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  3. Top 8 Best Japanese Melamine Sponges to Buy Online 2021 - Tried and True!

Top 8 Best Japanese Melamine Sponges to Buy Online 2021 - Tried and True!

Melamine sponges are popular because they can remove stubborn dirt and grime without using any soap. The raw material is a foam made from melamine resin. When combined with water, this kind of sponge becomes a powerful cleaning ally. They're good for screen doors, bathroom and shower, and especially for removing water stains on glass. There are a lot of products available, but not all are equal!


Our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Kakaku.com for the best melamine sponges available online. We then picked out the most popular products and tested them for three things:


  1. Ability to remove dirt
  2. Ease of use
  3. Durability


We then ranked the products and put what we learned into a buying guide to help you choose the best Japanese melamine sponges available online.

  • Last updated: 06-16-2021
  • 1,514 views
Table of Contents

Top 8 Japanese Melamine Sponges to Buy Online

We picked out some of the most popular products and tested them for effectiveness, ease of use, and durability.

Then, based on our tests, we ranked the top 8 Japanese melamine sponges available online.

Japanese prices for some of the products are given, but they've been converted into US dollars to make it easy for you.

1

LECGeki Ochi Poi Poi

$1.60

mybest's Top Choice! The Best Melamine Sponge!

We were very impressed with this product! It did a great job of cleaning, removing oil and grime with ease. 


This version can be cut to a size that fits your hand easily. This also means you don't waste a large sponge if you don't need it. It's very durable, and held its shape after scrubbing 30 times because it's so dense and firm. 


We think it can be used for regular daily cleaning, as well as tough problems. We recommend this without hesitation for any use!

Japaneseレック激落ち ポイポイ
Dirt removalA+
UsabilityA
DurabilityA+
Overall scoreA+
2
LEC Kazuya Motegi's Melamine Cleaner 1

LECKazuya Motegi's Melamine Cleaner

$8.10

Perfect for Getting into Corners

Endorsed by Kazuya Motegi, a cleaning guru, this is very similar to our top choice. It did a great job removing dirt and passed our test of being used 30 times without losing its shape. 


It gets into small spots well, and dirt doesn't get pushed around but is removed thoroughly. It's pre-cut, so you can choose just the right size quickly.

Japanese茂木和哉のメラミンクリーナー
Dirt removalA
UsabilityB
DurabilityA
Overall scoreA
3
Ohe New Geki-kun Melamine Sponge 1

OheNew Geki-kun Melamine Sponge

$1.50

Recommended for its Affordable Price

This firm sponge is very durable and hard. The size is convenient to hold even for a long time. Like our top two,  the fact that it's pre-cut makes it easy to use. It can clean thoroughly without breaking apart.

Japaneseメラミンスポンジ NEW一撃くん
Dirt removalB
UsabilityA
DurabilityA
Overall scoreA
4
Azuma Cleaner Eraser Jumbo 1
ebay.com

AzumaCleaner Eraser Jumbo

$3.70

Recommended If You Want to Cut Your Own Size

The packaging is designed to look a typical Japanese pencil eraser, an it did indeed erase dirt and grime. It's not too thick, so it's easy to cut with scissors to any size you want. 


But, we found that it didn't hold up under intense scrubbing, and a hole formed. We wanted a more durable product.

Japaneseおそうじ消しゴムJUMBO
Dirt removalB
UsabilityA
DurabilityC
Overall scoreB

Compare the Best Japanese Melamine Sponges

Image
1
LEC Geki Ochi Poi Poi 1

LEC

2
LEC Kazuya Motegi's Melamine Cleaner 1

LEC

3
Ohe New Geki-kun Melamine Sponge 1

Ohe

4
Azuma Cleaner Eraser Jumbo 1

Azuma

Name

Geki Ochi Poi Poi

Kazuya Motegi's Melamine Cleaner

New Geki-kun Melamine Sponge

Cleaner Eraser Jumbo

Features

mybest's Top Choice! The Best Melamine Sponge!

Perfect for Getting into Corners

Recommended for its Affordable Price

Recommended If You Want to Cut Your Own Size

Price$1.60$8.10$1.50$3.70
Japaneseレック激落ち ポイポイ茂木和哉のメラミンクリーナーメラミンスポンジ NEW一撃くんおそうじ消しゴムJUMBO
Dirt removalA+ABB
UsabilityABAA
DurabilityA+AAC
Overall scoreA+AAB
Link

Products That Didn't Make the Cut

And why they didn't quite make it.

