How the Magic Eraser Can Damage Your Car
It's sweltering heat outside and you're sure any parking spot will leave you with a hissing car when you get back. Oh, you are of little faith. Look ahead - a place under a tree on the shady side of the street. This means your leather seats will only partially burn your feet when you return.
Later, when you pick up your car, you notice that it is adorned with bird droppings and sap. Bird droppings, you think, will be washed off with soap and water. Juice you're not so sure about.
When you get home, you will find that the juice has turned into a sticky lump. It takes a little creativity to pull it off.
You vaguely remember that one of the children marked the wall with crayons, and something called "Magic Eraser" easily removed the mark. If the Magic Eraser can remove chalk from a wall, why not try it on wood resin?
If you use a magic eraser to erase tree sap, you might be in luck. It might come down. But before you declare victory, wash and dry the area where you used the eraser. It is likely that you will find that you have created a big problem. The magic eraser erased the damn paint.
Magic erasers seem harmless
How can something so soft do so much harm?
Magic Erasers are made from melamine foam, which is used to insulate pipes and ducts. It is also used for soundproofing recording studios and soundstages. In other words, these flexible and harmless-looking sponges are made from materials used for industrial work.
When the Magic Eraser gets wet, its abrasiveness is equivalent to 3000 to 5000 grit sandpaper, depending on how hard you scrub. This may not seem very rough, but on car paint the damage can be severe.
Worse, if you have a heavy hand and go to town with a completely dry Magic Eraser, it will be like using 800 grit sandpaper.
Either way, using a Magic Eraser to clean a stain on your car will scratch the paint.
Some Magic Eraser scratches can be repaired by the average hobbyist. To assess the severity of a scratch, run your fingernail across the affected area. If your nail slips without snagging, it's a minor scratch that you can buff out with some kind of polish, polish pads, and maybe a little touch-up paint.
If your nail is clinging, you will need a professional to fix the scratches.
Using the Magic Eraser inside the car
If you can use the Magic Eraser in your home to erase scuff marks from chairs and walls, is it safe to use it inside a car? It depends on what you are trying to clear.
AutoGeekOnline experts do not recommend using it in large areas because the Magic Eraser's sandpaper-like quality can strip paint off plastic dashboards and skid plates. Leather seats in cars are also covered. By using the Magic Eraser, you can unknowingly remove the protective layer.
If you intend to use the Magic Eraser to clean small scuff marks on the car interior, wet the eraser very wet and rub gently. Limit the size of the cleaning area. Test the eraser and your pressure on a hard to reach area to see what it looks like before working on a larger, more visible part of the interior.
The magic eraser can be a wonderful tool, but it has to be the right tool for the right job. Whether you're removing stains from interior carpeting or scuffs in inconspicuous areas, magic erasers will do just fine. But if you're planning on using it on paint, leather, or a plastic dashboard, you may want to consider alternatives.
