The beauty of magic erasers is that you don't need to use any chemical cleaners for them to be effective. Just add water and go to town. Using them dry, however, can do more harm than good as they are much more abrasive when dry and can scratch surfaces.
A Magic Eraser is made of melamine foam, which is a mildly abrasive material. While it can effectively clean many surfaces, it may scratch delicate surfaces like a glass cooktop if used with too much pressure or if the cooktop is already scratched or damaged.
When the main ingredient in Magic Erasers, melamine foam, is mixed with water, it becomes a highly abrasive material like sandpaper. Using melamine sponge and Magic Erasers on your teeth is a direct route to enamel decay. Once tooth enamel is destroyed, it can't be brought back!
Using a magic eraser on skin is a very very bad idea. It works like sandpaper. Many people have ended up with bleeding hands after using them without gloves for too long. It's like sandpapering your hands.
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.
Clean Magic Erasers can scratch glossy, delicate surfaces like granite and marble. Even though you may not see the tiny scratches, using any abrasive cleaner can dull the surface. Cleaning non-stick cookware with a Magic Eraser will damage the non-stick coating, making the cookware useless.
The foam is made of super-fine fibers that lift and trap dirt and rub out marks. These thin, glass-like fibers are abrasive, so Magic Erasers® can be thought of as a cross between a sponge and fine sandpaper.
Is Bar Keepers Friend abrasive? There are abrasive particles in all BKF products except for MORE Spray + Foam. The powder products contain more abrasive than the pre-diluted Soft Cleanser. For jobs that require additional scrubbing power, use one of our powder products.
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.
Magic Eraser contains abrasive materials that can potentially scratch the glass surface. It's best to stick to safer and gentler cleaning methods, such as those mentioned earlier, like baking soda, toothpaste, or dedicated glass cooktop cleaners.
For stubborn stains, you can use a magic eraser sponge, these are safe to use and will not damage the surface of your tub.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Combination:
For tougher stains, you can create a cleaning solution by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Sprinkle baking soda on the surface you want to clean, then spray the vinegar solution. This creates a fizzing reaction that can help lift stains.
Are magic erasers safe on car paint? No. Magic erasers are too abrasive for car paint and can cause scratches. If you have scratches on your car, we recommend using the Torque Detail Reverse: Car Scratch Remover, Water Spot Remover & Swirl Repair.
Simply wipe your Magic Eraser firmly across the glass shower doors with a firm, steady swipe. All it takes is a few wipes to break through soap scum and hard water. Your doors will go from grimy to shiny in no time at all.
No wand-waving here: The “magic” of the eraser is simply melamine, a nitrogen-rich organic base that, in its solid state, is a powerful-yet-delicate abrasive. Melamine is a widespread chemical compound used in everything from dry erase boards to sound insulation on bullet trains to your grandparents' Formica table.
Don't Leave It on for Too Long
While Bar Keepers Friend is powerful, it's essential not to leave it on surfaces for extended periods. If left for too long, it can etch surfaces. Apply the product, let it sit for only one minute, scrub as needed, and rinse promptly.
This might blow your mind but Mr. Clean Magic Erasers and generic melamine foam don't have a chemical cleaner or soap inside them, it's literally just an abrasive foam that makes them work.
Is Bar Keepers Friend just baking soda? Despite its similar appearance, Bar Keepers Friend is not the same as baking soda. Bark Keepers Friend is made from oxalic acid, a powerful cleaning chemical that can break down hard-to-move marks, grime, and dirt with ease.
Don't use them on wood furniture or paneling.
The abrasive nature of the melamine in these erasers can strip away the finish on wood surfaces. This means you shouldn't use them on wood furniture or wood paneling. Also, be sure to spot-test before using them on wooden cabinets.
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!
It's a great short-term fix, but it's not actually going to make your walls, floors, or backsplash any cleaner. Magic erasers are a fantastic way to get grout very clean, very quickly. The downside is, the grout will rip through your magic erasers in a hurry.
The drier, the more abrasive it is. Wear rubber gloves when working with the Magic Eraser! (Unless you want that deep mechanical peeling effect on your hands). Test it in an inconspicuous place first.
Get rid of toilet rings with magic erasers
Cut off a quarter of a magic eraser and drop it into the toilet water. Let the piece sit in your toilet overnight to work its… well, magic! Do not flush the magic eraser down the toilet ! Remove it in the morning, then flush to rinse away any residue.
Yes, a Magic Eraser can help clean foggy headlights, but it's not the best or most long-lasting method. The abrasive nature of the Magic Eraser can remove surface oxidation, making the headlights appear clearer for a short time.