Erase dirt away with Magic

Maybe the kids used the walls as a canvas in a Picasso-inspired spurt of crayon creativity. Or the smudges around the light switches just won’t budge. A wand won’t help, but Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser might.

The disposable cleaning pads feel like a dense foam brick, but when soaked and wrung out like a sponge, they’re ready to rub out stains like a pencil eraser. We tried it on some stubborn soap scum that had refused to give way to harsh cleansers and, with a little elbow grease, had much success. Long-lived scuffs in the entryway also disappeared.

Though the company doesn’t say what the Magic Eraser is made of (the most they’ll say is it’s “a unique material that gets into those tiny surface textures that trap dirt and grime”), it does seem less harsh or, at the very least, less aromatic than a bleach- or other chemical-based cleanser.

A two-count package is $2.19, and a four-count package is $4.19. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is available in grocery stores. For more information, visit www.mrclean.com.