Mr. Clean Magic Eraser - is there anything comparable but cheaper?

EllenFrasier

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 8, 2010
Messages
1,471
I love Mr. Clean's magic eraser sponges, but boy are the expensive!:eek:
Has anyone found anything comparable but more affordable?
 
Dollar Tree has their own version, 2 for $1. But, I also think the real ones are better. At Wegmans, if you buy in bulk (the largest package) they are substantially cheaper. I bought them like crazy when selling our house--seriously, every old stain, shower doors, bathtubs, etc. just shined thanks for Magic Erasers.
 
I bought some through Amazon about a year ago. They were about 2/3 the size of the "magic eraser," but that was OK w/ me, as I find there is a lot of waste on the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. They worked just as well as the name-brand product.

The Magic Eraser is really just melamine foam (which is produced by BASF), so if you buy generic melamine foam, you're really buying a "magic eraser."
 

Aldi carries these (store brand) for about $1 for a 2 pack. They are comparable to the name brands. I do not notice a difference.
 
I find most of the cheaper versions to be comparable but usually with a coupon and on sale I will buy the Mr. Clean brand.

For small jobs I cut them into small pieces. That way I don't have a gray looking sponge thing laying around all of the time.

My DS8 just realized last week how great they are for cleaning his sneakers lol.
 
I buy Targets brand and think they are just fine.
 
/
I am trying to get a house sold. Between kids and dogs I have been buying too many of these :) I have yet to find a cheaper alternative that works as well. I have been comparing with mr clean in one hand and an off brand in another. They work, but the other brands tend to break up faster. I am not saying all the other brands are not as good, but I have not found any that hold up as well. I never thought there would be a difference :confused3 Like someone said it is just melamine foam. Maybe there is a difference in how much air is in the foam or something.
 
I tried them once and hated that they left a residue everywhere and took paint off the walls. I find it so interesting that people swear by them.
 
I also cut the brand-name version in half or thirds so they last longer. ;) My feeling is that, once they get wet, they're activated. I use it on sneakers and sport shoes, handbags, walls, painted woodwork, even kitchen cabinets as needed.

Use a brand-new piece on walls or whatever they've picked up from other surfaces will get on the wall.

Never had a problem with the name-brand sponge removing paint from walls. After a particularly stupid use (by one of our kids) of allegedly-temporary hair dye, I thought for sure I'd have to prime and repaint the wall, but a magic eraser and a little hand sanitizer got the black dye off the pastel yellow walls without taking off the paint.


The Target store brand is okay, but I prefer to buy the name-brand in bulk from BJs or one of the home improvement stores when I have a coupon and/or they're on sale.
 
I tried them once and hated that they left a residue everywhere and took paint off the walls. I find it so interesting that people swear by them.

That's odd, I've never had them remove paint from a wall or noticed a residue.
 
I have noticed a film after using them, but I always go over the area with a regular cleaner afterwards anyway. I use them in the shower and on our old kitchen linoleum floor that need to be replaced badly. It will look clean for a little while afterwards. I just sponge mop the floor with regular Mr. Clean and water after scrubbing with the magic eraser.
 
I have tried both Wal-Mart and Target brands, but they just aren't the same. They are ok but I feel like they aren't as strong as the Mr. Clean brand and you have to use more. They did take paint off our walls, but our walls were flat cheap paint used by the builder. Once we got them repainted with better paint, I have had no problems.
 
I use the Mr Clean brand and I also use the Target brand and have some of the Dollar Tree ones as well. I prefer the Mr Clean because they last longer, I get the select a size pack. With the Target and Dollar Tree brand I just cut them in half before I use them, works just fine. lol
 
I bought a large variety box of mr clean ones at sams or Costco. Don't remember the price, but much less than getting a small pack.
 
I googled melamine foam out of curiosity. I always wondered how those things worked. Turns out, the foam is abrasive so if whatever you are cleaning isn't hard, the sponge can leave fine scratches. So now I am thinking that they are like;y causing my old linoleum to be even more worn. Hmm.
 
I've tried the off brand ones, but the Mr Clean ones seem to work better and last longer.
 













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