I think I've always used them damp to wet. Usually put a little water on it and give a squeeze, like dampening an ordinary sponge.

I had to laugh at the refrigerator one. "last years". YIKES! I hope one wouldn't wait that long to clean out their fridge!

And if you've not tried the "off" brands, I can attest to the ones I got at HoDe as working every bit as well as Mr Clean does. And yes, they are Magic.

For floors, I use it dampened, for walls, it's dry.

I got one as a freebie a looong time ago. I pulled it out recently to clean up my runners, after seeing the ad on tv, that they can do this.

Poor thing crumbled all over my shoes. I guess I should have used it more often.

DD and I used many Magic Erasers to clean up her new-to-her house built 60 years ago and not well cleaned by the widower who sold it. The grout on the tile bathroom counter was dingy, and just touching the wet Magic Eraser to the grout, not rubbing at all, bleached it to a bright white. What an improvement for no effort too.

The instructions say to dampen. I use them dampened but never soaking wet. Just like microfiber cloths they are best used dampened and squeezed almost dry. I cut mine up to size for the job.

Tip #16 does mention having it slightly damp also so I don't understand your statement.

There are dry cleaning sponges available for commercial use. They are made of a rubber compound and are used dry. You can find them online or at janitorial supply stores.

That is exactly how I've always used mine, cynic.

Justgotabme, I thought that was funny too. Hope I've never eaten in that home. LOL

Kayjones, do you mean you use it dry when removing marks,etc. from the walls?

Jasdip, you wasted a freebie? Go buy some because they're great on almost everything. I've got to ask, what are runners?

Sheilajoyce, I'll bet they saved you a ton of time. I hope your DD spends many happy years in her new home.

Mammie, I call my running shoes "runners". I moistened it, then when I went to rub the leather parts it all crumbled.
I just smooshed it around, best as I could, and they came out pretty good.
So a good Eraser would do wonders!

The instructions say to dampen. It will wear it out too fast, if you use it dry.

I assumed you were talking about a floor runner, like the clear plastic ones or a table runner of some kind. I guess I've heard of shoes being called "runners". Probably why they say "Runners, to your mark!" at the races.

I got a freebie box which is how I first tried the Magic Erasers. I was quite impressed so I've been buying them but not using them as much as I probably could. But the same goes for microfibre cloths. Had I not received one as a gift, I probably never would have tried them. Hard to believe either work as well as they work.

Interesting the mention of bleaching the grout. I was wondering what was going on the first time or two I used them on the bathroom sink. I get quite a buildup from the water and hadn't kept up on cleaning it. I used it and got it into decent shape so I decided enough for now and I'd work more on it later. I came back later that evening and it was noticeably whiter! I was wondering what was in it. Rumors flew about formaldehyde and magic chemicals and I was apprehensive to mix it with a cleaning solution until I researched it a bit.

I see they have a Mr. Clean floor mop with a magic eraser head on it. I bought some of the generic erasers but haven't tried them yet. I guess it'd be hard to compare but they probably would be nearly as good if the price was enough cheaper. They also have larger sized ones IIRC.

Just noticed this on the Mr. Clean site:
"Its water-activated micro-scrubbers reach into the surface grooves, lifting away built up grease and soap scum."(emphasis added) so I guess wet is the way to go. I noticed if they weren't too wet they did tend to crumble quicker.

Here'a a bunch more cleaning tips from the Mr. Clean site.

There's also a Mr. Clean Professional line of cleaners out and I saw a demo of one of them that was rather impressive. They had a tile covered with dried soap scum. Took Zep HD cleaner and Mr. Clean Professional Restroom Cleaner and sprayed a paper towel with about 3 squirts of the Mr. Clean and did 1/3 of the tile with 3 passes. It was nearly clean. They took the Zep and gave probably a dozen at least squirts and gave it 12 scrubs and it was maybe 10% of the other side. It was impressive. Then used the Mr. Clean to clean the whole thing. They let people try the same test and the results were the same.

As far as the refrigerator... anyone watch Kitchen Nightmares??? LOL

So many cleaners... so little time!

Sorry for the confusion, re: the runners.
I guess I typed that, vs running shoes to save time.

I know I've read that there are chemicals in the erasers, that we should be careful with. I think one of them is formaldeyde or some such thing. Then that has been de-bunked as a myth, so I really don't know.

Never would have thought of them cleaning the sink and the grout. Mind you, I have mould in the corner of my tub grout, so I don't want to be spreading it by rubbing with an eraser.

My sink is old and has stains that I can't get off, and crud around the taps. Maybe, like Cynic I should have a go at it with an eraser. I've never seen knock-offs here, and I'd like to buy a cheaper one. But regardless, I should get one, and use the darned thing, before it dries out and gets crumbly. lol

I thought you were talking about runners...like on a sled. LOL

I love Magic Erasers, and use them all the time.

One word of caution, though. Someone wrote on my daughters arm (she was in high school at the time) with a permanent marker. I suggested she remove it with a Magic Eraser...mistake! It left behind a "rug burn". I felt really bad :(

They work great to clean the glass in the door of an oven. I do use it damp.

O.K., y'all have convinced me...I've added Magic Eraser to my shopping list.

As for use on "runners"...I have a long, narrow rug (runner)in my hall. I thought that was what you meant.

I use them to clean the bathtub and grout. I can clean it in no time at all, which makes it easier to keep up with.
Also the stove vent above the kitchen stove, they take the grease and grime right off.

They're *definitely* not made to be used on skin! I'd be very concerned about the abrasives getting into the pores on sensitive areas although I guess I do use them without gloves so it can't be that big a deal. Don't use it on glass or something that is easily scratched though.