Frequently Asked Questions about Scrigit® Scraper Cleaning Tool
The Scrigit® Scraper is a handy pocket-sized cleaning tool that provides a quick, safe and convenient way to remove small amount of various common substances, such as dried food, candle wax, adhesive stickers, grease and grime, from household and automotive surfaces without damaging the surfaces. The compact size and shape of the scraper tool make it perfect for cleaning flat and curved surfaces as well as reaching into tight spaces, corners and crevices.
The Scrigit® Scraper was inspired by inventor Jay’s mother’s long sturdy fingernails, which allowed her to quickly scrape off dried on spots of various household substances without damaging the various household surfaces where the spots were stuck. Most people have short thin fingernails that are not as effective and can be easily damaged. Many women have carefully manicured fingernails that could be damaged if used as scrapers. Alternative scrapers are either too small for many tasks, such as a toothpick, too big, such as a metal putty knife, or too dangerous, such as a single-edge razor blade. Metal blades can also damage many surfaces. Tools, such as putty knives and razor blades are usually not kept in handy locations, meaning that extra time is required to go get them when needed. Various types of sponges and cleaning pads are also often not effective or just too messy to use. A better cleaning tool was needed that worked as well as or better than sturdy fingernails.
The Scrigit® Scraper is made using a plastic injection molding process. There are two halves of the metal mold: one half contains the shape of the front (pocket clip) side of the scraper; the other half contains the back of the scraper. The opening in the back is needed so that the pocket clip can be molded with the scraper in one piece. A portion of the back half of the mold extends through the rectangular opening to create the bottom surface of the pocket clip.
The scraper is typically held like a pen or pencil with either end pointing down, depending on what needs to be scraped. It can also be held like the handle of a larger scraper with the cylindrical body cradled across the fingers and the thumb on top of the flat section holding the scraper against the index finger about an inch to two inches from the end being used for scraping.
The oval surface of the bottom end with the cylindrical wedge shape is pressed against the surface that needs to be cleaned and pushed slowly against the spot of material that needs to be removed until all of the material comes loose. This thin and rounded end of the scraper is also excellent at removing lines of unwanted build-up along edges, such as where a cooktop or sink rests on a counter top, and scraping off unwanted material from concave surfaces, such as soap buildup on a soap dish or food stuck to a bowl. The scraper can also be held with the top end down and at about a 45 degree angle to the surface so the wider flat-edged scraper can be used to scrape off materials on flat surfaces.
The scraper can be used with water or common household spray cleaners, which will help soften the materials needing removal and speed up the process. The scraper cannot be used on hot surfaces.
The Scrigit® Scraper is made using a plastic injection molding process. There are two halves of the metal mold: one half contains the shape of the front (pocket clip) side of the scraper; the other half contains the back of the scraper. The opening in the back is needed so that the pocket clip can be molded with the scraper in one piece. A portion of the back half of the mold extends through the rectangular opening to create the bottom surface of the pocket clip.
Various common substances, such as food, candle wax, soap, paint and mixtures of grease and grime, stick in spots on common household items of various flat and curved shapes (e.g., dishes, counter tops, sinks, floors, soap dishes, appliances, etc.) or along the edges or grooves where two surfaces meet (e.g., where counter meets backsplash, where faucet meets counter or sink, where wall tiles meet bathtub or floor, etc.). Cleaning with a sponge or rag, even with a cleaning solution, often does not remove these substances. Because most household surfaces can be scratched, care must be taken to remove the undesirable substances without damaging the surface. Often, a fingernail is used because it is readily available and will not damage most surfaces. However, the nail is easily chipped or broken, and the material being scraped will often get under the nail, making for an uncomfortable and sometimes painful situation with risk of infection.
The Scrigit® Scraper is able to quickly remove these substances and can get into fairly small areas on flat and concave surfaces, edges, and corners without damaging the surfaces.
On automobile windows, bird droppings and bugs hit while driving can be difficult to remove. Fingernails are not a desirable option. It is best to use the Scrigit® Scraper in combination with water or window cleaning spray.
A major advantage of the Scrigit® Scraper is that its size and shape, similar to a pen or pencil, make it easy to keep handy wherever you might need it, just as you probably keep pens and pencils in many convenient locations. Save your valuable time by keeping Scrigit® Scrapers within a quick reach in your home, vehicle, office, other workplace, boat, motorcycle, RV, toolbox, purse, and pocket. Within your home, keep Scrigit® Scrapers handy with your cleaning supplies and in your kitchen, bathrooms, workshop, garage, and home office.
There is often a problem encountered in homes and businesses with removing adhesive tape, stickers and labels without damaging the surfaces to which they adhere. In the case of some adhesive tapes, such as clear packaging tape, lifting up the end of the tape from the roll of tape below it is usually difficult and often results in shreds of tape. The round bottom tip of the Scrigit® Scraper is very good at getting under and lifting up the edges of tape, stickers and labels. In some cases, enough of the label will be lifted up so you can grab it with your fingers to pull off. In other cases, the flat end of the scraper can be used to scrape off the rest of the label.
There are large variations in the self-adhesive materials used for tape, stickers and labels. Age and exposure to sunlight also change the nature of the adhesive. The Scrigit® Scraper will be better at removing some adhesive materials than it will be with others. Sometimes water or household spray cleaners will help soften the paper material to facilitate removal. In some cases, the adhesive material will remain stuck to the surface and require other appropriate solvents to be removed. Work carefully if you are trying to preserve delicate surfaces, since the adhesive could pull off the surface of softer materials.
The specially selected fiber reinforced plastic used to make Scrigit® Scrapers is about the same hardness as fingernails and safe to use on most surfaces. If your fingernail does not scratch the surface you want to clean, the Scrigit® Scraper will also be safe to use. If you are not sure, test in an inconspicuous spot. Do NOT use on hot surfaces.
The scraper is safe to use on a wide range of surfaces, such as glassware, dishes, kitchen and bathroom counter tops, enamel stove tops, sinks, bathtubs, glass windows, acrylic plastic windows such as Plexiglas, polycarbonate windows and headlights, aluminum shower door tracks, vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, ceramic floor and wall tiles, and grout (with care). For wooden cabinets, hardwood floors, painted wooden surfaces and painted surfaces on vehicles, test in an inconspicuous spot. Use of water or appropriate spray cleaners will help soften spots, so the stuck-on materials don’t damage the surface during removal and to make the removal process easier.
The scraper can be used to remove labels with your personal information from glass and plastic prescription bottles and from cardboard shipping boxes prior to recycling. It is also great for scratch-off lottery tickets.
While the scraper can be used to remove some types of partially burnt spills from glass-ceramic cooktops, it is best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for thoroughly cleaning these cooktops.
Either end of the Scrigit® Scraper can be restored to its original condition by using an emery board or very fine sandpaper. Hold the scraper against the sandpaper at the same angle as the original angle of the end be sanded. Be careful to keep the newly sharpened scraper end away from fingers and other body parts when in use. If the scraper ends are too badly worn or damaged, then replace the scraper for best results.
The Scrigit® Scraper is Made in the U.S.A. It is manufactured for Scrigit, LLC, a small business based in Maryland. The packaging was designed by a women owned American company.