens!
I was pulling out of my driveway one day and a passing by truck must have dropped an aerosol can of spray paint in the road, and I drove over it…and yes it exploded all over my car!! Funny it dried almost instantly I freaked out because this was a new car!! I tried everything and it was not coming off…grabbed the magic eraser and it came off effortlessly!! That could have been so expensive!!
The magic eraser also cleans whiteboards!
it didnt work in the toilet for me
I was Glad to see you mentioned brake dust. The magic eraser was originally introduced for cleaning car parts and then they realized it could be used for so much more.
You can use them to clean algae buildup on the inside of your aquariums, even with the fish in there. Only use the original one though, not heavy duty ones or any with added cleansers. The waterline in my tanks look so much better since I’ve been using them.
Do you know if these are safe for septic systems? If I cut it in squares and drop it in the toilet bowl I want to make sure it is safe for my septic system.
My favorite use is for school white boards. One Magic Eraser can be used for the whole year!
I have a question. At Home Depot they won’t allow employees to cut anything made with melamine because they say the melamine particles are very dangerous if you inhale them. Are we leaving little melamine particles all over our homes, cars, etc. when we use Magic Erasers?
Or when we cut them up as the poster suggests? Are we inhaling the particles then, too?
Bought a White Pathfinder..when we got it home we realized there were these rust like tiny spots all over it..I used the magic eraser to wash it. The rust spots came off (they would not with regular washing.) The magic erasers removed it with ease and did not effect the clear coat in the slightest! It actually looked like a car off of a show room floor instead of a 2 year old used vehicle.
I cut them into small cubes and put them in my pool filter and outtake hose trap. They make the pool water crystal clear! I take them out everyday and rinse them. They usually look grey or green when I take them out. My pool has never looked better.
Do not use on leather it removed the color from my red leather couch!
Magic Eraser does come as a mop. I found one at Wal-Mart.
that myth that you mention that you say is false… well, after a bit of research.. it is “partly” true. The major competitor for Mr. Clean is Xtreme Sponge… if you go to THEIR site (https://www.xtremesponge.com/) and click on the bottom right column link MSDS then it tells the exact truth, by law, of what the sponge is and what can be toxic. According to this company, the DUST that the sponge makes when it crumbles is the toxic part. And it warns to NOT use chemicals with it due to a possible reaction. Does Mr. Clean Magic Eraser have the MSDS included on THEIR site? I haven’t actually looked yet… just wondering out loud.
I used a magic eraser on my no wax floor – ruined. I used it on a 30 year old porcelain tub – ruined. I’m sure that it is great for some things – but BE CAREFUL!!!
When you put the magic earser in the toilet overnight, do you just flush it down
Yes OF COURSE you have to flush it! How else will it clean it? O.o ………..please note the sarcasm
I use these on my tubs and getting love bugs off my car.
Magic Eraser will also remove “heat rings” from wood furniture. Cannot be unfinished wood.
I am sure people didn’t use it on there child’s skin.. but allowed their child to use it to clean with.. it will cause a chemical burn on a child or adults skin..
It’s also great to remove stains from clothing before you put them in the washer – instead of using Shout or Spray-N-Wash, etc.
Ok. they DO NOT float in the toilet…not over night anyway. I had one in there for a few hours and it sank once it took on water. Had to fish it out with my clorox toilet wand. Don’t do it.
My nephew got black marker on my 900 dollar table, my Uncle suggested Magic Eraser, and it came right off without harming the finish.
My 5 year old grandson spray painted my car’s tail light , the paint dripped down onto the car as well. We instantly got a Mr clean sponge and with much forceful scrubbing it removed it all. It was actually harder to remove the paint from the plastic light than from the car itself. But it worked !
The house we moved into has white countertops, which were stained with rust and what looked like red koolaid. I tried every cleaner I have, with lots of scrubbing, and they didn’t even fade. One wipe with the magic eraser took them all right off!!!
What about dog puke off of my marriage certificate?? (don’t ask…:|)
I’ve been using these since they came out over 7 years ago…and I use them for one thing, getting the nasty dog drool off the walls…SO much easier than using anything else. I’ll definitely check into these other uses 😀
Along those same lines, I use them to remove dog drool from my window ledges – right where the dog rests his chin and droll collects while he’s looking out the window 😀
tried the toilet bowl idea, it didn’t work
Word to the wise, ppl DIE from having a running car inside a closed off garage. Maybe she should OPEN the doors prior to starting the cars.
You returned it for a refund? lol
They DO make a mop version, lots of places have them now
Wow, it’s a great product and very useful for cleaning purposes…
I just wanted to say that I was brought 2 your website on 2 separate occasions today. the first was because I was looking for dishwasher tips, and this was the second time – the awesome magic eraser posting. Thanks for the great info!
