Make a DIY Magic Eraser using a regular dish washing sponge - a TikTok tip
The magic eraser (rubber) is one of the cleaning tools that we do not always have at home, but that can really work some magic (like the name implies): magic erasers are used most all to eliminate the marks that ruin white walls in the house, and also scuffs which can appear on certain types of door frames and window jambs.
A magic eraser is a kind of sponge made from melamine resin: it is used just like a regular eraser and flakes and wears out as it is used - but at the same time, it gently removes dirt, marks and scuffs from various types of surfaces. However, since it is also slightly abrasive, it is not always the ideal solution to use on all materials. Moreover, precisely because it wears out during use, when there is a large surface to be cleaned, it is best to know if we will have to replace it at some point during an extensive cleaning task.
Notwithstanding this, there is a method to create an effective alternative to a magic eraser at home - by using a simple sponge of the type we use in the kitchen to wash the dishes.
This method is also illustrated on the @southernescape account on TikTok, and it's super simple. You will need:
- A clean dish washing sponge
- An active oxygen whitener (on the market, these are products like Oxiclean, Vanish and similar)
- Thick, heat resistant gloves
- A pot and some water
How to proceed:
- Fill a medium sized pot with a few fingers of water and bring it to a boil.
- Pour in just over half a glass of active oxygen whitener and mix well.
- Put the sponge into the boiling liquid.
- Wear heat-resistant gloves to avoid getting burned and take the sponge in your hand, dipping it under the water and squeezing it so that it soaks up the mixture.
- Squeeze the sponge out to remove any excess liquid and wipe it on the stains to be removed, just like using a regular magic eraser.
Although in the TikTok video the woman calmly uses this wet sponge on a light switch fitting, we strongly advise you not to copy doing this: never bring damp or wet objects into close contact with electrical outlets.
You can try this remedy on light-colored walls, frames and fittings made of wood or other materials that can be washed in a similar way.
Another useful tip:
Since, as we mentioned above, the products sold as "magic erasers" are made of melamine, looking for melamine sponges in stores or online is also a viable alternative. And in the comments to @southernescape's TikTok we also read of a user who uses these melamine sponges by dipping them in a little hot water and - as an alternative - an active oxygen whitener or sodium bicarbonate (bicarb) mixture. This is another way to ensure you have a magic eraser at home!
Have you ever tried using similar techniques?
