The $15 Cleaning Staple I Use Every Single Day, In Every Room Of the House (It Lasts All Year!)

I really enjoy having a clean home, but can’t say that I really enjoy the act of cleaning. Why do labor when you can do pretty much anything else? I’m all about optimizing clean up and making it as easy as possible. The less time I spend actively cleaning, the more time I get to actually enjoy the clean space.

Having the right cleaning tools and products is key here. It is so much more efficient to have the right tool for the job and products that work quickly and work well. Hands down the most versatile and frequently used cleaning product in my house are Magic Erasers. 

Magic Erasers are actually made up of melamine. When activated with water, the sponge turns into extremely fine sandpaper. They work incredibly well. But priced at about $1 each, the cost adds up, especially if you use them as often as I do. The good news is, you can buy bulk packs of generic melamine sponges. 

I order a 20-pack of melamine sponges for $15 once a year. They aren’t just a good value when compared to their name-brand alternative. I actually prefer them. These melamine sponges are more than twice as thick as the basic versions, making it easy to maintain a good grip on them while scrubbing. They don’t crumble away like thinner versions do. So not only are they cheaper per sponge, they’re more than twice the size. Double the product for less money. It’s a win-win.

I use them for so many things, we have designated sponges for different things around the house—I don’t want to use the shoe sponge for my countertops. Because they’re so plentiful and so much cheaper than the name brand, I’m able to use them freely. Feeling like you need to be precious with your cleaning supplies sort of defeats the purpose. I need to be able to use them and use them frequently! 

There’s only one step to using a melamine sponge—getting it wet. It makes it all that easier to tackle a few things when I have a few minutes while pasta is boiling or I’m waiting on a kid to find their shoes before heading out for piano lessons. No mixing up DIY cleaning solutions or pulling a special tool out of the closet.

• Backsplash: Splatters of tomato sauce and curry disappear easily with a single swipe.
• Sneakers: This is a particular favorite of my teenage son. He regularly touches up the white rubber of his sneakers to ensure he’s looking clean.
• Grout: I wouldn’t recommend tackling the whole floor, but a melamine sponge is perfect for touching up spots on the countertop.
• Fingerprints: This is probably one of my number one uses. I walk around my house and wipe down the light switches, door knobs, and door frames at hand level. Bonus tip: if you have a kid that likes to jump up to tap the top of the door jam every time they walk through, you probably should look up and give it a wipe down. (Or instruct them to do it themselves!)
• Crayon: You barely have to scrub to get your toddler’s latest masterpiece off of a wall.
• Baseboards: Scrub those scuffs away!
• Appliances: My Instant Pot and blender can get a little grimy in the corners, even if I wipe it down after I use it. It’s easily cleaned up with a melamine sponge. But a warning: it can scrub off the lettering if you’re not paying attention, so make sure to avoid that!

Because melamine sponges act like extra fine sandpaper, avoid anything that has a high polish or shine. If you’re unsure, always spot test.

• Marble or granite countertops
• Stainless steel 
• Nonstick pots and pans