I love Mr. Clean Magic Eraser as much as the next mom, but unless I have a coupon for it, I typically don’t add it to my shopping cart.
While some categorize the popular cleaning tool as a must-have item, I’m not willing to drop $3.50 on two foam pads. Which is not to say that I wouldn’t willingly purchase them at a reduced rate. I’m just saying that I don’t budget for them week after week. Rather, I tend to use items I already have around the house to clean up daily messes.
For example:
Bathroom: Rings around the tub are a quick fix for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but did you know you can eliminate dirt just as effectively with baking soda and vinegar? I used to use Comet or Ajax powder and a sponge, but found that mixing a quarter cup of baking soda with some vinegar and applying it to tub stains can make them disappear.
Walls: Getting rid of crayon, pencil and pen marks from the wall is an easy job for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but used dryer sheets work just as well. Simply rub the marks with a leftover dryer sheet and most marks will disappear with a little elbow grease. Toothpaste is also very effective at getting marks off walls. Use a warm damp sponge, put a little toothpaste on the sponge, and apply directly to the stain.
Cars: The commercial for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser shows a woman washing grease off her car’s tires. The magic eraser does wonders and the tire is clean in no time. However, if you don’t have a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on hand, reach for a can of WD-40. The spray actually works miracles on grease stains. Just spray it on the stain and wipe until the mark is gone. This method works as well on grease-stained clothes, as it does on other surfaces.