Awe – how cool is that?! Thanks for the kind words, Charlie. Glad you’ve found the info here helpful 😀
For Someone who owns dogs. you must deal with lots of hair. so i wanted to share a new “outside of the box” trick, that i would love if you help spread the word!! i work at a car dealership and there, I detail Cars. so we also.. deal with A LOT of hair.. but, we use a PUMICE rock to comb the carpets and Seats with… and literally.. GETS EVERY STRAND OF HAIR!! of course.. have your vacuum handy!!
I have found that using dampened heavy duty work gloves with the dots on the fingertips or the textured latex palm (nylon gloves with the textured latex coated palms) works great at picking up hair on rugs. I’m going to have to try the pumice rock trick a try, thank you!
I’m trying to clean my white leather sofa and these magic erasers came to mind, any ideas/suggestions?
I clean crayon marks off of textured folding tables at Sunday School. Works great. When we discovered Mr. Clean Erasers we went all around the church finding things to clean.
Magic Erasers are great for cleaning whiteboards!
I got several ideas from your post to try…….. let me first check those facts…
so i took your advice and put this in my toilet to remove the ring and it DIDNC’T NOT only didnt work but now my toilet does not either now i need a plumber. thanks for the not helpful tip
it says its made out of melamine….https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine#Toxicity
The effect on skin is micro abrasion, not chemical.
Cleaning the metal part of your stove burners. It shines!
saw your thing about Mr. Clean not being dangerous and that its a hoax….. well don’t use it on skin to remove any stains it will give you a chemical burn!
As a vintage doll collector, I’d advise care in using the magic eraser to clean a doll’s face, which is usually painted. It does sound like it would be fine for limbs or bodies, but spot test it first somewhere that doesn’t show.
I haven’t used these in awhile. It seemed that everything I cleaned with them lost its shine. But after reading this I think I may have been scrubbing too hard (force of habit?). So I’m going to give them another whirl using your tips. Thanks so much for your post!!
When you wax your car and get car wax on the non metal surfaces, you get that dull residue on the dark plastic trim. I had some on the plastic textured parts around the luggage rack on my mini van for 2 years. I tried the magic eraser and it took it off in seconds.
If you paint with water colors, and want to lift some color off the rag paper, Magic Eraser does it best, and restores the white to the paper.
i clean te windows from my aqauria and the green algae delete quikly
Thanks for the tips. God bless,
if you get a bad spray tan and are orange- magic eraser will remove the tan/orange!
I wonder if it works on hemorrhoids too…(be very, very, [VERY] gentle and soft-don’t scrub hard!) lol <– I'm joking, don't try this!!!
My son scribbled Sharpie on my computer monitor and I thought it was a loss, but Magic Erasers got it all off easily! I use them everywhere 🙂
Hubby tried these to get the sticky residue from mailing labels off the road cases at his work. He says it didn’t work. But it DOES take off paint overspray really well, especially if the overspray is a LOT newer than the first paint layer.
I find the residue from these can be the worst part, staying on even after wiping with a damp cloth. Why not just use a damp cloth to begin with?
sticky residue??? WD40, GOOF-OFF, LIQUID CIG LIGHTER FLUID…
will melt this stuff away…. Petroleum Products!!! PLEASE… Try NOT be completely ignorant as to When & Where to use PETROLEUM PRODUCTS???
I just last week found a new way to get adhesive residue off of glass, mirrors and lots more. It is just plain hair spray. I have a total mirrored buffet cabinet and in my move last fall my son thought that duct tape was a good way to keep the doors closed during the move! I had tried about everything when I read the tip on one of the blogs. It works like magic!! I was so happy to finally have shining mirrors on my cabinet again!!!
If you live anywhere near a large Asian community or large city, see if there is a Daiso or IchibanKan near you. They sell melamine sponges for $1.50 for about 2′ worth of sponges.
The toilet ring one is BS! it will do nothing floating around, (unless oyu live on a house boat or something like that, you could probably clean the ring with one, but cutting off a chunk and leaving it does nothing. they are not water soluble. and its like saying leave one on a shelf to clean your shelf!
I am the owner of Spongeoutlet.com. Our sponges are made from the identical material as the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser – delivered to your door fro free for as little as $.29 per sponge. Give us a try.
I just tried Magic Eraser on my boat, and it is unbelievable. There are stains on the underside of most boats, which cannot be removed with anything I know of. I have tried Soft Scrub till my hands hurt, and nothing. I tried the Magic eraser just to see and it wiped away the grime and muck like nothing else. My boat looks brand new and white again, and it is 20 years old.
That’s awesome, John – It’s great to hear of yet ANOTHER fun use for Magic Erasers!!!
