The $7 Secret Weapon These Real Estate Agents Swear by for Cleaning

The sense of relief you feel after finishing a cleaning task is pretty nice, right? It feels extra good for real estate agents, who often find themselves quickly cleaning odds and ends before a showing. It helps them to have the right tools while doing this, and they definitely have some opinions when it comes to using the best stuff. 

Two real estate agents — both based in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, Calif. where they work for Sotheby’s International Realty — swear by one $7 product for preparing for open houses: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. 

“It’s a white sponge of love, instantly gets rid of fingerprints, smudges, and any other minor stains,” says agent Elizabeth Daly. “It even works on sinks and tubs.”

“I literally have them whenever I go anywhere,” adds agent Ali Morisi. “You can get a bulk box for cheap and it cleans everything.”

These two agents aren’t the only ones who have nothing but praise for the iconic cleaning product. On Amazon, the 9-pack of erasers has been reviewed more than 24,000 times — and is backed by a 4.7-star rating. 

The price of the Magic Erasers will vary depending on where you go, but the Mr. Clean Store on Amazon sells the 9-pack for $6.97. Buying Magic Erasers in bulk will go a long way and offer great bang for your buck. 

Perhaps it doesn’t come as a surprise that Mr. Clean’s iconic Magic Eraser is the back-pocket secret weapon for real estate agents. I mean, using the eraser is certainly something of a marvel in and of itself. It immediately removes otherwise stubborn scuff marks and stains on furniture and walls. Anyone I’ve ever heard talk about the eraser has had nothing but good things to say about it, sometimes claiming that it’s literally magic.

But of course, it’s not magic. It’s the active ingredient — melamine foam — that does the trick. 

Melamine foam has been used for decades as a cleaning agent, but it’s also used for insulation and soundproofing. Mr. Clean’s website suggests using Magic Erasers for cleaning tile grout, stovetops, and soap scum. Lots of people also use it on other surfaces like their walls, although a patch test is recommended before using it to clean a large portion of a wall.

Part of the reason that real estate agents love Magic Erasers is that they work quickly to get rid of scuff marks and grime, which is vital when preparing for an open house to make a home look great and more sellable. Plus, they also won’t leak anywhere like bottled cleaners might, and they’re very lightweight. 

But Magic Erasers aren’t the be-all, end-all cleaning product. It’s important to keep in mind that they shouldn’t be used to disinfect or deep clean. They’re great for getting rid of surface stains and they do a great job at making a room more presentable.

This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: The $7 Cleaning Secret Weapon Two Real Estate Agents Swear By