Melamine sponges 101: What are they and how do you use them?
These melamine sponges aren’t quite as cute as others you’ve seen at DAISO, but they have cleaning superpowers to champion those scuff marks on your floorboards and marks on your shoe rubber that no other sponge can conquer – AND there’s no need to use harsh synthetic chemical cleaners! All you need is good old-fashioned tap water.
They’re everything you want in a cleaning product – cheap, easy to use (forget the elbow grease), gentle on your surfaces and eco-friendly.
Warning: Once you start using them, you may want to clean everything!
Melamine sponges are made of melamine foam, which is made up of formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer. For non-scientists, this means that while the sponges feel like normal sponges, they actually work like super-super-fine sandpaper, getting into tiny grooves of the object you’re cleaning.
Are these the “magic erasers” that cleaning experts talk about?
Yes! Sort of. Just a different brand.
But while you can pick them up in supermarkets for AU$4.40 for a pack of 8 mini-blocks, at DAISO you’ll pay just AU$2.80 for so many more!
So many things! The sponges are gentle enough to use on glass ceramic, stainless steel, aluminium, ceramic, melamine (Formica), tiles, wood, chrome and fiberglass.
Here are just a few ideas, but you can clean just about any hard surface.*
walls, doors, skirting boards and floorboards – remove crayon, marker and scuff marks
ceilings and cornices – remove mould and smoke stains
light shades and fittings - remove cooking grease buildup on your kitchen lights
whitegoods and appliances –remove dirty fingerprints, grease and food splashes, and gunk inside your microwave, dishwasher, oven and refrigerator
pots and pans with a metal surface – remove food buildup and burn marks
cups and mugs – remove coffee and tea stains
jars - remove sticky residue from labels
grills and stovetops – remove food and grease buildup
kitchen benchtops – remove tea and coffee rings, food splashes and grease
kitchen bins - remove marks, food splashes and grime (wipe over afterwards with an antibacterial agent like white vinegar)
bathroom surfaces – remove hair dye, stains, dirt, soap scum, mould and lime buildup around taps and between tiles, and in the bath and shower. Wipe over with an antibacterial like white vinegar to prevent mould.
Vinyl furniture - remove dust and dirt
wooden furniture – remove water rings and other stains (test a spot first and rub very gently in the direction of the wood grain)
toilets – remove toilet rings by letting a mini-cube sit in the toilet overnight, and wipe away stains from under the toilet seat
sportswear – remove grass stains, dirt and scuff marks from hard plastic and rubber surfaces (great for shin guards)
shoes and sneakers - remove grass stains, dirt and scuff marks, even on patent leather (test a small area first)
car interiors and rims – dashboards and vinyl seats (but not the outside of your car - except car door indents)
car door handle indents – remove fingernail marks - see a YouTube demonstration
shed and garden tools - remove dirt and grease
metal and other surfaces - remove rust
cement – remove green algae from bird baths, steps and ponds
camping gear - remove mildew and mould from tents, vinyl canopies, awnings, fiberglass items, etc.
computers - remove grime from your mouse and keyboard (unplug first and then make sure the sponge if fully wrung out to avoid water damage) (also test a small area first and clean lightly)
photocopiers and printers – remove inky fingerprints and grime from buttons
power outlets and light switches – remove dirty fingerprints and grime (use dry sponge or with minimal water).
*For surfaces that are easily scratched, these sponges can leave a dullness to the surface. Test the eraser on a small, unnoticeable, part of the surface you need to clean before you clean the rest.
How do you use a melamine sponge?
Put away your cleaning products - there’s no need to use any.
Wet the sponge with water.
Rub it gently over surfaces to clean away dirt and grime.
The sponge will gradually wear down over time like a pencil eraser (or you can cut sponges to size for single use).
A pack of these is a fantastic investment for only AU$2.80 !
DAISO sells them in various shapes and sizes, including packs of
Lengths to cut to your own size.
Head straight to DAISO’s cleaning aisle to see the range.
Check out more before and after shots using melamine sponges.
We hope these magic wonders are as life-changing for you as they have been for our other happy customers who use them. May your house always sparkle!
We’d love to see your before and after photos using DAISO melamine sponges, so please share them with us on our Facebook page, or on your favourite social media with #mydaiso.
Instagram: @DaisoAustraliaOfficial
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