If only there was a way to magically erase all your household cleaning problems...
Presenting the magic eraser!
A magic eraser is an essential tool in every home, and today we're showing you why. Whether its a small scratch or seemingly undefeatable dirt and grime, these remarkable white squares will get your home clean in no time.
Discover the many marvellous uses for your magic eraser today!
What is a magic eraser?
You may have heard of Magic Erasers before, but to most of us, they're still a bit of a mystery. You'll find magic erasers in the cleaning kits of most US households - Mr. Clean is the most famous of brands - but in the UK they're not as common.
The name itself promises a lot, but what is it exactly that makes these erasers so magical?
Magic erasers are made from melamine foam, a material that's often used to sound-proof recording studios. When melamine is combined with other chemicals to form a magic eraser, a very tight, hard 'foam' is formed. When this is used on surfaces, it acts as a very gentle, fine sandpaper that removes stains and traps dirt particles.
Are magic erasers toxic?
Using something that describes itself as 'sandpaper' around your home and even on your skin may seem disconcerting, and, over the years, there have been rumours that magic erasers may not be safe to use.
This is primarily because of the ingredient formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer - we know, a bit of a mouthful! Formaldehyde itself is, in fact, dangerous, however, magic erasers don't contain any of this - it just happens to appear in the name of another compound. Consider it much like the difference between sodium and sodium chloride, of which one is dangerous, and the other is eaten as table salt.
The ingredients in a magic eraser are safe for their intended use, and they have been included in other cleaning products for many years.
Uses for your magic eraser
1. Clean a stainless steel sink
Remember the days when your sink used to sparkle and reflect light around the whole kitchen?
It can do so again! A magic eraser can be used to gently scrub your stainless steel sink clean, removing tarnishing and grime to leave it spotless.
Watch the video above to see the results for yourself.
2. Scuff marks on walls
How do all those scuff marks end up on our walls?
It's a mystery...however all isn't lost as we have a handy way to remove them.
Using a magic eraser, of course - a few buffs and your walls will be looking better than ever.
TOP TIP: Be sure to test the magic eraser in an inconspicuous area. It may remove paint from the wall.
3. Clean glass windows
If your DIY vinegar solution isn't quite cutting it, a magic eraser could help you get your windows clean.
Don't worry about leaving scratches - it'll only buff away dirt and grime on the surface of the pane.
Magic erasers work on most glass surfaces, and are particularly handy for removing stuck-on bugs from your windscreen.
4. Remove rust
Rust can appear in some really surprising places around the home: on shower hinges, appliances, and even cooking pans!
Remove rust the easy with, with your magic eraser.
5. Remove sticker residue
If you like to recycle old jars for your own homemade sauces and jams, you'll know all about sticky sticker residue and how difficult it can be to remove.
Put the sponge down - there's finally an easier way to do it!
A magic eraser will make light work of even the stickiest labels.
6. Remove stains on fabric
If you've washed a stain into your white top, you may think there's no rescuing it.
That's where a magic eraser comes in!
Use a magic eraser lightly on the stain, and it will physically remove it from the fabric - who'd have thought it?
7. Scrub grout
Cleaning your grout is something we always recommend including in a deep clean.
Without the right tools and knowledge, it can be a pretty tough task - that's why we suggest using a magic eraser.
They're particularly good on really discoloured or mouldy grout, as they will completely lift it away.
8. Buff your headlights
Visibility should never be underestimated, and just because your lights are working, it doesn't mean they're performing their best.
Next time you clean your car, give your headlights a good buff with a magic eraser. It will remove even the most unnoticeable patches of dirt and prevent your headlights from fogging.
9. Clean your toilet
Could a magic eraser help you clean your toilet without doing any work?
We've never tried this tip, but other people claim that if you lodge a magic eraser in the toilet tank, each flush will gain cleaning power thanks to the abrasive nature of the particles that are released.
This is definitely worth a go!
Next, find out if you can flush hair down the loo.
10. Spot clean the carpet
Cream carpets are always a risk, especially if you have kids, pets, or parties at home.
Carpet stains are one of our biggest fears, but don't let that stop you enjoying your home. A magic eraser can be used to spot clean your carpet, and is capable of removing even the toughest of stains like red wine.
Phew!
11. Remove paint
Got a bit carried away with your DIY? If you've botched a paint job, there may still be hope!
Dried paint is no match for the sandpaper-like texture of a magic eraser.
They're also great for enhancing completed paint jobs, by adding a subtle, shabby-chic effect.
