How do Mr. Clean magic erasers work?
Active Ingredient The ads for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers claim they will clean multiple surfaces, including walls, baseboards and floors, wiping away grease and stains with a nontoxic sponge-like material. The eraser is made of a compound called melamine foam. Although it can appear soft, the inner fibers are very thin and strong. With small openings across the surface, the melamine works much like fine sandpaper, reaching into the small grooves where stains have settled. Spongy Surface The holes in a Magic Eraser, when lightly moistened and rubbed over a surface to be cleaned, bind to dirt particles, resulting in a clean surface. The Magic Eraser can be repeatedly used, but it wears away a bit with each use. When the foam reacts with the surface being cleaned, it may leave behind a residue, which can be wiped away with water. Melamine is also used in other applications as a resin, such as for soundproofing and as insulation for pipes. According to the Mr. Clean website, the Magic Eraser