If you like to save money, go on eBay…you can buy 100 of these sponges from Hong Kong or China from $7 including shipping. Just search “melamine sponge”. Of course you can buy smaller quantities also for similar savings. Delivery in less than 2 weeks usually,
Please do not buy sponges from China or Hong Kong. Cheap Chinese melamine has been tested and may contain high levels of some very dangerous chemicals. Go to http://www.spongeoutlet.com and you can buy sponges taht are identical to the material in teh Magic Eraser for as little as $0.29 a piece – and shipping is free.
Ouch, I have some of those. Can you please cite / link where we can find information on that Bob M? The closest I could find was about the actual Mr. Clean Sponges having formalihide which is not actually true, from Snopes.com. “Formaldehyde
is not and has never 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.
(Think of this name like “sodium chloride”, which is table salt. Sodium
by itself can be dangerous, but sodium chloride – salt – is safe.) ” https://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp but that was the only thing I could find on google closely related to dangers of Chinese made melamine sponges. I am not doubting you Bob M but since you have made a few posts in favor of the one site, of the many, that sell melamine sponges, I think that it would be reassuring to folks, to have a link to read up on the dangers of Chinese melamine, that you mention. Thanks for the information Bob M. I will not be using Chinese Melamine Sponges until I hear back from you or until I can find some negative information about Chinese Melamine Sponges, which google can’t seem to provide at this time.
I bought 100 Chinese Melamine Sponges several months ago. I haven’t had any problems with them except they wear out faster than the name brand.
I am a teacher, and a friend of mine just introduced the Magic Eraser to me as a white board eraser. I am in LOVE with this use!
The Magic Eraser is an open cell melamine foam manufactured by the largest chemical company in the world – BASF – in Germany. The raw product is called Basotect. You can purchase melamine sponges made from the identical material as the Magic Eraser for as little as $0.29 a piece and shipping is free!
I would love to know how to order them.
Hi Corliss – you can go right to the website http://www.spongeoutlet.com. I should have left that in the original comment – sorry 🙂
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As I am reading the article, I felt a need to try Mr. Clean Erasers! Oh my my!! I should definitely try this. As I can see in other comments, it truly is a great company and I can’t wait to try it! Thanks a lot for this!
It cleans the yellowing off your teeth!
Yes, yes it does & the scuzz off your tongue, too. But don’t go near your gums with that thing. Delicate gums have no business being involved with the likes of Mr. Clean!
That sort of abrasiveness can actually strip the enamel off your teeth. DON’T DO IT.
I have a white kitchen sink that always got “aluminum marks” from washing pots. I used to use Comet and lots of elbow grease. Then I tried a Magic Eraser. Those marks were gone in a flash and the sink was shining,
Oooh… That’s another great idea! Thanks
Dogecard approves.
I would never ever use magic eraser on skin, it will burn your skin red terribly! Just a good note to mention; especially avoiding human elbows.
I have to wonder how sensitive someone’s skin is if that happens to them….
My stainless steel refrigerator had 10 years build-up with 2 smokers in the house and the magic eraser made it look new again!! I can’t say enough about my love for this product! I use it on almost everything!
Yay – so glad to hear that a magic eraser improved the appearance of your stainless steel fridge, Angie!
I had white rings from a hot pot on my cherry dining room table, the magic eraser took off the white ring, just rewax your table and it as good as new.
Just scuffed the back of my new car on a low pipe I didn’t see 🙁 Gonna try the magic eraser and pray that it comes off!
How did it work?!
I’m afraid to try it 🙁 I have the store brand but I’m going to invest into the Mr. Clean brand and try it out and keep you posted.
Spongeoutlet.com sponges are made from the same material as the Magic Eraser. It is called Basotect and is made by BASF in Germany.
I used one on my car and scratched the clear coat! It did remove the scuff, but left it dull where I used it!
Use rubbing compound and then quality polish.
It is an abrasive product. Anytime you use the product on anything with a sheen, it should be spot tested. The sponge is an open cell melamine that wears away with use, which creates an abrasiveness like fine sand paper.
My neighbor’s son let me know, years ago, that it also gets shoe prints off of the ceiling….I did not ask LOL
That’s funny. It definitely works on a lot of things… 😀
LOL 🙂 I was just going to say huhhhh lol
Not only does it work on the prints. It works on the shoes and sneakers too! http://www.spongeoutlet.com for eraser sponges made from the identical material as the Magic Eraser
I spent an hour using rubbing compound to remove dripping from a tree off roof of my car. Neighbor said, use magic marker. Cleaning the rest of the roof took 5 minutes with magic eraser. It truly is magic.
Supposedly peanut butter or mayonnaise works too! Oily/greasy types of products work a treat to remove most sticky residues…
OXYPRO Cleaning System is one of the leading brands providing quality, and environmental-friendly Specialty cleaning solutions for laundry, kitchen, housekeeping, food manufacturing, and industrial industries.