12. Clean soap scum
Go at soap scum with a standard sponge or cloth, and you'll be there for ages!
What you need is something a little tougher - what you need is a magic eraser.
13. Get silver that sparkles
If you're lucky enough to have some silver ornaments, cutlery or jewellery at home, you should always have a magic eraser to hand in your cleaning cupboard.
Use it in small circles to remove tarnish and discolouration and get your silver sparkling like you won't believe!
14. How to remove marker, pen & crayon marks
One word: kids.
If you have them, you'll know marker, pen and crayon marks are almost impossible to prevent. When they do eventually happen, there's no need to panic - a magic eraser will lift marker stains off almost any surface!
15. Clean cabinet doors
Cabinets in the kitchen can get surprisingly dirty. This is mainly due to the evaporation of all those gorgeous cooking juices.
Magic erasers are really handy for cleaning cabinet doors, and will cut through dirt and grime in no time.
16. Clean canvas shoes
Let's face it - our white canvas shoe soles don't stay that way for long.
Even if you promise yourself to only wear them in nice weather, the soles will pick up scuffs and stains from seemingly nowhere. These are surprisingly tricky to get rid of, as they're often embedded in the rubber itself.
Here's where our trusty magic eraser comes in once again. Use it to gently buff away all of those marks and leaves your soles spotless.
17. Clean leather
When it comes to cleaning leather, there aren't that many options that can both do the job and preserve the material.
One thing that can is a magic eraser - we're starting to think they really are magic!
18. Clean granite
Granite surfaces look beautiful, but they can be hard to maintain as the porous nature of the stone actually absorbs stains.
Similarly to leather, you have to be careful what you use on granite as it can be easily damaged. A magic eraser will gently buff away the stain and leave your granite clean.
NOTE: DO NOT use a magic eraser on glossy granite! They may irreversibly damage the finish.
19. Keyboards
No matter how often you wash your hands, the contact of typing alone will make your keyboard grubby over time.
A magic eraser's all you need to clean keys and get them white again.
20. Coffee & tea stains
If you take your tea super strong, or perhaps don't rinse it after every cup, you'll notice stains begin to appear over time.
These can be pretty stubborn - unless you use a magic eraser, that is!
21. Remove hair dye stains
Have you accidentally spilt a little hair dye onto your bathroom floor?
These stains are no problem for a magic eraser!
22. Whiteboards
Whiteboards are perhaps not something all of us own, but if you use one regularly at work, you'll know how messy they can get.
Standard erasers are often not enough to completely lift the marks left by pens, but there's something that is - a magic eraser. Swap one for your standard whiteboard eraser and get your board squeaky clean.
We predict an increase in magic eraser sales after this blog post! Do you have any of your own uses to add? Let us know in the commemts below.
Good tips but maybe a stupid question but is the magic eraser meant to be used dry or wet.
Hi Wendy. That's not a stupid question! You need to dampen it before use.
Just one word of caution . . having discovered myself the hard way! Used one whilst trying to be quick as possible in shower earlier - nearest thing to hand. Hadn't reckoned on the abrasive aspect . . chin and right cheekbone are rubbed raw. Hoping recovery will be quick and scab free, then again perhaps a cheaper do-it-yourself version of the 'vampire' procedure as promoted by Kim Kardashian?!
Hi Nicky, Magic Erasers shouldn't be used on skin! Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Hi could you use a Magic Erasure to get powered eyeshadow off a carpet Thanks Jill
Hi Jill! What colour is your carpet? We'd try a patch test on an inconspicuous area first, but it can definitely be used to spot treat carpet stains.
"Hi Nicky, Magic Erasers shouldn't be used on skin! Wishing you a speedy recovery." In no.16 you recommend them on skin?
Hi Jacky! Thanks for getting in touch. In theory, you could use it to remove a spot of paint from your hand, but I've now updated the article to remove this idea. I don't think it's a good suggestion, and wouldn't want others to be encouraged to use it in this way.
I'm a cleaner and I've been using magic sponges for really greasy kitchen splashbacks and on top of the rangehood. Works excellent on grease, just not burnt on grease.
I love using my Magic Sponges for this too! Thanks for sharing, Vanessa.
Well, on my list of things to pick up today was MAGIC ERASER! I went all out purchasing the Velcro-backed pads with the the easy to use & flexible handle. I not only received great tips through this blog myself, but I just shared with my husband, too. This blog sparked ideas of using the MAGIC ERASER in my own home. Thank you, and I will try things out soon.
