The manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, lists ingredients for the magic eraser which include: “Formaldehyde-melamine-sodium Bisulfite Copolymer." That is rated only as a “slight” health risk. It's pretty much only dangerous if “a large amount is swallowed” or it gets in your eyes.
Melamine foam is a foam-like material consisting of a melamine-formaldehyde condensate. It is the active component of a number of abrasive cleaner sponges, notably the Magic Eraser. It is also used as thermal insulation and as a soundproofing material.
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.
You'll generally know when your eraser needs to replaced because it will begin to crumble and fall apart. Another thing to keep in mind when using a magic eraser is that the material is abrasive, so you'll want to make sure that you're not using it on anything that could be damaged by an abrasive cleaner.
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.
Magic erasers don't have cleaning chemicals in them. It's a melamine sponge and is essentially very fine grit sandpaper, which is why it gets the algae off tanks so easily.
The manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, lists ingredients for the magic eraser which include: “Formaldehyde-melamine-sodium Bisulfite Copolymer." That is rated only as a “slight” health risk. It's pretty much only dangerous if “a large amount is swallowed” or it gets in your eyes.
What Magic Eraser Is Made of. Magic Eraser's pad itself is made of melamine polymer, about which safety info is lacking, but which doesn't appear to be toxic.
Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to create a paste. This can be used as a gentle abrasive cleaner for various surfaces. It's non-toxic and environmentally friendly.
The secret behind these types of erasers is a material commonly called melamine foam. With just a little water, melamine foam can dig in and destroy stains that other products can't touch.
Melamine, formaldehyde, sodium bisulfite polymer is used as a cement additive in the drilling process. As a polymer the substance is not expected to bioconcentrate, bioaccumulate or sorb substantially to soils or sediments. It is not expected to degrade in the environment.
Because of this, the Magic Eraser should never be used on a child or adult's skin. If you find your child taking a bite from a Magic Eraser, do not panic. Take the sponge away from them, wipe out the mouth with a soft, wet cloth, and give them some water to drink.
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.
Please do not ever use a Magic Eraser or melamine sponge on your teeth or skin. This is a dangerous trend that can cause irreparable damage!
Water-based and Fragrance-Free. No Solvents or Chlorine, Residue-free. Not harmful to hands and cleaned objects. Readily biodegradable, No cross-contamination.
The health and safety warning on a Magic Eraser box reads, “DO NOT USE ON SKIN OR OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY. USING ON SKIN WILL LIKELY CAUSE ABRASIONS.
Health Hazards (Acute and Chronic): Mild skin and eye irritant. May be harmful if swallowed. Signs and Symptoms of Exposure: Instillation into the eyes may result in transient superficial effects similar to those produced by mild toilet soaps and detergents.
Signs of melamine poisoning may include irritability, blood in urine, little or no urine, signs of kidney infection, and / or high blood pressure.
Magic Erasers are made up of a melamine foam, which has undergone heat compression to increase their durability, explains Brashear, who says that this is the extent of their manipulation.
Formaldehyde exposure is most common through gas-phase inhalation. However, it can also occur through liquid-phase skin absorption. Workers may be exposed during direct production, treatment of materials, and production of resins.
Clean (or Mr. Proper) is a brand name and mascot owned by Procter & Gamble. It was used for an all-purpose cleaner and later also for a melamine foam abrasive sponge.
However, if you want the most cleaning power from your eraser, we at Taste of Home have to recommend the original: the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Both the classic and kitchen versions of this product held up to the most wear and tear.
The major materials for synthetic rubber erasers include styrene-butadiene rubber (styrene and butadiene), and sulfur. Other ingredients added to the production include color pigments, and vegetable oil (madehow).