USING MR CLEAN MAGIC ERASERS ON COMIC BOOKS

 Melamine foam erasers are extremely abrasive and should be used on comic books only with extreme caution, if at all. Although they appear soft, the material functions like ultra-fine sandpaper and can easily remove paper fibers, gloss, and ink with even light pressure. Improper use can cause permanent surface thinning, burnishing, color loss, and grading damage, making melamine foam unsuitable for most comic book dry-cleaning applications. 

 There must be a huge level of restraint while utilizing melamine foam erasers, or Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. This product is harsh and should be used very lightly only for light colored or white colored cardstock and super thick covers and avoid red/black/yellow inks if you can. Cut into tiny 1" cubes for use. Cannot be reused. Once and done, throw away after each use. Dirt gets trapped in trenches of creases and must be lifted out with Absorene book cleaner putty. Otherwise, you will visibly see every crease on cover that was cleaned with a foam eraser product. 

To debunk any myths - Formaldehyde is not and has never been an ingredient in melamine foam eraser products. One ingredient (formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfate copolymer) contains the word 'formaldehyde' in its chemical name. However, this ingredient is not formaldehyde and poses no health or safety risks to yourself or any comic books. The only risk is color rub from removing too much color.

When a comic book develops a crease, stress line, or small dent, that damaged spot creates a tiny “valley” in the paper. Dirt and dust easily settle into these low areas, and once they sink in, they’re almost impossible to remove.  Using a foam eraser pushes this dirt inside these valleys along the spine. This problem stands out most on lighter covers, like white or yellow, where the trapped dirt makes the crease look darker and more distracting. Products like Absorene book cleaner putty can lift surface dirt, but anything buried deep inside the crease usually stays there. 

Comic Book CPR: First Edition is a giant 388 page comprehensive beginner’s guide to cleaning and pressing comic books, written for collectors who want to improve grades, eye appeal, and long-term preservation without relying on third-party services. The book walks readers step by step through inspection, dry cleaning, humidity control, pressing techniques, defect identification, and risk avoidance, using clear language, full-color photos, charts, and real-world examples. Designed to help readers recognize pressable versus unpressable defects and avoid costly mistakes, it provides a practical foundation for safely improving comic books at home while protecting their collectible value.