Warning about Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

[pb&j]

I had no idea they could be so dangerous - apparantly, they contain an alkaline substance and can cause chemical burns! I'm throwing mine away.

http://kerflop.com/2006/11/02/chemical-burn/


-Ry,
mom to Emma, stillborn 11/04/04
and Max, 01/05/06

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[jd11365]

Well I can't live without my Magic Erasers, but will certainly be sure to keep them locked up with my other household chemicals! Thank you for the information!

[brittone2]

I believe they also contain low levels of formaldehyde (or at least they did when they first came out...I remember double checking on this).

[Tondi G]

YUP! I always use gloves when I handle mine and they are hidden away from little people! There just isn't anything else that removes crayon from walls and floors like it does!

~Tondi

[JBaxter]

I keep mine away from Nathan but I too cant live with out my magic erasers. I buy them in the 8 pack.

[mudder17]

The poor kid! :( And how sweet he was to say he didn't want his mommy to be in his place. :( :( :(

Thanks for the warning, Ry. I haven't used the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser before, but now I have a reason to not even try. I think I'll stick to my usual things as well as washable markers and crayons. Yikes!


Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 32 months...

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[SnuggleBuggles]

I always suspected they would have some awful, nasty chemical in them. They work suspiciously well not too.

We just use washable paint and hope for the best. If we need to repaint to sell I'd be ok with that.

Beth

[calv]

OMG,thanks for the warning. Should we all be wearing gloves? I'd be anxious to hear what and how 3M responds.

Thanks again for the link. I've always kept these locked but the the risk is still scary

[MartiesMom2B]

Up they go in my cabinent with the rest of my cleaning supplies. I'm glad that you posted this, because I'll be using the product with gloves from now on. I have noticed that my fingers feel rough sometimes after using it.

-Sonia
Mommy to Martie
& Li'l Girl Bunny to come Feb. 2007
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[kellyotn]

I'd heard (probably from here) that there was something nasty in them.

I just lock them up with the rest of the cleaning supplies. I ain't giving them up though, they work TOO WELL! :)

[ribbit1019]

Yikes! Gloves it is, and I will be keeping DD and DS away from them.

Christy
Wife to Richard
My Waterbabies
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[american_mama]

Ok, good information and a sad story, but WHY did he get Magic Eraser all over his face and chin? Did he or his mom use Magic Eraser to clean marker off his face and, if so, is it fair to consider that a normal use of the product? I realize part of her point is that there isn't enough info. on the packaging, which is valid and one which the company should correct.

I'm also wondering why it doesn't burn everybody's skin.

She's got a valid complaint, but I like Magic Eraser too much to ban it from my house.

[EllasMum]

I had the same reaction - was the little guy using it to wash his whole face? I guess you can never anticipate what kids will do! I check out snopes.com and they had something to say on the matter of formaldehyde - though nothing about any alkaline substances:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp

[mudder17]

Well, I'm guessing the Magic Eraser contains some sort of base, similar to the stuff in Draino, but probably not as concentrated. I've worked with these alkaline materials and at lower concentrations, they feel slippery and just end up making my skin feel rough. However, I always wash my hands thoroughly after working with them (and always wear gloves if they're more than a certain concetration). The problem is that if you don't realize it's on you, it can basically start burning your skin. My brain is not 100% at the moment, but it's quite possible the initial remedies she tried just trapped the material next to her son's skin, exacerbating the problem. My guess is that when she did the initial washing, it didn't all come off and the lotion just trapped the chemical next to his skin. With alkaline burns, you always want to irrigate for 15-20 minutes at least because the stuff doesn't wash off that easily. She said that he had rubbed the scotchbrite against his skin, which doesn't sound pleasant. So washing quickly with soap and water wouldn't have gotten all the stuff out, especially because he now had broken skin. Oh, and some people have "thicker" skin than others, so that's probably why some would be more sensitive to the same amount of exposure.

As for banning or not, it basically is the same with anything you have in your house. Even though I use mostly natural stuff, I do have a bottle of Draino for the stubborn drain plug and that stuff is pretty darn nasty. If you know something is dangerous, then you should either ban it from your house (assuming you have a good alternative), or you need to keep it locked away from your kids.

Eileen

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http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[MarisaSF]

>I haven't used the Mr. Clean
>Magic Eraser before, but now I have a reason to not even try.
>I think I'll stick to my usual things as well as washable
>markers and crayons.

Same here. We only have the washable crayons and markers. Those freebie crayons they give you at restaurants and such will continue to be left there. Poor little guy!

Thanks for the warning, Ry.

[tarynsmum]

I have a box of MAgic Erasers, that's at least a year old (I don't use them very often), and there's clearly a warning on the back of the box: "CAUTION: Do not use on skin or other parts of the body. Using on skin will likely cause abrasions".

Not to say that the erasers aren't scary, 'cause that is, but there is a warning on the box, unlike what the woman said. So I doubt the company would be "at fault" (meaning liable in court or anything).

It's so terrible the burns on that little boy. How sweet that he didn't want his mommy to hurt? That brought tears to my eyes (but what doesn't)