ARE MELAMINE FOAM ERASER PADS SAFE?

According to Wikipedia, melamine foam was discovered to be an effective abrasive cleaner in the current century. The combination of the microporous open-cell foam and polymeric substances work like extremely fine sandpaper deep cleaning surfaces. The product feels soft like a sponge because the foam bubbles interconnect. What is melamine foam you ask? Well, it’s that handy white-sponge-looking thingy everyone calls magic eraser.

I agree this is in an effective product. But is it a safe product for us, and our environment? Let me share my insight with you below.

ARE MELAMINE ERASER PADS SAFE?

Melamine eraser pads are made of a plastic product known as melamine foam (formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymers to be exact), which was —and continues to be — in use for many years in industry before it was discovered to have cleaning properties. Melamine foam is sound absorbent and flame resistant — two reasons it has been used as insulation in buildings, trains, and aircraft for decades.

The manufacturing process for melamine eraser pads is considered a trade secret, so the environmental impact of its production cannot be accurately estimated. What we do know is that production begins with melamine-formaldehyde resin, a synthetic polymer that is foamed through a tunnel with the use of a blowing agent. The melamine resin is cured into foam sheets and then shipped from manufacturing plants to processing plants.

An obvious environmental impact is the exhaust produced, and the energy consumed, by worldwide shipping. Though the sponges are lightweight, the quantity required to regularly clean your home with them is quite high. The amount of time an eraser pad will last depends on a number of factors including the roughness of the surface you are cleaning, and the type of stain you are trying to remove; on average they last for only 4 to 5 uses. That’s a lot of trips across the sea, burning fossil fuels for just a few cleaning uses per item.

ARE MELAMINE ERASER PADS SAFE FOR HUMANS?

Even though melamine eraser pads are not toxic, don’t clean your dishware with them: Otherwise, you could potentially be consuming tiny plastic particles with your food.

We recommend using green-cleaning tools first and reserving melamine foam for only those stains, such as crayon marks, that seem to require its unique properties.

If you can’t live without your melamine eraser pads, you can still reduce waste and get more use out of them by cutting the sponges into quarters before use. To keep your erasers working for you longer, be sure to squeeze out excess water between uses — do not ring out the pad by twisting it. When the pad becomes unusable make sure to throw out any remaining product. And whenever possible, choose a more sustainable cleaning tool such as a recycled-content rag or a natural abrasive sponge. For really tough stains, soak your rag or sponge in a mixture of Castile soap, water, and baking soda.