We needed another whiteboard in the office. I offered the office supply catalog to the person requesting the board and told them to choose a board that best met their needs. This is how our office came to own the Universal Melamine Dry Erase Board – size 48” x 36”.


Description

This is a nice looking whiteboard. The white melamine surface is not a glaring white or bright white. The board is surrounded by a 1/2” wide aluminum frame, and there is a ledge-like tray that holds dry erase markers and erasers. This dry erase board measures 48” x 36”. The aluminum tray extends about an inch from the board.

This board attaches to the wall using two screws, one at each end of the board. It comes with the hardware. There is also a set of paper instructions attached to the back of the board.


Our Experiences

The person who ordered this whiteboard found that it was too large to fit along the wall of his office. So make sure you measure the space before ordering this size board. He passed the board along to someone who already had a whiteboard, so this board is now mounted in a conference room that previously only had an easel and tablet for writing. Turns out this whiteboard in the conference room is quite useful. Plus it saves paper!

It is easy to write on this board using dry erase markers. Two colors of marker are currently used on this board (but we have other color markers in the office, so that could change at some point). The colors used are black and red, both Expo markers. This whiteboard takes the color markers well, and it is easy to read the writing.

However, I became alarmed after the first few uses of the board. The eraser, while eradicating the marks, did not completely erase them. Ghost writing was left on the board. The writing resembled a shadow (or ghost) of what had previously been written on the board. After a few uses, and erasing, the ghost writing made the board look unprofessional and grimy looking.

Thankfully I remembered the bottle of Quartet Clean Erase, which is a cleaner meant for dry erase boards. A few sprits of this cleaner followed by wiping with a paper towel, and the board once again looked new. It was a welcome transformation! Ever since, I have been using the cleaner on a regular basis to keep the board in good condition.

Do and Don’ts – Cautions

The instructions that came with this whiteboard included a list of what to do and what not to do to maintain this board.

1. Clean with an ammonia based cleaner or mild soap.

2. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

3. Dry with a soft cloth.

4. Or instead of the above, it is recommended to use Re-Mark-Able marker board cleaner (catalog # 550).

5. Use specially marked dry wipe markers on this board. Keep markers at room temperature.

6. Do not use permanent marker.

7. Do not use adhesive tape on the board surface.

Note: The manufacturer says that “inadvertent” permanent marker can usually be removed from the whiteboard by using the Re-Mark-Able cleaner and conditioner (catalog # 551).


Purchasing

This board was purchased from W.B. Mason for $35.95. It usually retails for around $70.00, so shop around for price.


Summary

This Universal Melamine Dry Erase Board had a rocky start with our company, but thanks to whiteboard cleaner, we are back on track with liking this board. The cost is reasonable, and I haven’t heard anyone complaining about it now that it is cleaned on a regular basis.

I’m torn on whether to give this three or four stars. If you are looking for an economical dry erase board, then check this one out.

I hope this review is useful.

Enjoy the day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Please read my other reviews:

Quartet Clean Erase for marker boards

Expo Dry Erase Surface Towelettes

Expo Dry Erase Markers that write like a pen

Universal Cork Bulletin Board

Royal Shredder (Model # VF1012mx)

Bic BriteLiner Grip Highlighter -- Yellow

Avery Pen Style Highlighters – Assorted Colors

Avery Desk Style Highligher – Blue

Tombow Dry Highlighter


Copyright 2007 Dawn L. Stewart


Recommended: Yes