What can I clean with a melamine sponge and is it true that the product is unsafe?

Manufacturers of modern cleaning products are constantly developing new formulas and produce even more pastes and powders, liquids and gels, sponges and napkins that facilitate the work of a housewife. A relatively new invention in the field of cleanliness is the melamine sponge, which can be used to eliminate contamination from a wide variety of surfaces. Having a melamine sponge in the household, you can easily wipe off the closet that the baby painted with a felt-tip pen or remove the stain from the sofa upholstery. Particularly well, the product cleans plastic and enamel surfaces, leather and parquet, office equipment. It is not surprising that melamine sponges are increasingly appearing on the shelves of hardware stores. In order to fully reveal all the useful properties of this universal cleaning product and not harm your health, it is important to use it correctly and observe the necessary precautions.

Features of melamine sponge

The melamine sponge is a white block whose surface is made of dense material. In appearance, the product resembles ordinary foam rubber. However, it is worth taking an object in hand, as this illusion instantly dissipates - the edges and edges are much harder and sharper than that of the foam cut.

A sponge consists of colorless, almost insoluble, melamine crystals. The manufacturing technology of the product involves heating and foaming a special resin, resulting in a porous material consisting of solid but elastic fibers. The structural feature of melamine foam is that one part of the pores closes and the other remains open. Numerous antennae are located on open surfaces, which cling to dirt particles during cleaning. The closed part of the foam pores is rigid and flexible.

Due to this structure, the melamine bar acquires abrasive properties, gently exfoliates dirt particles and, together with water and the emitted foam, absorbs into fibers. Like fine sandpaper or an eraser, the sponge quickly wipes off stubborn stains without the need for other cleaning products.

Scope of melamine sponge

Where is the melamine sponge used and what does this miracle helper clean? The scope of the product is incredibly wide: it can be used to clean absolutely all rooms, from the living room to the bathroom. Plastic and wood, ceramics and glass, rubber, metal, enamel - all this can be cleaned with a melamine sponge, you just need to wet it with water, squeeze a little and rub the pollution.

• Bedroom, nursery and study. In living rooms, especially in the nursery, traces of a ballpoint pen or felt-tip pen often appear on wallpaper, furniture, and the floor. You can clean paper ink or other coating with a melamine product. In addition, it will not be difficult to remove stale dirt from the frame and window sill, and to wash mirror and glass surfaces.
• Kitchen and bathroom. The sponge can easily cope with soap and lime plaque on plumbing and tiles, relieve kitchen furniture and appliances from soot and grease. With a melamine sponge, the gas stove, fridge and oven will always be perfectly clean.
• Office. Traces of heels always remain on the floor in office premises. A melamine sponge will help get rid of black stripes on linoleum or parquet. In addition, it can be used to clean office equipment and office furniture.
• Clothes and accessories. It is very convenient to clean leather jackets, bags, jackets with a melamine sponge. If dark spots appear on the white sole of your favorite boots, a miracle assistant will help you get rid of them in a few minutes.

Important!

It is not recommended to clean glossy and varnished surfaces, as well as acrylic glass, with a melamine sponge.

To test the effect of the cleaning product on a particular coating, you must first process a small area in an inconspicuous place. And only after making sure that the thing will not be spoiled, we can start global cleaning.

The harm and benefits of a melamine sponge

Melamine, from which the miracle sponge is made, is a toxic substance. Therefore, use and store this product very carefully, following the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Specialists testing a product made of melamine claim that it is not dangerous until it directly enters the human or animal body. You can touch it with your hands, not being afraid of an allergy attack. Moreover, even if it enters the oral cavity, melamine will not do any harm to humans. But getting particles of the product into the gastrointestinal tract threatens with big troubles. At best, it will cause normal poisoning, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, and at worst, melamine molecules deposited in the kidneys can lead to the development of urolithiasis.

To avoid this problem, do not use this cleaning appliance to clean the dishes. Can a pot or pan be washed with melamine? It is possible, but only on the outside, and plates and cups intended for daily eating can be better cleaned with a regular foam pad. After all, the smallest particles of melamine remain on the surface of the dishes and, together with food, penetrate the human body, where they accumulate and form difficult to remove compounds.

Important!

A melamine sponge should be kept out of the reach of children and animals.

Everyone knows that young children love to taste everything. Therefore, it is very important to keep the melamine sponge away from children. The same goes for pets. A favorite dog, playing with a dangerous toy, can easily swallow it, and then do not expect anything good.

You can’t peel vegetables, fruits, and other foods with a melamine sponge. In addition, this product should not be used to wash the body. At the slightest suspicion of the ingress of melamine particles into the body, you should consult a doctor.

If you use the melamine sponge strictly for its intended purpose and according to the instructions, you can notice a number of advantages that distinguish this cleaning product from similar household products.

• Quality cleaning. It is enough to run a sponge several times over the contaminated surface - and the stain will disappear, and the thing will take its original form.
• Fine processing - does not damage the surface being cleaned, unlike hard materials.
• Foaming - melamine “helper” itself forms additional foam, which contributes to more efficient removal of dirt.
• Moisture absorption - due to the porous structure, the product collects and retains excess water in itself, without leaving stains on the surface.
• Universality - can be used for different types of surfaces and at various pollution.
• Profitability - does not require the purchase of additional cleaning products.

Having decided to entrust the cleanliness of your home with a melamine sponge, you also need to remember the disadvantages of this product. The first of the disadvantages is that the sponge can not cope with obsolete fatty contaminants. Viscous fat clogs the pores, after which the product can only be discarded. Another disadvantage is the rapid loss of shape. The dirt, absorbed into the porous structure of the sponge, destroys it, and it becomes uncomfortable to work.

How to use a melamine sponge?

The instructions for using the melamine sponge are very simple and will not require special skills and knowledge. The main thing when cleaning do not forget about safety measures.

Important!

All work with the melamine sponge should be carried out with household gloves, as the product will crumble and may injure hands.

1. Having taken the product out of the package, its size must be estimated. If the beam is too thick or long, you can cut the desired piece with a knife or scissors.
2. Pure water is poured into a small container and the sponge is lowered there. After the porous material has been saturated with water, it must be slightly squeezed out with squeezing movements. The melamine sponge must not be twisted, otherwise the structure of the material will be broken and the product will become unusable.
3. It is better to treat a contaminated surface not with the entire plane of the product, but with one corner. During the cleaning process, foamed melamine absorbs dirt, resulting in brittle, crumbles and decays. A damaged piece can be cut and continue to work.
4. After the stains are removed and the work with the sponge is finished, the treated surface must be wiped with a damp cloth to completely remove the melamine particles.
5. Before storing the product, it must be rinsed in clean water and allowed to drain residual moisture spontaneously.

Melamine sponge is an effective and affordable way to remove stains and extensive dirt, which saves time and effort of a housewife. If you follow all the precautions and follow the instructions, the harm from using this product can be minimized.