Get Tough with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo
Written: Aug 21 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: sponge & cleaner in one, flexible like a sponge, easy to use, cleans like magic!
Cons: white side of sponge tends to crumble during cleaning
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line doesn’t want its crevices cleaned – it’s hiding somewhere around here.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo |
I remember the Mr. Clean television advertisements from my younger years ... he whipped through the kitchen in a white tornado of clean, and wore a glittery gold earring that made him look part genie and pirate. Now I’m holding one of the newest products from the Mr. Clean line, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo.
Description
This nifty product resembles a rectangular sponge. It measures 4 3/4" x 2 1/2". One side of the rectangle is a medium blue color and is a sponge. The other side is composed of a white material that the manufacturer calls “an innovative cleaning material that penetrates surface grooves”. The entire product is flexible; it bends just as a regular sponge does.
The white side tends to crumble as it cleans. The blue side of this product serves two purposes: 1) it is a sponge, 2) it is designed to hold the foundation of the white section so that the user has something to hold onto as the white section disintegrates during cleaning.
My Experiences
I admit that I was skeptical. So many people I knew, including my next door neighbor, had been extolling the virtues of this “miracle” product. After all, for hundreds of years man has used cleaners. How could this new cleaning product be so different and wonderful? I soon discovered for myself just how revolutionary the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo is.
The instructions for using this product state to wet the product with water and squeeze out the excess liquid. Then gently rub the white side against what you wish to clean. The blue side acts as a sponge and is good for wiping surfaces on its own or after using the white side. After the white side gradually disintegrates, the blue sponge part remains intact.
Being someone who likes to experiment, I did not immediately wet the sponge. My bathroom has white walls and white molding around the bottom where the walls meet the tiled floor. I have been afraid to use water to clean this section of molding. From prior experience, I knew I would end up with a muddy mess that would look worse than the dirt originally there. This molding tends to gather dust, which has been difficult to clean using a paper towel or dry sponge. So I ran the dry Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo along the top and sides of the white molding, hoping it would release the trapped dirt. It did a beautiful job of cleaning.
One thing I noticed while using the dry Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is that it felt as if an invisible powder were lightly coating my hands. As an experiment, I had my mother try the dry sponge ... and she didn’t notice anything. Goes to show that different people experience different things.
With my successful bathroom adventure behind me, I then ran the sponge beneath water and squeezed the excess liquid from it. Now I was eager to clean everything to see just how many miracles this little rectangle could perform.
* It removed black scuff marks from painted walls with ease – even old marks!
* Erased dirt on the wall from where the cats hop up and down from the bay window
* Cleaned the vinyl window frames and aluminum doors
* Did a beautiful job cleaning the textured refrigerator surface
* Erased smudges and fingerprints from light-switch face plates and even some large magnets on the fridge that hold an assortment of spoons and ladles
* Removed both crayon and marker scribbles from a Fisher-Price toy stove-oven-fridge-sink play set
* This same play set also has plastic imitation tile, and the Magic Eraser cleaned all the dirt from the mock-grout recesses
* Cleaned a pair of white leather sneakers, although it did not whiten the discoloration along the rim of the shoe sole (to be fair, the product does not claim to whiten)
* Scrubbed grease from the stove hood – came free with ease!
* Removed soap scum from the washing machine, though it did not touch the spot of rust I discovered (wasn’t expecting Mr. Clean to remove rust, but one can hope)
* Cleaned some unidentified residue from the textured vinyl kitchen floor (regular cleaning would not eliminate it, but Mr. Clean did!)
* Did a terrific job cleaning the metal heating registers along the base of the walls
Another benefit is that I noticed no odor while using this product. Not a single scent. For people who enjoy a “clean fresh” smell after their exertions, then the lack of scent will disappoint. However, for those of us whose noses usually are irritated by chemical or flowery scents, then this no-scent cleaner is great.
After all that cleaning, there is still some of the white material remaining on the sponge. I did find it a bit annoying when some of the white sponge started to crumble during my cleaning spree. But I wiped the crumbles away with the blue side of the sponge. I can tell this sponge has done a lot of hard work, too. The remaining white area is filthy.
