Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Ingredients: Are They Safe?

It’s no secret that having a messy home can take a toll on our mental health. We spend the majority of our time inside our houses, and extra messes leave our minds feeling cluttered. However, conventional cleaning products are often chock-full of potentially harmful toxins, leaving us with a home that’s clean on the surface but riddled with harsh chemicals. Even brands that some people perceive as “clean,” like Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products, often sneak in toxins that can potentially wreak havoc on our health. Because of this, it’s important to always thoroughly investigate the ingredients in any product, even if they’re marketed as safe. 

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are Durafoam sponges marketed as “magic” cleaning tools to eliminate stubborn messes quickly. These multipurpose tools are capable of tackling the toughest stains, from soap scum to permanent markers. Not only are they effective, they’re simple to use and do not require any additional soap or cleaning solutions. 

Although the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can work wonders for cleaning up messes, are the sponges themselves actually clean? In this post, you are invited to join a discussion of the ingredients in Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, whether or not they’re safe, and if they could potentially create negative health effects with use over time.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Ingredients

Using safe cleaning supplies is of utmost importance, especially in the home, where we come in constant contact with the ingredients we use. In order to deliver a squeaky-clean finish, house cleaning supplies often use ingredients that may deliver quick results, but leave behind stubborn chemicals in their trail. Many toxins commonly found in cleaning products may lead to adverse reactions. As well as health conditions such as reproductive issues, hormone disruption, and cancer. 

Despite the prevalence of potentially toxic cleaning products on the market, there are many companies, like Meliora (IREAD10) and Pure Haven, that offer non-toxic alternatives that are safe for the home. Using safe cleaning products lessens your and your family’s exposure to chemicals that may potentially harm your health. Luckily, there are many ways to clean your house without chemicals and reduce toxins in your household chore chart.

Although Mr. Clean offers many different cleaning products, we will be exploring the ingredients in Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to determine the safety of these sponges. There are six types of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, each made specifically to combat different household messes. To see their ingredients, you can click directly on the word “SmartLabel” on each product page. Each Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge has different ingredients which we will investigate together. 

Is Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Safe?

Whether or not Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is safe depends on how you will use it and what your eco-friendly requirements are. The Magic Erasers are not aligned with my personal values and the values of I Read Labels For You. Many of the ingredients in this product are on the list of ingredients that I avoid. However, if you decide to use them for convenience, I won’t judge you. If you do opt to use Magic Erasers, I suggest either Original or Extra Durable. Read on to learn why. 

Melamine Resin Foam

Both Original and Extra Durable Magic Erasers contain only one ingredient/material: melamine resin foam. Since I found their MSDS that lists the word “Formaldehyde Melamine Sodium Bisulfite Copolymer” instead of “Melamine Resin Foam,” I contacted the company about which one is more accurate. Here is what they responded: 

Hi Irina,

Thanks for getting back in touch with us here at Swiffer. That is a great question, and we would be more than happy to assist you with this. Our Magic Erasers are made of a Melamine Resin Foam. You can also view our SDS and what is included on our smart label page. Thanks again for reaching out. If you have any other questions please feel free to get back in touch! 

I hope you have a wonderful day, Irina.

Mr. Clean Team

I found that the Mr. Clean Team’s response was not very helpful. However, then I learned that melamine is made using formaldehyde, so it might be the same thing. 

In 2008, melamine exposure caused 6 deaths and approximately 300,000 instances of urinary tract effects in children after contaminating baby food formula. Additionally, this survey revealed that low-dose melamine exposure may be a contributing factor to urinary stone formation in adults. Despite these findings, melamine remains common in many everyday products.

In this study, the release of melamine and formaldehyde from kitchenware made of melamine resins was investigated. After conducting tests to observe these chemicals, they found that melamine release was directly correlated to the production process of the cookware. The level of melamine release varied depending on the ratio of ether and methylene bridges in the resin, indicating that changing the production practices could drastically improve the health of kitchenware (source).

In my opinion, the risks of exposure to melamine and formaldehyde in any significant amounts from Magic Clean Erasers are very low in comparison to kitchenware or food. However, I don’t like the foam because it uses carcinogenic formaldehyde and melamine in production, which is toxic to the factory workers and the environment. Additionally, the foam itself is not biodegradable, furthering the harmful impacts of these products on the planet. 

