# Clean magnet "stains" off my fridge door? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631 "2006-06-29T14:27:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![happywaffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee59a6/32.png) [@happywaffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happywaffle)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/1 "2006-06-29T14:27:47Z")
Moving time, cleaning up the whole apartment, but I’m stumped on this particular one. I had a magnetized marble set on my fridge (kind of fun actually - a series of ramps, wheels, etc. so a marble can roll from the top of the fridge to the bottom. But upon removing the set, I found there’s tiny black skidmarks from where the magnets were stuck to the fridge for so long. Formula 409 and paper towels were no use against these “stains”. Any idea what these are or how to clean them? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/2 "2006-06-29T14:37:58Z")
Depending on the type of magnet, I’d guess either Iron dust or magnetic rubbery stuff. If it’s metal scuffs, I’d scrub it with toilet bowl cleaner. The acid in that should be strong enough to solubilize the metal, and not hurt the paint if you don’t leave it on too long. If it’s rubbery stuff, scrubbing with a scouring pad may be your only option. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/3 "2006-06-29T16:33:42Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Depending on the type of magnet, I’d guess either Iron dust or magnetic rubbery stuff. If it’s metal scuffs, I’d scrub it with toilet bowl cleaner. The acid in that should be strong enough to solubilize the metal, and not hurt the paint if you don’t leave it on too long. > If it’s rubbery stuff, scrubbing with a scouring pad may be your only option. Almost all fridge magnets have that weird rubbery backing. I’d be nervous to try toilet bowl cleaner - I bet some kinds would take the finish right off the fridge - so I’d say the scouring pad is the best place to start. happywaffle, is the stain rubbery-feeling streaks or what? Do the magnets themselves feel rubbery or metallic? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/4 "2006-06-29T16:48:45Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > I bet some kinds would take the finish right off the fridge Toilet bowl cleaners are usually a mix of glycolic acid and phosphoric acid; sometimes with some HCL. That shouldn’t wreck fridge paint over the short term. Testing in an inconspicuous _is_ warranted. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/5 "2006-06-29T16:50:33Z")
> [@happywaffle](#): > > I had a magnetized marble set on my fridge (kind of fun actually - a series of ramps, wheels, etc. so a marble can roll from the top of the fridge to the bottom. [hijack]That sounds cool. Where did you buy it?[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![happywaffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee59a6/32.png) [@happywaffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happywaffle)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/6 "2006-06-29T18:09:10Z")
Bought mine at the Austin Children’s Museum, but here’s something similar: (looks cooler than mine actually:) [http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/3627/](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/3627/) ---
**Author:** ![happywaffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee59a6/32.png) [@happywaffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happywaffle)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/7 "2006-06-29T18:10:26Z")
And the residue doesn’t _seem_ to be rubbery, it didn’t have much texture at all actually. I’ll try the scouring pad and go from there. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/8 "2006-06-29T18:11:54Z")
> [@happywaffle](#): > > Moving time, cleaning up the whole apartment, but I’m stumped on this particular one. I had a magnetized marble set on my fridge (kind of fun actually - a series of ramps, wheels, etc. so a marble can roll from the top of the fridge to the bottom. > But upon removing the set, I found there’s tiny black skidmarks from where the magnets were stuck to the fridge for so long. Formula 409 and paper towels were no use against these “stains”. > Any idea what these are or how to clean them? Do you know what kind of finish is on your refrigerator? Porcelain Enamel or a Baked on paint Enamel. If Porcelain Enamel use an approved cleaner. Contains a mild abrasive that will polish off any metal rubbed on enamel stain(s). If Baked on paint Enamel try a mild abrasive cleaner on a back corner to see if it destroys the finish first. ---
**Author:** ![Mom2kgkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Mom2kgkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mom2kgkid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/9 "2015-06-11T02:38:42Z")
What worked for you? I’m in the same situation now. Do let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/10 "2015-06-11T05:21:55Z")
For a tough glue stuck on a polished surface like that, fingernails work … they don’t scratch the surface, but do catch up any paint,glue, carbon type deposit. It is possible its a colour actually in the surface of the refridgerator. Toothpaste should work. Its a combination of detergent and a VERY fine grit… The role of the grit is to remove just a tiny tiny amount of the surface,and to roll in the patina of the surface to clean out the patina… (random patterns of a microscopic size.) If you have then, you can use “bug and spot remover” (solvent, which dissolves tar and other thick petroleum or plastic substances) or “cut and polish 1”. (solvent with very fine grit.) ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/11 "2015-06-11T05:38:31Z")
409 wouldn’t be flammable, so it only contains detergents. (ammonia , hydroxides and acids are detergents, when used against organics such as petroleum, plastic, oil, grease,bug guts,etc) … 409 is for not leaving streaks on a shiny surface… you can use it 2nd to clean off streaks made by some other cleaning process. You can substitute a plastic scourer, which has the surface which looks like steel wool streteched over foam, for fingernail…Don’t use fibre scourers as they may stain (they don’t stain the stuff in the kitchen sink, they stain paint and plastic coats.) ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/12 "2015-06-11T19:45:14Z")
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or generic equivalent. Damn zombie. ---
**Author:** ![Celan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Celan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/13 "2015-06-12T13:10:39Z")
Automobile polish or rubbing compound might work. The cleaner for glass stove tops is worth a try as well. ---
**Author:** ![Celan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Celan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/14 "2015-06-12T13:35:52Z")
Also, a paste of baking soda might work. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/15 "2015-06-12T20:39:36Z")
:mad:I’m annoyed with this zombie because I was annoyed that ThinkGeek didn’t have the magnetic marble thing anymore. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-magnet-stains-off-my-fridge-door/362631/16 "2015-06-13T14:34:21Z")
Didn’t see the original back then. CLR will remove the stains.