Don't Use Magic Erasers on Chrome or Stainless-Steel Surfaces & Fixtures. Contrary to popular belief cleaning stainless steel or chrome surfaces with harsh cleaning tools like scouring pads, SOS pads or others is a big no.
Magic Erasers and Bar Keepers Friend do contain abrasive components that can dull or scratch stainless steel if used too aggressively or against the grain. However, when used gently (with a soft cloth or sponge) and in the same direction as the metal's grain, its quite safe.
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!
While the Magic Eraser can be a helpful cleaning tool on many surfaces, it is not recommended for use on stainless steel. It may seem soft, but Magic Erasers are made from melamine foam, which is akin to very fine sandpaper, therefore, making it an abrasive.
Be careful not to use any of the following on your stainless steel appliances as they can scratch or damage the finish: products containing bleach, abrasive or grainy cleaners, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, ammonia or abrasive cloths or pads like steel wool.
Use a microfiber or soft cloth when wiping down your appliances. Avoid cleaners that can damage steel and finishes. Instead, clean your stainless steel appliances with a dish soap like Dawn® Platinum. Its unique formula is tough enough to break up grease and grime while staying gentle on stainless steel surfaces.
To remove stains and prints from stainless steel appliances: Start with a soft, damp cloth and warm water. For tougher stains, use a mix of mild dish soap and water. Gently scrub in the direction of the grain.
Dish Stains
A Magic Eraser uses its abrasive properties to scrub away deep stains better than a regular dish sponge and soap. Just be sure to thoroughly wash the mug or dish before drinking or eating out of it in case any sponge particles are left behind.
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!
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.
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.
Are Magic Erasers Safe? In short, yes. While the compound ingredient mentioned above does contain the word formaldehyde, it's part of a chemical name. Formaldehyde itself is not an actual ingredient in the sponges.
Don't use them on:
Nonstick pots and pans: An eraser sponge will probably scratch nonstick surfaces, allowing small flakes of the coating (and the chemicals it contains) to get into food. Wood furniture: These abrasive sponges can strip the finish on wood furniture and wood floors, Sansoni says.
Bar Keepers Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish contains no harsh abrasives and is formulated specifically to clean stainless steel without scratching or dulling surfaces. The finest in stainless steel care, this stainless steel cleaner shines stainless steel and wipes away easily.
Don't Use Magic Erasers on Chrome or Stainless-Steel Surfaces & Fixtures. Contrary to popular belief cleaning stainless steel or chrome surfaces with harsh cleaning tools like scouring pads, SOS pads or others is a big no.
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.
Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser with Dawn Is the Winning Combo I Didn't Know I Needed.
Combine one part vinegar with eight parts water. Spray the solution on the stainless surfaces and let it sit for five minutes. Afterwards, rinse with cool water or wipe with a damp cloth. After your stainless steel surfaces have dried, sprinkle them with olive oil and wipe them with a clean cloth.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
When combined, vinegar (an acid) and baking soda (a base) produce carbon dioxide bubbles that can help loosen bits of stubborn stuck-on food. First, sprinkle baking soda all over the affected area, then use a sponge to scour the inside of the pan.
Avoid using regular Windex on stainless steel, as the ammonia content can damage the material. Although it is possible to clean stainless steel with ammonia-free Windex, it is best not to take the chance because it is difficult to tell how a cleaner will react with stainless steel.
As you will read above and below, to avoid scratches on your stainless steel, you should never use anything rough or bristled, and definitely do not use steel wool. You should also never use paper towels. Paper towels leave behind lint and depending on the brand of paper towel you use – it can also leave scratches.
You can still use vinegar as an effective chemical to clean your kitchen appliances without fearing that you will corrode them. For the dishwasher's stainless steel surface, you can spray undiluted white or apple cider vinegar on it and wipe away any stains or dirt.
Baking soda is a powerful all-purpose cleaner. Its slight abrasiveness won't harm your stainless steel, but it will help unstick stuck-on stains. Make a thick paste with baking soda and water, and apply it to tough stains. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe, rinse, and dry.