Ask The Editors: Removing Plastic Scuffs
Can you magically erase scuffs? Yup!
You heard correct – Magic Erasers are wonderful inventions for removing scuffs, tar and even light scratches from an ATV’s plastic. However, worrying about exposing the plastic to harmful chemicals in this instance is a non-concern. Why? The way the Magic Eraser works isn’t one of liquid chemical treatment at all.
Magic Erasers are little more than a hunk of something known as melamine foam; which itself is nothing new. It’s been used as insulation for pipes and walls decades.
This melanin foam is made up of thousands of tiny white crystals that are surprisingly hard by themselves. Think of them almost like grains of sand. Only harder. When you work the Magic Eraser over a surface, these tiny crystals are actually “sanding” the surface lightly as the foam deteriorates into all of those little flecks you see after.
It works great on plastics because they are very responsive to resurfacing; and the color is consistent throughout every layer. However, just remember not to use the stuff on things like painted metal or stainless steel because the melanin crystals are roughly equivalent to 3000-grit sandpaper. Painted surfaces can “haze” because of the tiny surface scratches left behind.
