OH MY GOSH we’re so close to moving into the Merc you guys! Hopefully this weekend!!
Something that I stupidly didn’t realize until we found ourselves in this renovation business is the heavy duty cleaning that has to happen before you can move in. I mean you think that everything is new, all the paint is fresh, the tile is new, tubs have never been bathed in, so all you should have to do is wipe stuff down and call it a day, right?
W-R-O-N-G-O Mandito, that is not real-ito. I’ve learned some pretty great hacks, so let’s dive into it!!
First and foremost, when you’re cleaning your renovation, make sure that the water is turned on, cause mine wasn’t and hose water is cold and usually a trek from where you’re working. Second thing, you need to get yourself a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with Durafoam.
I usually get mine at Home Depot because #lifer but you can get them everywhere! They are so featherweight and durable and have a diamond pattern that makes them even more powerfully scrubbable. Want to see how we used it?
DIYers, specifically those that tile, get ready to have your life changed. If you’ve ever used epoxy grout you are going to nod in recognition at this.
The haze. It’s there, and the only way that we’ve found to get it off is with De-hazer or Lacquer Thinner. Neither of which I’m particularly happy about rubbing all over the walls in my house. But guess what else takes the dreaded haze off?!
MAGIC ERASERS. No chemicals, no masks, no getting a little loopy from the fumes. Just a little water and the Mr. Clean magic.
Wild right?!
So many of you are concerned for our raw floors. (If you’re new, we’re using raw maple on our floors and leaving it raw, mostly because I want to see what happens with it.) People have lots and lots of feelings about how we’re going to clean them. I think I’ve figured it out!! Want to see?!
This spot on the floor is pretty high traffic (coming out of Ivie’s bathroom) and has had drywall, concrete dust, and dirt ground into it. You can see how it’s hanging out really heavy in the grain in the center of the photo. It seems to congregate wherever there is a lot of pattern and directional movement in the grain. I’ve swept it on multiple occasions and this stuff just doesn’t come out with a broom.
A little wipe down with my Magic Eraser and check this out:
When it was dried it looked brand new!! It’s such a small amount of water and cleans it so well!
All of that dirt in just this little section?! Grosssssss!!
Did you know that you can use Magic Erasers on glass to clean off stuff like hard water (thank you Southern Utah). Ivie’s new mirror had packing tape residue and it came right off!
And then there are the walls. We all know and love Magic Erasers and their voodoo powers on wall crap, but man alive I couldn’t believe how easily it took off greasy contractor hand prints and marks on my freshly painted walls.
So to recap. Magic Erasers are actually magic. Try the new one with Durafoam and you will love them even more than you already do. Pinky promise.
The End.
This weekend!?!?! SQUEAL!!! You dropped that in so causally ??
Don’t use magic eraser on painted surfaces. I used it on newly painted surface with eggshell finish to get scuff marks off. Well the scuff marks came off but so did the the eggshell finish! Had to touch up.
Thanks a MILLION..my hubby tiled our tub and its sat a few months with that haze on it because everything I have tried wont get it off. Saw your post today and in like 20 min my tile is sparkling!!! Wahooooo!
Already moving in?? Wow, must be super excited! About the eareser- as far as I know it is actually a form of soft and super fine… Sand paper. It basically sands what you clean. Which means finished wood, quartz surfaces and so on wil luse their lustre if cleaned too often. So watch out! ?
Do you find the Magic Eraser changes the sheen of your paint when you use it on the walls?
You know they make a magic eraser mop, right? A lifesaver in my house with 5 dogs!
Magic erasers are amazing, the only thing I would caution is that they are practically very minimal sandpaper. So if you have a product with a lacquer built in, it can take it off, or dull your tiles overtime. For your flooring it seems prefect though. I too am a Magic Eraser enthusiast. Just don’t want people using it for things that really can get damaged by them. 🙂
I have the same warning about those magic erasers! Use sparingly. I understand they work by “sanding” off the surface. Yikes… but yes, also magical with 5 kids.
Agreed with Shira, I’ve had bad luck using magic erasers on walls because it actually takes off some of the finish and leaves the wall looking streaky. They’re awesome for many things, just be careful!
I first used my magic eraser on my painted walls and noticed that the paint was coming off. After using it several times on my porcelain sink, it’s removed the finish and now it is dull instead of shiny 🙁