This “Life-Changing” $12 Scraper Is Now My Forever Cleaning Staple

Repeat after me: Your fingernails are not tools. Actually, I’m speaking to myself here, but I’ll bet there might be some of you reading this who could also benefit from this mantra. 

I realized the error of my ways when I stopped getting gel manicures. I would often challenge my strong, chip-free nails, using them to peel off labels and price tags, open pop-top cans of dog food, and scrub dishes among many other tasks that my now-natural nails do not appreciate.  

Maybe it was my weakened nails sending out a distress call into the universe, or maybe it’s the fact that friends and family know I write about household tips and tricks and so they tell me about new gadgets all the time. In any case, something called a Scrigit Scraper has come into my life. Here’s why I think you should welcome it into yours, too, with open arms — or, at least, hands.

Scrigit is a plastic, double-ended scraper tool that is roughly the size and weight of a pen. It even has a clip, although I’ve not grown so attached (yet) to my Scrigit that I need to keep it that close. The scraper on one end is straight, much like the head of a flat-head screwdriver, while the one on the other end is round and slanted.

You might not think you need a tool like this until you hold it in your hands and feel its power. It’s probably easier to name the places where I haven’t tried the scraper, but that’s not as helpful in explaining its usefulness to you. So instead, here is a short list of how this nifty little blue gadget has come in clutch in my household.

• Peeled off tape and labels from the many packages received (hello, holiday season!).
• Chipped off candle wax from inside the glass jar.
• Removed stuck-on toothpaste from the sink.
• Dusted out crevices in the car and other places. (Pro tip: Wrap a paper towel or thin microfiber cloth around it first.)
• Cleaned out and around the shower door track.
• Scrubbed a spot on tile grout.
• Removed a pebble that was stuck in the groove of my sneaker.
• Scratched off the film covering a gift card secret code (also works great on lottery cards!).

You might have noticed that I’m using Scrigit to clean up varying levels of grossness. Rest assured, Scrigit comes as a pair, so I have one that I keep in my bathroom and one that I use elsewhere throughout the house, much as you would with sponges to keep everything hygienic. But Scrigit is also dishwasher-safe; it’s been through several cycles in the silverware caddy.

The best part of having this scraper around is that I’m no longer using my nails as tools. I’m scheduled for a regular, non-gel manicure soon, and I have high hopes that this tool will preserve my polish for longer.

Buy: Scrigit Scraper No-Scratch Plastic Scraper Tool, $11.99 (normally $14.99)