As an experiment (love testing the limits of new products!) ... I used the dirty white part of the sponge on a painted wall to remove another scuff mark from where furniture had rubbed against the surface. I could tell the water was dirty as I moved the sponge back and forth along the scuff mark (the wall is painted a light blue color). I picked as much of the dirty water up with the blue part of the sponge as I could then waited for the wall to dry. Surprise! The wall looked great. I had expected to see discoloration or at least a dirty area that would need wiping with a towel – but no – the wall looked great without need of touch-up mopping.
A Note to Allergy Sufferers
I have a sensitive nose and have seasonal allergies. Using this Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo opened up the flood gates in my nose. A few times during cleaning, I repeatedly sneezed. I continually had to stop to use a tissue to blow my nose.
However, being the curious type, I asked my mother to use the Mr. Clean sponge to see if she experienced the same symptoms. She, too, is an allergy sufferer. Her nose began to water but not as much as mine did. But I had used the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo far longer than she did.
Also, after I finished cleaning and rinsed my hands with soap and water ... my hands itched a bit. Not a lot ... and not for long. My mother didn’t notice any itching. A simple solution for the hands is to wear gloves during future cleaning with this product.
I had no idea this product could cause these allergy-like symptoms until I tried it. The packaging does not give a lot of warnings. I learned about possible skin irritations from doing internet research on the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo (read my findings below).
Ingredients and Cautions
I had to do some digging to find information regarding this product. Nowhere did I locate an ingredients list. However, I learned much more than I expected during my research.
There are the usual cautions: “Keep out of reach of children. Keep out of reach of toddlers and pets to avoid accidental ingestion. Do not use on skin or other parts of the body. Using on skin will likely cause abrasions.” Also, “If using for dishwashing, rinse dishes thoroughly. Do not use with chlorine bleach.”
The manufacturer recommends testing this product in an “inconspicuous spot with light pressure to see if surface may scratch or dull”. Do not use this product on polished, glossy, brushed, satin, dark or faux surfaces or finishes.
The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) says that this product is non-toxic. It further says, “Blockage of the gastrointestinal tract may occur if swallowed.
Eye Contact: Dust from foam may cause mechanical irritation.
Skin: Dust from foam may cause mechanical irritation.
Inhalation: Dust from foam may cause irritation of the respiratory track.
Ingestion: If the sponge is ingested, contact a physician or veterinarian immediately. Intestinal blockage may be life threatening to some household pets.
Eye Contact: In case of eye irritation, flush thoroughly with water for 15 minutes. If irritation persists, seek medical advice.
Skin: In case of skin irritation, flush affected area thoroughly with water and apply a cold compress. If irritation persists, seek medical advice.
Inhalation: If respiratory irritation occurs, move from the site of exposure to an area with fresh air. If irritation persists, seek medical advice.”
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.
Purchasing
I received this product free in exchange for an honest opinion about my experiences using it. At this point, I have not seen the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo in my local stores. Though the original Mr. Clean Magic Eraser seems to be available everywhere. Currently, the Procter & Gamble website is sending out free samples of this product, and you can also request a coupon. Here is the link: http://www.mrclean.com.
Summary
I was delightfully surprised with my successful cleaning spree using the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo. This is a great product for tough cleaning situations, and I plan to purchase a package of these. Would I use them for everyday cleaning? No. However, I was very impressed with the cleaning results and do plan on using them in the future for those special situations where this Magic Cleaner has proven its weight in gold. Maybe that Mr. Clean is part genie!
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Procter & Gamble
1 Procter & Gamble Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Toll-free Phone Number: 800-543-7270
Please read my other reviews:
Ziploc Freezer Bags
Oxo Good Grips Magnetic Clips
Pyrex 14-piece Round Storage Set
Pyrex Custard Cups – not only for custard!
Silicone Potholder / Trivets
KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Mixer
Curtis Radio/CD Portable Boom Box
Sharp Twin Energy Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Cascade 2-in-1 Dishwasher Action Packs
Electrasol 2-in-1 Dishwasher Tabs with Jet Dry
Maytag Dishwasher
GE Top Freezer Refrigerator
Maytag Gemini Double Oven Range
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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