‘Miracle cleaning product’ expert warns is damaging your walls

A professional cleaner has warned against using a cult-favourite cleaning product for marks and stains on walls because of the damage it can cause. 

Kate Croukamp, co-owner of Clean Like a Pro, told nine.com.au that Magic Erasers (which are also known as magic cleaning sponges and melamine sponges – which is the substance they’re made of) can wreck the paint and the only way to fix it is to repaint the wall.

“Magic Erasers are abrasive. For many people, they think it is a miracle cleaning product because it easily removes marks, but what is actually happening is, you’re removing a fine layer of paint. Magic Erasers act as an ultra-fine sandpaper – that’s why you can end up with dull patches or shiny spots,” she said.

Instead of Magic Erasers Croukamp recommends trying a damp microfibre cloth first as that can remove a surprising amount of grime on its own.

“If you need something extra, a little dishwashing liquid or sugar soap diluted in warm water is a much gentler option than reaching straight for a Magic Eraser. For stubborn scuff marks that won’t budge, a non-scratch scourer sponge can help to buff these out without removing a layer of paint,” she said. 

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Croukamp recommends cleaning walls every few months, though you might find you need to do it more often if you have children or pets.

Areas that get touched more often like light switches, doors and the hallway should be given a quick wipe in between your more thorough wall cleans.

“For full wall cleaning, we recommend using a flat-mop system… just add whatever product you have on hand to the bucket with hot water and this makes cleaning large areas of walls faster and less exhausting. If needed, dust the walls and skirting boards first, this can help save time in the long run,” Croukamp said.

Painted walls aren’t the only surface you need to think twice about using Magic Erasers/melamine sponges on, “anything with a protective finish” is also a no-go.

“I’d avoid using them on things like high-gloss cabinetry, stainless steel, polished stone, timber furniture, matte surfaces or even your car because they’re abrasive, they can leave fine scratches or dull the finish.

“I think Magic Erasers have become a bit of a social media cleaning hack, but they’re definitely not the answer for everything. Just because they remove a mark doesn’t mean they’re the safest option for the surface underneath. In my experience, the best cleaning products remove the dirt, not the finish.”