We're so pleased to hear that, Cathy!
I use magic erasers on dry erase boards to get rid of the black marker stains. I use it dry right out of the box and the board stays white as snow.
They do work very well for dry erase boards!
No mention of the effect on the oceans- is it biodegradable? Also, is the manufacturing process high in co2 like polystyrene is?
Hi there! Good point. Having done a little research, I can see that they're sadly not very green. They aren't biodegradable, but thankfully they aren't toxic to the environment. It's a better alternative to harsh chemical cleaners that are dangerous to wildlife, but the sponges don't last. You'd be better off with a sturdy cleaning cloth (bonus points if it's made from upcycled old clothes/rags) and a natural cleaning product.
When my grandson was little, he managed to get hold of a ballpoint pen and decided to write on the tv screen. We stopped him but he had already made a large mark across the screen. I tried all sorts of things to remove it. Nothing worked until I tried a magic eraser. I Went very gently and it worked like magic, I was so relieved. I always keep one in the kitchen now.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
What about these to get rid of hair dye in bathroom for tiles and paintwork?
Hi Sufia! This sounds like a good idea, but be sure to patch test first!
Three ways I use magic eraser: 1. Our glass stovetop was smudged and streaky but magic eraser made it shine! 2. Also works like a charm on glass pot lids. 3. Thought my porcelain tub needed to be redone but the discoloration was just grime that magic eraser removed and now it’s gleaming white.
Thanks for sharing! I'll have to give it a try on my hob.
Can you use magic eraser on toilet seat stains
Hi Sharon! It should work, depending on the stain.
It works AMAZINGLY WELL on toilet seat stains!! So well, it's Scary bc once you start cleaning 'the stain' you realize how clean the seat Can be and you discover just how dirty the entire seat is, even tho you only thought you had a couple of stains, initially! I will now Always use A Magic Eraser (generics seem to work just as well, and the new "Magic Eraser SHEETS" are much better to use , less of a negative environmental impact!! Just slices of sponge size, utilizing more surface area of sponge you would have thrown away once dirty on the outside, (whole product is same foam, thru and thru, so I even cut my foam Sponges into smaller pads to access more surface area of sponge material
Thanks for sharing!
Where can I buy some?
Hi Robert! You can get magic erasers in the cleaning aisle of most supermarkets or from an online retailer like Amazon.
Hi I was going to ask the last question, where do you get them, next question is how much are they roughly.
Hi Margaret! A packet normally costs around £1-2. Very cheap!
Hi can the sponge be used to remove big scratch wall and nail polish??
It should work! Worth a try anyway.
I love Magic Erasers. They clean scuff marks off PVC doors and windows as well.
They do! Thanks for sharing, Pam.
I was pleased to find the eraser sheets helped remove some of the stains acquired over many years on tupperware storage containers . Was considering tossing them but have never found this particular size container in any of the stores. So used a lot of elbow grease with the eraser sheet and, although they do not look like new, I no longer feel I should toss. Sue
What a great idea!
Can i use a magic eraser to clean mildew on curtains?
Using a magic eraser to clean mildew on curtains is possible, but it may not be the most effective method. First, try cleaning the mould with a solution of water and white vinegar and then use a magic eraser as a last resort.
Great on pvc windows and doors, removes allsorts if dirty marks.
Thanks for sharing, Pat!
Hi Joannne, the Magic Erasers are great for cleaning plastic patio furniture and saves a lot of time.
That's a great suggestion!
Can the magic eraser remove mould from clothes?
Hi Mary! The magic eraser works best on hard surfaces, so you might struggle to use it on clothes.
Hi. I'd like to know how to get them through internet sent to Mexico. Thanks
Hi Blanca! You should be able to order them on Amazon.
Several other article say to never use them on stainless steel or granite. I'm not sure who to believe.
Magic Erasers can effectively clean stainless steel and granite, but they should be used cautiously as they are abrasive and can scratch certain surfaces if misused. It's best to test on a small inconspicuous area first and always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and maintenance.
Can you them on tv screens
It's not recommended. Magic erasers are abrasive and could scratch the screen's surface and damage it. Instead, try a microfiber cloth and a specialized cleaning solution for TV screens. Always check the manufacturer's website to see which cleaning methods they recommend for their specific model.
It also removes Bird mess from the car (even when the birds appear to have eaten superglue!!)
That's good to know!
We use the magic erasers to clean mud stains off our paddleboards! Works great!
Great tip! Thanks for sharing.