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I've never used the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser but have seen hundreds of threads that promote its use with good results. My question? DH came home with a package tonight and I was baffled why until he told me that it was for his office telephone (landline) that was so grimy he could no longer read the numbers on the keys.

Good idea or not? Let me know soon as I have an idea he is going to try it out first thing in the morning - whether or not he knows WHAT it will do!

Just looked at the box and it might be this product is a knock-off? It says it is "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Power - 50% stronger to last longer" - and then in small print says "vs. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original." ????

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Idaho Resident,

It should be used with caution until you can see what the result will be.
I've used various cleaners (409, Windex) on the plastic parts of my phone that removed some of the color. Who'd have guessed that?!

Magic erasers are actually a type of abrasive, so the possibility of it wearing off the numbers is significant. Proceed with caution.

nettiejay, THANKS for the warning - I will pass it along to DH and hope he heeds it!

Seems like somewhere I saw an advertisement about some "gloopy green stuff" that you could spread on remote controls and the like that would lift off grime and dirt once it dried. Anyone know what that might be? Sounds like it would work for telephones as well...

All suggestions welcome.

Guess I would test all cleaners tried with a q-tip on and around the buttons first? It would be kind of hard to get into small spaces with one of the "magic erasers", and get enough pressure on a small piece to get it to work?

Even something like WD-40 can be a good cleaner, and might be less likely to erase the letters/numbers on the buttons than something like nail polish remover or alcohol? Spray on a cotton ball or q-tip, rather than over spray the whole face of the phone?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: conrad,

A little Fantastik on a damp cloth. Might take a little elbow grease too.

At the office, we have the pop-up Clorox wipes. I use those on my keyboard, telephone, calculator, etc.

Tell your DH finger grime is yechy, but not as bad as some have had to deal with.

The local phone company had a wall phone they simply removed/replaced and threw away every 4 months, as it usually failed at about that rate. It happened to be located on the kill floor at the local meat packing plant.

Thanks for the help, everyone who responded!

Passed on the warnings to DH so, of course, what did he do but go ahead and try it any way!

SURPRISE! It worked like a charm - no more grime and no abrasion of the numbers or letters! Just one more thing that the Magic Eraser can do!

My go-to product for cleaning things like telephones and even switch plates is plain ol' rubbing alcohol applied w/ a Q-tip. Works w/ like a charm and w/ little effort. Just be careful w/ it near painted areas.

quote:

The local phone company had a wall phone they simply removed/replaced and threw away every 4 months, as it usually failed at about that rate. It happened to be located on the kill floor at the local meat packing plant.

Oh uck!!! Glad I read this after supper.

I know...nasty.
DH worked IT support/computers, but they still heard the stories.
It was always a job for the new guy on the team. They used to clean and refurbish the used phones back in the 70's/80's, but obviously not all of them.

DH made residential HVAC service calls for a living in the days before wireless radios/cell phones were common. He had to use customers' phones to make calls back to the boss. More than once, he encountered roaches crawling out of the handpiece when he picked it up to dial.

quote:

Originally posted by nettiejay:
DH made residential HVAC service calls for a living in the days before wireless radios/cell phones were common. He had to use customers' phones to make calls back to the boss. More than once, he encountered roaches crawling out of the handpiece when he picked it up to dial.

Now that is down right nasty!

I guess I should clarify re starting this post - dh's phone did have some grimy fingerprints on it (but then he is pretty picky since our house is pretty clean) BUT nothing at all like things that have been posted here!

Bottom line, used Magic Eraser and all was clean again!

I think we all understood it was just inks and finger soil on the phone pad. Just from everyday use, the buttons used to get buildup on them.
We just did not want him to feel like it was the worst phone pad in town?

Probably the worst soiled that I recall were the ones in an auto shop or tire repair place. Cell phones pretty much make that a non issue now.

quote:

Originally posted by conrad:
I think we all understood it was just inks and finger soil on the phone pad. Just from everyday use, the buttons used to get buildup on them.
We just did not want him to feel like it was the worst phone pad in town?

Definitely agreed!
Some threads just seem to take on lives of their own, though.

Here's an article on the topic and btw, note that my advice and solution was given as follows...

If you have an extremely dirty dial pad use a cotton swab and alcohol to wipe individual numbers and between them.

Also, I might add that rubbing alcohol addresses the germs too so be sure to do the mouth piece as well.


http://www.howtocleananything....lean-your-telephone/

BTW, the rubbing alcohol and Q-tip work great on keyboards also tho we currently have a silicone pad that covers our keys.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

Here is another vote for the magic eraser!!! Our phone keys get discolored from my make-up! I have always cleaned them with Lysol on a q-tip. It made me feel better to think that is was germ free, but they remained lightly discolored!

Not anymore!!! I just now tried the magic eraser and after 5 seconds the keys look like new!!! Wow! Thanks for the tip!!!

Don't worry - no offense taken re earlier posts! I know some were just to point out how really bad things can get on some of these devices!

Glad it worked for you, too, Grapefruit! I passed along your thanks for the tip to DH and got the usual "grin" after which I promptly told him that was his quota for the week! After all, we've been married for over 36 years so he's entitled to be right ever once in a while - just don't want him to make it a habit!

Yes, Idaho, let him be right on something little like this. That way you can be the boss of the big stuff!

Just now seeing this. Glad it worked for your dh, IR.