Or anything overly abrasive for that matter. Magic erasers are particularly rough on painted walls because they are chemically abrasive. Even the most durable finishes will come off if you scrub them with a magic eraser. A sponge or damp cloth is more than sufficient for cleaning painted walls.
Unless your paint is heavily damaged I would not recommend using a magic eraser of any kind on your paint. Magic erasers are abrasives similar to high grit sandpaper. Using one on your paint might strip away baked on bugs but it'll heavily scratch your clear coat as well.
You can use magic eraser on white walls only because it quite literally removes the layer of paint that is stained. Which is why it's also important to thoroughly clean the walls before painting them.
Don't Use Them On Your Car
Or any other delicate surface, for that matter, like silverware, glass, or metal surfaces. Dry erasers have the abrasiveness of a 3000 grit sandpaper – very fine, but can still mar shiny surfaces – like your stainless steel appliances!
Flat wall paint is best cleaned with a Magic Eraser, which can be used to scrub almost anything when it's a little wet. Clean a flat, painted wall with help from a professional house cleaner in this free video on housekeeping tips.
When cleaning flat white paint walls, with a matte finish, start by gently dusting the affected area with a soft, dry cloth to remove dirt and debris. Use a mild detergent or dish soap mixed with warm water on a damp cloth or sponge. Gently rub the scuff mark with the soapy solution using a circular motion.
Marked or scuffed painted walls
And if you're worried about rubbing off paintwork in the process, Magic Erasers are safe for cleaning crayon, scuff marks or general dirt on most walls. Just do a spot-test on a small, inconspicuous area first before scrubbing the entire stain.
For this type of job, you need the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable. When you use the Magic Eraser, wall marks will virtually disappear. So you can say goodbye to scuffs, fingerprints and pencil marks on the wall, among other things.
Before you retire to the couch, rinse out your Magic Eraser and give your newly freshened surfaces a water wipe down, too. If what you cleaned will come in contact with food, you'll need to wipe it with a wet rag or paper towel, so it will be ready for the next time you meet again.
Depending on how much force you apply to it, a Magic Eraser may have a grit rating between 3000 and 5000, equal to fine sandpaper. This is why scrubbing a Magic Eraser on car paint isn't recommended. It can remove the gunk on your vehicle's body panel or window glass. However, it can also scratch your paint job.
Don't Scrub With Abrasive Scrubbers or Sponges
Over the past few years, many homeowners have embraced the “Magic Eraser” that can definitely remove stains. However, they also remove the sheen (finish) of the paint and sometimes even the paint itself if enough force is used.
One way to clean stains is with warm water and a mild detergent or soap mixture. Simply mix the ingredients together, apply them to a rag, sponge or even paper towel, and rub at the stain. Make sure to rub firmly but not enough to damage your paint. For stubborn stains, we recommend using a rag or soft sponge.
And Mr. Clean® is no wallflower when it comes to knowing how to clean painted walls or how to get permanent marker off walls. His Magic Eraser Extra Durable is the quick and easy way to remove scuffmarks, grime and dirt.
Dampen the eraser: Wetting the Magic Eraser can make it less abrasive. Make sure to wring out any excess water so it's damp, not dripping. A damp eraser will still clean effectively but is less likely to damage the paint. Wipe, don't scrub: Instead of scrubbing back and forth, use gentle, circular motions.
Don't attack stains on painted walls with a magic eraser, you'll polish the paint.
I got the Eraser wet, put a dry towel beneath the stain, and worked at it using the corner of the sponge. As I would have predicted, the red spot totally disappeared — I think the Dawn cut through the oil in the stain, and the Eraser had no problem at all “erasing” the tomato residue. A winning combination!
Be careful when using Magic Erasers on painted surfaces with glossy finishes. The abrasive eraser can damage the finish and make it look dull and uneven.
Create a solution by dissolving four tablespoons of baking soda into one quart of water. Dampen a soft cloth or sponge with the mixture and rub gently to remove marks.
Try one of the versions of melamine-foam-based white sponges (“Magic Eraser” is one brand) –these are least likely to mar flat-painted surfaces, but due to their ablative action (they wear away) may leave a white residue on darker colors. Just follow them with an absorbent WHITE towel, using a gentle blotting action.
Magic Erasers are made of melamine foam, which acts like an extremely fine sandpaper. It's this abrasive quality that allows it to remove scuffs and marks from various surfaces. When it comes to cars, this same abrasive quality can potentially damage the clear coat or paint if used improperly.
A. To avoid removing paint when cleaning your walls, use a large, non-abrasive sponge and rub in a circular motion without scrubbing too hard. For most stains, plain warm water is effective.
Drop a Magic Eraser corner straight into the toilet bowl. Before washing the toilet ring, let the Magic Eraser soak in the water for a few minutes. Once the stain is gone, swirl the Magic Eraser around the toilet bowl. To have the cleaning residue washed away, flush the toilet.