Products That Didn't Make the Cut

amazon.co.jp

Kokubo Mega Pika Melamine Sponge wasn't durable enough. Although it's pre-cut into little squares for you, it didn't work well and fell apart easily.

Products That Didn't Make the Cut

topvalu.net

Top Value Melamine Sponge actually removed dirt well, but the texture is rough and it breaks apart during use. It's medium-sized, unlike some others that are too big or too small.

Products That Didn't Make the Cut

amazon.co.jp

Whiz Pika King Free Cut just didn't remove grime and fell apart easily, too. We gave it our lowest ratings for both.

Products That Didn't Make the Cut

amazon.co.jp

Mokku Beppin-san started to fall apart as soon as we applied force to scrub. It's not dense enough, and doesn't remove dirt well at all.

How We Tested the Sponges

How We Tested the Sponges

We put each of the sponges through 3 tests. Then we scored them on a scale from A+ to D.

Test ① Did It Remove Dirt and Scum?

Test ① Did It Remove Dirt and Scum?

Our editors wrote on a white plastic bath stool using a permanent marker to reproduce the toughest dirt. We checked how many times we had to scrub to remove it, and whether or not the ink was actually spread around and made worse by the sponge.


Although the results differed by manufacturer, dense sponges made by LEC performed well.

Test ② Was it Easy to Use?

Test ② Was it Easy to Use?

As we used the sponges, we checked how it felt. Was it the right size for most jobs? Was it dense enough to transfer our scrubbing force to the item?


We thought the small cube type was the most convenient. If you're in a hurry, choose that kind. If you're short on storage space, the big one that can be cut by hand may be better. A happy medium is the pre-cut type that can be easily separated without a knife or scissors.

Test ③ Did it Hold Up Well?

Test ③ Did it Hold Up Well?

Finally, we checked how durable each sponge was. Did it hold its shape? Did pieces break off? Even if it works well, if it falls apart easily, you'll have to spend more money.


We found that price didn't relate to durability. The best way to check is to touch the product and see how dense it is. Denser is generally better!

How to Choose a Melamine Sponge- Buying Guide

There are 3 points to think about when choosing a melamine sponge.

① Look for a Product That Will Effectively Remove Dirt

① Look for a Product That Will Effectively Remove Dirt

These sponges all look basically the same, but performance varies greatly. Read online reviews (like this one!) and remember that price doesn't equate to quality.

② Choose the Right Size for the Job

② Choose the Right Size for the Job

The sponges come in two types: small cubes, and free-cut large sponges.


The small cubes are good for things like removing soap scum on bathroom faucets because they can be manipulated into tight places easily. Big sponges are best for bathroom mirrors and water stains on car windows and such.


We recommend having both types, so you can quickly tackle any cleaning job!

③ Consider Cost Performance

③ Consider Cost Performance

Most melamine sponges are not expensive, but sometimes you get what you pay for. If it takes more than one cube to get the area clean, you're not saving any money no matter how cheap it was. Read our reviews, and if you bought something that didn't work well, try a different manufacturer next time.

Some Precautions for Using Melamine Sponges

Some Precautions for Using Melamine Sponges

Melamine sponges work so well that you may be tempted to use them for everything. Don't!!!

These sponges should not be used on:


  • Finished or coated material such as waxed or lacquered items
  • Glossy plastic
  • Stainless steel
  • Printed materials or painted items
  • Wood

Be sure to check the manufacturer's instructions for use.

Some Precautions for Using Melamine Sponges

Never, ever use a melamine sponge on your body!


Some people used to think it was a good idea to use these products to clean your teeth, but it's not at all. Using these on any part of your body is very dangerous. No matter how badly you want that permanent marker to come off your child's hands, this isn't the way to do it!

Summary

mybest looked at 8 of the most popular Japanese melamine sponges available online and tested them all. We found that price doesn't equate to quality, and that it depends more on the denseness of the material and the manufacturer. We also learned that we can't use these miracle products for everything, and caution and common sense are needed!

Author: Nao Kondo/Translation: Susan Lucier-Ogawa/Photos: Taisei Hoshino, Koichi Miura

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