Fragrance 

Many of the Magic Clean Erasers contain fragrances, including the following products: 

• Magic Eraser Bath with Febreze Lavender Scent
• Magic Eraser Variety Pack
• Magic Eraser Kitchen with Dawn
• Magic Eraser Bath With Gain Original Scent

Fragrance (also sometimes called “parfum”) is a mixture of ingredients that often remain undisclosed by companies. Among these undisclosed ingredients might be allergens, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens. On my website, I don’t recommend any products with synthetic or natural fragrance. This is because they typically contain a mix of unknown ingredients with potential negative health implications. 

PEG/PPG/Propylheptyl Ether

PEG/PPG Propylheptyl Ether is made by the process of ethoxylation. Which is the reaction of 2-propylhepatnol with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide. Not only is ethylene oxide carcinogenic (source), it also has developmental and reproductive concerns (source). Although ethoxylation is performed to make chemicals less harsh, it can create a small amount of 1,4-dioxane. Which is another carcinogenic chemical (source). 

1,4-dioxane is easily absorbed by the skin (source), and ethoxylation can leave behind traces of ethylene oxide in the finished product. Along with ethylene oxide, unless 1,4-dioxane is thoroughly removed during production, there is a chance that the chemical will end up in the final product as well. It is best to stay away from ethoxylated ingredients (such as polysorbates). This is to avoid an increased risk of cancer, reproductive, and developmental concerns.

PEG (Polyethylene glycol)

Typically, polyethylene glycol is listed with a number next to it (PEG-40, PEG-10, etc.). But the polyethylene glycol in Magic Clean Erasers is listed without any number. Although the polyethylene glycol in Magic Erasers is not numbered, there is still reason to believe this ingredient should be approached with caution. 

Similarly to PEG/PPG/Propylheptyl Ether, PEG is made with carcinogenic ethylene oxide (source). Additionally, in this study, scientists found that the use of topical polyethylene glycol on animals lead to elevated calcium, high anion gap metabolic acidosis, raised osmolality gap, and renal failure. Additionally, given the risks of ethoxylation in terms of cancer, developmental, and reproductive concerns, I choose to avoid products that contain PEG. 

Polyoxyalkylene Substituted Chromophore (Red, Blue, and Yellow)

Because the Magic Clean Erasers don’t list CAS numbers on their colors, we don’t know exactly what they are. However, we can still determine the general safety of these ingredients knowing that these colorants result from a polyoxyalkylene substituent (source). 

Although colorants improve the appearance of products, they are often linked to negative health risks. Petroleum-based dyes have risks of heavy metal contamination, petroleum contaminants, and potential allergen risks. Despite the well-known risks of heavy metals, the FDA allows traces of metals in final products. For example, up to 10 ppm of lead are approved to be left in lipstick formulas as contaminants (source). 

Even food-grade dyes can cause hypersensitivity, genotoxicity, and cancer (source). Knowing this, it’s important to be wary of colorants in our everyday products. Personally, since there is no specific safety data regarding these three polyoxyalkylene-substituted chromophore colorants, I would proceed with caution. 

Conclusion About Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Ingredients

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers Contain Potentially Health-Threatening Ingredients. It Is A Good Idea To Use Alternative Cleaning Products In Your Home. 

In conclusion, based on my findings, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers uses several questionable ingredients that are linked to negative health effects. The melamine resin foam that makes up these sponges is questionable in itself. And other chemicals like fragrance and ethoxylated ingredients make me feel uneasy about using it in my own home. If you decide to use Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, I would choose Original or Extra Durable to minimize exposure to harsh chemicals. 

Personally, I would avoid Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to prevent bringing toxins into my household. Luckily, there are healthy cleaning products out there, like the Force of Nature Disinfectant or Pure Haven Stain Remover. As always, I encourage you to thoroughly read the ingredient lists on any product that you’re interested in purchasing. If you’re unsure of where to start, use my Savvy Consumer Superpower e-book as a tool to quickly and easily assess the safety of your products. Also, be sure to check out the IRLFY Shop to discover the products that have earned my stamp of approval.

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