Can Magic Erasers Be Used on Dishes? Find Out Here

Magic erasers are much more abrasive on dishes than most cleaning supplies. While melamine foam has its place in the kitchen, many people believe it’s not the best choice for dishes, pots, pans, and other kitchen items. There are a few pros and cons of using magic erasers on plates, bowls, etc.

Magic erasers can’t be used on dishes because the abrasive melamine foam scratches and scuffs the surface. The melamine foam in magic erasers breaks down and sticks to plates, bowls, and cups, which creates a thin residue. Instead, use a soft kitchen sponge.

In this post, I’ll explain why you shouldn’t use magic erasers on dishes, what you could do as an alternative, and whether or not you can use a magic eraser on ceramic dishes.

Using a Magic Eraser to Clean Dishes

Using a magic eraser to clean dishes is a bad idea. According to Gimme the Good Stuff, magic erasers are made of a chemical compound that can leave toxic residue on your dishes. Furthermore, these abrasive foam pads can scratch your kitchenware.

Here’s a detailed look at why you shouldn’t use magic erasers on dishes:

• All melamine foam pads are too abrasive for kitchen dishes. Whether you choose the generic melamine foam or brand-name Magic Erasers, you’ll scratch almost every dish in your kitchen after a few uses. Magic erasers are designed for plenty of surfaces, but not dishes.
• Magic erasers can leave traces of unwanted residue that could stick on the kitchenware. If you’re scrubbing a dish and small pieces come off of the foam, they’ll stay on the surface. Heat increases the likelihood of putting chemicals all over your dishes.
• Some melamine foam pads leave gross tastes on cleaning surfaces. These cleaning supplies are loaded with chemicals. They’re fine for most places, but the last thing you want is to have a gross chemical taste on your eating surface.
• Magic erasers absorb a lot of gunk, which can lead to buildup and make them less effective. You’ll only get one use out of each eraser, which ends up making them a complete waste. Instead, I highly recommend sticking to traditional abrasive kitchen sponges.
• Melamine foam remove non-stick chemicals and other additives. It scrubs away the topcoat, including the chemicals on new dishes. One small sponge can ruin quite a bit of cookware. Although some people have used magic erasers on dishes for a long time, you could end up scratching a plate.

While you can’t use magic erasers on most dishes, you can use a magic eraser on a glass top stove. They won’t scuff the glass since it’s much more durable than kitchen dishes. Simply wet the foam and scrub the mess until it’s clean. Don’t apply too much pressure, though.

If you’re determined to use melamine foam on your dishes, try the suggestions below.

How to Clean Dishes With Melamine Foam

To clean dishes with melamine foam, try these steps:

1. Use a magic eraser with dish soap in it. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for Kitchens has dish soap that activates after running it under water. Squeeze it a few times and gently use it on ovens, fridges, and many other surfaces around your kitchen. If you’re going to use a magic eraser on your dishes, this is the one to go with.
2. Soak the magic eraser and scrub the dish in soft circular motions. You can’t use a dry magic eraser on any surface. This rule applies to all melamine foam cleaning pads. Water activates the foam, preventing it from crumbling and damaging the surface.
3. Rinse the magic eraser between each dish. As mentioned above, melamine foam absorbs lots of odors, dyes, and fine debris. If you don’t clean the magic eraser after each dish, you’ll spread bacteria everwhere. Hot water works best for melamine foam.
4. Look for scuff marks on the dishes. Again, I don’t really recommend using magic erasers on dishes. It’s not worth risking damage. However, some people praise magic erasers, so it’s understandable if you want to try these foam pads on dishes and other soft surfaces.

Note: Never use a magic eraser (or any other melamine foam pad) on non-stick cookware. It’ll destroy the non-stick coating, ruining your cookware and leaving chemicals inside. Instead, use warm water, dish soap, and a soft sponge for these situations.

The good news is that you can scrub away at most glass dishes. Mr. Clean suggests cleaning casserole pans and other glass cookware with a magic eraser infused with dish soap. There are plenty of options, but make sure the magic eraser is wet enough to activate the suds.

Unfortunately, overusing melamine foam on dishes and other extremely dirty surfaces doesn’t help them last too long. Magic erasers fall apart from misuse, grime, mold, and dryness. It’s best to stick to the cleaning surfaces recommended by the manufacturer (most of which don’t include dishes).

However, you’ll soon discover a dish you can always clean with a magic eraser.

Can You Use Magic Eraser on Ceramic Pans

You can use magic eraser on ceramic pans if they don’t have a non-stick coating. Most ceramic pans don’t have non-stick coatings, which means you’re good to go. However, it’s best to avoid using melamine foam (including magic erasers) on painted ceramic because it can damage the paint.

You can use a magic eraser to remove grease from ceramic cookware very quickly. Wet the foam and gently scrub the ceramic cookware for fast results. Remember to choose the aforementioned magic eraser that comes with dish soap inside to remove the gunk and make the cookware smell better.

If you notice your magic eraser crumbling when using it on ceramic dishes, throw away the eraser and choose a kitchen dish sponge.

Wrapping It Up

Magic erasers are good on almost every surface. In fact, I’ve written plenty of articles about magic erasers removing mold, grease, fabric stains, and more. That being said, this abrasive foam is typically too much for most of your kitchen dishes. Reach for a soft sponge and put some elbow grease with dish soap!