OXYPRO Cleaning System is one of the leading brands providing quality, and environmental-friendly Specialty cleaning solutions for laundry, kitchen, housekeeping, food manufacturing, and industrial industries.
I’m a classroom teacher, and we keep Magic Erasers on hand to refresh our dry erase boards when dry erase markers start to leave residue behind.
I read somewhere on pinterest that using a magic eraser and rubbing alcohol you can clean faux suede furniture. I tried on a light cream colored recliner that definitely needed cleaning and boy it did the job. The alcohol evaporates so quickly that it doesn’t damage the fabric or leave wet spots.
BTeboe – That’s good to know! Thanks for sharing
I had a friend who stained her kitchen cabinets and used it to get the stain off her skin, but the second time she used it on her skin it created a burn rash that was pretty bad, so i’d say be careful using it on the skin (i.e. cleaning dirty elbows)
You are NEVER supposed to use this on the skin. The “magic” eraser is basically a melamine sponge (it is an extremely fine sandpaper) so the person who uses it on the skin is rubbing the skin off and allowing bacteria in. You can also order “melamine” sponges for 1/4 of the price. Be careful, some companies will add formaldehyde to the sponge.
The formaldehyde is only part of the formula, but is has less formaldehyde than in the air. It is like saying don’t use sodium chloride (table salt) because it has sodium (poison) in it. Generic version on Amazon can be found for 9 cents each for box of 100. Mr. Magic is patented only for its ‘marketing approach’ to the generic sponge.
I use it on my skin all the time – BUT CAREFULLY! It helps get some glues and other sticky substances off and it helps get everything off the skin in general. However, I only use melamine on my skin when I need to since it does, in fact, remove skin cells.
I have yet to hear of any actual evidence that some companies add formaldehyde. The wide ranging rumor stems from the type substance from which it is made, in which the first term is formaldehyde.
As the Magic Eraser folks like to say: “Sodium is bad for you, but sodium chloride is good for you.” Molecules make the difference.
When you say “clean the inside the crock pot”, do you mean inside the actual crock, or the metal heating surface? Or both? I’m just want to verify if this is safe for surfaces that touch food.
I use a Magic Eraser on the inside of the actual crock. Then I rinse the crock well. It works great at removing the thin layer of cooked-on food that sticks to the sides of the crock even after cleaning.
Hello to everyone on this forum,I’m Ana smith and i would love to share my testimony with you guys but before i start i want to say that i never believed in Spells or Magics but out of desperation i had to gave it a try.I want you all to understand that there is no problem without solution. You have to sometime give a chance to what other think is not real and see what happen at the end.I was crushed when my lover of three years left for another woman. I cried and sobbed every day, until it got so bad that I reached out to the Internet for help. And i saw a testimony of how a spell caster helped a girl called Bryget Mager, How Priest pablo saved her from shame and i said let me give it a try, so i contact him for help and he cast a love spell for me which i use in getting my love back and now i am a happy woman.For what you have done for me,i will not stop sharing your goodness to people out there, for the good work you are doing. I pray God blesses you as much as you have help me to get my Love back,contact Priest pablo on email; spellcaster7890@gmail.com OR text and call him on +2349051226664.he is the answer to all your problems. Thanks a lot for making out time to read my testimony and i pray it becomes a blessing to your life,do have a lovely day.Also solve all kind of problem in spiritual ways
I wish I could cast a spell to get rid of you and your idiotic scam postings so you wouldn’t take up room in places you have no business being. Be gone, phony.
do you want to run mad for all the days of your life?
My favorite use of Magic Erasers is to remove gunk from my iron. I sew and am a quilter and it is not unusual to have build up of starch or stabilizer adhesive on my iron which can damage fabric. I found the Magic Eraser removes this with hardly any effort at all.
Oooh, that’s another great idea, Dena! Thanks so much for sharing your tip 😀
Do NOT use a magic eraser to remove blue hair dye off your forehead. It will not only remove the dye, but the skin as well. It was bad. Very bad.
remove hair dye from countertops & floors
This one is not true. I adore my Mr Clean Erasers (for the walls and tubs and stains and general cleaning, they really are magic) but I have a random splatter of hair dye on the linoleum of my bathroom floor, and it will not come up with any amount of cleansers, elbow grease, Mr Clean ME, Bar Keeper’s friend, baking soda, vinegar, bleach, floor wash, anything.
I’m curious how long the random splatter of hair dye has been on your linoleum…
“..remove toilet bowl rings (cut a piece off & let it set in your toilet overnight; don’t flush it; doesn’t always work)”
And just what exactly is that supposed to do? Scare the dirt away?