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What exactly is the Magic Eraser made of? Mr. Clean™Main Points
- Magic Erasers are crafted from melamine resin foam, a material that forms a potent cleaning agent that hardens when damp to lift dirt and grime from surfaces with just water.
- They can tackle a variety of surfaces and objects, from greasy stovetops to scuffed shoes, and even sticky residues. They can also bring back the shine on jewelry and silverware without the need for extra chemicals.
- Be cautious when using a Magic Eraser on high-gloss, stainless-steel, or nonstick surfaces.
It's hard to fully understand what a Magic Eraser really is. Let’s be honest — these things are strange. They’re light as air, almost like marshmallow-like sponges, but not quite sponges. So, what exactly are they?
We spoke with Morgan Eberhard, a senior scientist at Mr. Clean, the company that creates Magic Erasers. She explains that these erasers are made from melamine resin foam, which contains air pockets that resemble tiny triangles. When they’re wet, these pockets become nearly as hard as glass, she says.
When you scrub with a Magic Eraser, the "points" of the triangles grip onto the stains you want to eliminate — whether it’s scuff marks, soap scum, or a nasty buildup of grease and grime — and drag them across the surface like a windshield wiper.
"What many don’t realize is that there are no additional chemicals in the Magic Eraser," says Eberhard. "It cleans powerfully with just water."
What makes it truly magical is the "marshmallow-like" softness we mentioned earlier. The melamine resin foam used in Magic Erasers is incredibly gentle on the surfaces being cleaned.
So what can you really clean with these things? Eberhard claims just about everything. "Oven doors, stovetops, microwave messes, dried-on paint on glass, and hard water spots on your bathtub and shower glass."
All you need is a bit of water to wipe away the greasy grime that builds up on your stovetop and counters.
Mr. CleanHere are twelve more ways to use it for cleaning.
- Degreasing counters and stovetops. No matter how hard you try, grease is one of those kitchen realities you just can't escape. Magic Erasers can scrub off burnt-on grime from counters and stovetops, particularly glass cooktops, with only a little water.
- Make your sneakers shine. Yup, this micro-scrubber action removes scuffs from white tennis shoes, without any chemicals. That means you can enjoy your Keds again without the worry of walking through soapy residue.
- Deep clean doggy drool. Dog (and cat) owners know how challenging it is to clean off the nose smudges left behind by wet noses on windows. Magic Eraser can wipe those away in a few seconds, no vinegar or glass cleaner needed.
- Revive tile and grout. If your tile and grout have seen better days (hello, soap scum and mold), they’ll look almost like new after a good scrub. And don’t forget to give your shower curtain a good cleaning while you’re at it.
- Clean outside the coloring lines. Magic Eraser can remove crayon (as well as permanent marker and fingerprints) from cabinets, walls, and other surfaces — perfect for cleaning up after that playdate with your kid and their sticky friends from daycare.
- Smartphone and computer care. Our fingers leave oily residues on our cellphone screens and computer keyboards. It’s often hard to clean safely. A quick wipe with the Magic Eraser can take care of both, no problem. It may even help remove those scratches on your phone screen, too.
- Remove rust. We’re talking small amounts — like from the bottom of your shaving cream bottle or an old cast-iron pan. But proceed with care. "As with any cleaning product, we suggest testing a small, hidden area before applying it to an entire surface," says Eberhard, "but generally, it’s best to avoid using Magic Erasers on surfaces with high gloss, stainless steel appliances, or nonstick coatings."
- Reach those unreachable parts. The issue with cleaning your car or home’s nooks and crannies with a vacuum is access. The rigid plastic hose just doesn’t reach everything you want it to. "I think the Magic Eraser is perfect for cleaning those particularly hard-to-reach and hard-to-clean spots," Eberhard says.
- De-goo sticky residue. We're talking about sticky stuff left behind by price tags, labels, glue, contact paper, or other goo that you’d normally need a chemical to remove.
- Clean hair product buildup. Anyone who used Aqua Net can vouch for the sticky residue it left everywhere. Walls, hairdryers, curling irons — you name it. Magic Eraser can clear all that away without any soap.
- Make your silver sparkle. You can use a Magic Eraser to polish your silver flatware. It even removes tarnish from sterling silver.
- Be-jewel your jewels. Magic Erasers are great for polishing gold, brass, jewelry, and even leather. Even an old, worn-out handbag can be revived with a thorough polish.
Mr. Clean is known by various names around the world. In Europe, he's called Mr. Proper; in Spain, he's Don Limpio; and in France, he’s Monsieur Propre.
