Magic Eraser - we know another magician!

April 10th, 2009

Magic Erasers are indeed magic.  I’ve been thoroughly impressed with how well they remove scuffs, soap scum, and otherwise difficult stains from clients’ homes.   Many people have worried about what Magic Erasers contain and just how that ‘magic’ actually comes to be.  I have yet to find any conclusive information about the true harmful effects of using a Magic Eraser.  I do know that when I used it to clean a wall a while back, the product wreaked havoc on my beautifully manicured hands, which was sad.  On the plus side, the wall looked great! 

Being a fan of all things eco-friendly (and cost-efficient) I have looked for alternatives.  To my amazement, baking soda has swooped in and saved the day in this case (what else is new)!  I won’t get in to the boring chemistry behind it all, but baking soda provides enough abrasion (think of those toothpaste commercials where the micro beads remove stains) to remove stains from surfaces, and this applies to scuff marks high and low.  

We had a client with scuffs all over her bedroom closet walls, and she was thrilled with the results!   The technique involved baking soda and a wet cloth (vinegar or water), and a dry cloth for removing the residue  from the wall.   We applied a sprinkle of baking soda on the damp cloth, rubbed the cloth over the scuff mark, and almost effortlessly the marks were gone.  Later in the week, a client’s gorgeous walnut wood floors had black scuff marks all over them from a construction crew, and we used baking soda and water with a damp cloth to gently wipe away most of the scuff marks.  Always remember to wipe it after the treatment with a clean cloth, because baking soda does leave a residue!

So, save your money - or invest it in Arm & Hammer stock, your choice!