Deep cleaned the kitchen today! Oh, the things I find fun…
This is the floor before and after the Magic Eraser. They actually let us move in with it looking like this! Way to go, Westminster!
Today: 1/2 hour + magic eraser = no more horribly scuffed up passenger side!
Before:
After:
I KNOW, I KNOW, magic erasers are abrasive, be careful with your paint, etc., etc., BUT it was like 30 cents worth of magic eraser, versus probably hundreds of dollars at a car place, and it looks SO much better.
Yes, absolutely be careful with your paint, micro-grit sandpaper, etc. etc., but I had paint transfer from where some asshole hit my car, and the Magic Eraser took it right off. I absolutely, positively, do not guarantee anything if you take a Magic Eraser (very very lightly and carefully) to your car, but I’m glad it worked out for you!
Ser Bluer was like “what are those,” so I took one over to the baked on black crud on the stove and demonstrated.
His reaction was “…WOW.” :D
And now the stove’s the cleanest it’s been since we moved in.
sparklymagiceraser.gif
asknoblecause Asks:
unfuckyourhabitat Said:
Typically, the generic is pretty indistinguishable from the name brand. I actually usually get the Target generic. Melamine foam is melamine foam. I think people find them at the dollar store sometimes; I’ve never seen them at mine, but I know they exist.
Usual warnings: melamine foam is a mild abrasive, so it can remove paint and finishes, wear gloves, and don’t eat it.
…unless you care about the complete amazingness that is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
I’ll put my gushing about cleaning supplies after the jump, for anyone who’s interested.
Melamine foam is awesome.
One of us left a box of cling wrap next to our drying rack, where unbeknownst to us it spent some time sitting in a puddle, and the label transferred onto our crappy countertop. I’d had something similar happen to a painted coffee table when I was a kid and my mom had never been able to get it off, so I was worried, and my girlfriend reported that it was coming off very slowly and only with extreme effort. Then I tried melamine foam, also known as a Magic Eraser—and poof! Gone.
It was so satisfying I took a video. Because I can’t be the only one who enjoys the occasional clip of super-effective cleaning.
I worked through two of my least favorite unfuckings today: vacuuming and cleaning the shower/bathtub. Both are tasks I have a long history of ignoring until they’ve reached critical mass and require EPIC UNFUCKING instead of just semi-regular maintenance unfucking.
I’m not saying I’m suddenly a pro at vacuuming or cleaning the tub. Far from it; I still let them go far longer than I should. But with the magic of 20/10 (and vinegar and Magic Erasers, in the case of the tub), I got it done today. Furthermore, using loads of laundry to time my cleaning & breaks is hella easy and makes me feel productive even while resting with a newly downloaded book. It also results in a clean, fresh-smelling shower curtain & liner, as shown above.
So. There’s that.
beccaweber Asks:
unfuckyourhabitat Said:
As I always say, Magic Erasers are essentially micro-grit sandpaper. So, they can remove paint or finishes on wood or walls. Generally, people tend to scrub too hard with them, too, so always start lightly. If you’re not sure, do a small test patch. They definitely aren’t to be used interchangeably with regular sponges. I’ve used them for years on walls with no problem, but it depends on the finish of your paint and how you use them.
So i noticed the other day that the grout in my bathroom was 2 different colors: darker near the sink/tub/ toilet (the high traffic areas) and lighter near the walls. So i got out a magic eraser to make sure i wasn’t seeing things. i wasn’t… my floor was the wrong color. the above picture is what the magic eraser looked like after i did some quick tub clean up and scrubbed the grout. it will probably take a few more to get the color completely clean, but oh well. at least i will have an unfucked bathroom!
salroka Asks:
unfuckyourhabitat Said:
Yup, melamine foam, my favorite micro-grit sandpaper! I always get confused when people talk about the chemical cleaners in Magic Erasers, because besides the false dichotomy of “chemical/natural” (and the total misunderstanding people have about those two terms — chemical is not bad! natural is not good! chemical and natural are often THE SAME EXACT THING!), but there are no cleaners in Magic Eraser. It’s melamine foam, just add water.
anniemaggard Asks:
unfuckyourhabitat Said:
I’ve cautioned people on the Magic Eraser mop before: the mop head is not an actual Magic Eraser. It’s melamine foam mixed with something that keeps it from deteriorating, and is not (in my experience) any more effective than any other kind of modern sponge mop. The texture of actual Magic Erasers doesn’t lend itself to mop form very easily. It would get stuck a lot and fall apart rather quickly.
So, I went to Fry’s/Kroger’s tonight to get some cleaning supplies; I was out of vinegar, wanted to pick up the other supplies on the list (I forgot baking soda—dammit!), and I was nursing a headache so getting food I didn’t have to cook seemed like a good idea.
While searching for Bar Keepers Friend, I found the Magic Erasers sitting next to a white box called “Erase-It.” Erase-It was two bucks cheaper for the same amount of product, and since I live on a tight budget, I decided to try it.
gatsbylives Asks:
unfuckyourhabitat Said:
It’s ridiculous, right? I didn’t know the linoleum in my old apartment wasn’t gray until after a few minutes with a Magic Eraser.
edgy-and-dull Asks:
unfuckyourhabitat Said:
Keep in mind that they are essentially micro-grit sandpaper. They will take paint off if you scrub too hard. If you have, say, a smudge on a painted wall, lightly buff the stain, but don’t put too much pressure, because bye bye paint. Same thing with wood finish. They can turn shiny to dull. Just start off using very little pressure, and test a small area if you’re not sure.
feminerdism Asks:
unfuckyourhabitat Said:
But be careful with jewelry, keeping in mind that it is, essentially, micro-grit sandpaper.
