Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Works for me Wednesday ~ Magic Erasers!

I am excited about something I just tried for the first time ~ Magic Erasers! A friend had recommended them but when I went to the store and looked at them, I thought that they didn't look like a big enough deal to spend any money on them. However this week they are on sale at Walgreens for an excellent deal (They are 2/$5 along with Cascade, Crest and other items and if you buy 9 of these items you get $20 in Register rewards which is like paying $2.50 for 9 items. Or if you have coupons for any of these then less than that.) so I picked up a couple of packages and our family is impressed!
Last night I decided to try it on the mark on our wall, a mark that would have taken a lot of scrubbing with a rag and it just wiped off with the Eraser. Then I tried my doors. They have gotten very grimy with people going in and out with dirty hands. In fact around the handles was a dark shade of grey ~Very gross! I had tried to wash it off with a spray cleaner and a wet rag but most of it wouldn't come off. I used the Magic Eraser and instantly all the dirt was loose and I could wipe it off with a rag! Yea! Also I easily wiped off some writing that Megan had done in pen on a little table and it came off easily. The Magic Eraser's definitely work for me. That doesn't mean I will be using them on everything, I prefer just plain soap and water and a cloth rag most of the time but for those tough spots I do plan to keep a Magic Eraser on hand.


I wish I would have thought to take a picture of the door in the place it was really bad before I cleaned it, but I didn't think of it. This shows some of it however.
This is the after picture.

One thing that I was hoping it would work on and it didn't was the orange spots we have on our siding from hard water. Oh well!

Anyway Magic Erasers work for me!

Caution!! Since posting this originally a couple of people have told me that these can actually be quite dangerous. If you use them don't let your kids handle them and do wear rubber gloves! Check out Nadine's comment for further information. I think these work beautifully but because of the bad I have heard I am not sure if I will buy them again or not.

9 comments:

Esther said...

I love the magic erasers. One time Kylee colored a few tiles and the grout by my front door. I used the magic erasers and it came right off.

Betsy said...

I have wondered how these work, and now I'm excited to try them! I just might have to visit Walgreens this week...

miranda said...

I have used the magic erasers for like 3 years now and I will never, not have these things in my home. They especially helped the cleaning process before moving into a new place or out of the old one. I learned about them from my mom and I LOVE them!!!...it is nice to see others are pleased as well.

Nadine said...

I used to use these magic erasers too until I saw a program here in Canada with Wendy Wesley a prodominant news person here...she was battling cancer at the time and put on a show about the effects of chemicals and cancer...turns out that these magic eraser are a carcinogen and should not be used around small children!...
I always wondered how come these little erasers worked such wonders...sometimes there is a cost to using these and I have chosen not to use these anymore as I do have small children...
I guess if one uses them it is important to wear gloves and rinse the area properly...
Just wanted to share what I knew...this is not to ment to offend...
have a great day

Abbi said...

Thanks Nadine for sharing. Another friend sent me an e-mail that told about how the erasers had burned a boy. I have been meaning to edit my post to add that caution but I hadn't gotten it done yet. I too wondered how they worked so well and now hearing what you said as well as this other e-mail I am thinking that perhaps I won't keep them around after all.

Becky R said...

Hi! I used magic erasers for some time and they were magic, getting rid of so many stains. Well, they never hurt my hands (I used them without gloves so I thought they were safe.) Well, my then 3 year old got gum wrapped around his neck (on purpose, why did I let him have gum?) Anyway I tried everything to get it off, so I grabbed a magic eraser (the wrapper did not say not safe to use or some caution) in hindsite I know it sounds stupid, but it never hurt my hands (and I have sensitive skin.) Well, this caused a chemical burn on his neck, he was screaming and in so much pain. I felt horrible!!! Since then a lawsuit has been filed with company (I was not part of it) and the label now says keep away from children.
So I highly recomend gloves and do not let your children use to help you clean at all! -Becky in NJ

Anonymous said...

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp
According to this and various other sites, they're abrasive, but not caustic or toxic. The recommendation is don't use them on skin, because they work like very fine sandpaper.

(and while one chemical contains the word formaldehyde, it's not the same as having actual free formaldehyde in the product)

HTH :) I'm enjoying reading your blog, and now feel homesick for my former inlaws, who live with the same approach to life as it seems you do. Can I send you the bill for the airline tickets to go and visit them, since your blog has caused me to yearn to see them? ;)

Abbi said...

Becky and Dawn, Thanks for your further information. I appreciate hearing all sides to a discussion.

Dawn, I am glad you are enjoying my blog. I really enjoy sharing what I do and getting imput and ideas from others. About the place tickes though ~ I am afraid you are on your own. :-)

Stephanie said...

I LOVE magic eraser. I have been using for a couple of years and am amazed by no smell, and they don't hurt my hands (with NO gloves). But I was also curious about the chemicals, and just checked out Snopes. I believe the chemical reaction is false according to Snopes. Here is the link:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp
I will definetly continue to use them, especially in the shower. I am not a fan of Scrubbing hard and using "Elbow Grease"! :)

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