What is the function of the blue side of the eraser? Find out once and for all

In the past, the erasers that were sold in stationery and school supplies stores had two colors, one orange and the other blue. Since they were popular items, many students invented stories about how the blue side was used to erase writing in pencils, colored pencils, and even crayons, however, the function of the blue side of the eraser goes beyond these myths.

Thus, learning the real use of the blue side of the eraser can help you avoid smudges on papers and even holes in the paper, preserving your academic work and notes. Find out more information below and get a definitive understanding of how it works:

What is the blue side of the rubber used for?

The purpose of the blue side of the eraser is to try to erase pen ink when writing on paper, but it doesn’t work as well as the ads try to make it do. What happens is that the ink on the paper penetrates the fibers of the paper more deeply, unlike graphite on a pencil or mechanical pencil, which only scratches the surface and sticks to the outer layer of the paper.

In this way, the blue side of the eraser makes it possible to scrape the surface and take the ink from the pen in this most superficial part, but it is impossible to completely erase it because the ink is in other layers. The result is that the paper is damaged and the writing is not clear. Therefore, it is recommended to use more resistant paper, such as cardstock or kraft paper.

In general, it is said that the blue side of the eraser should be used to erase pencil writing on stiffer paper, but also on materials such as wood, styrofoam, and plastic. In the production of these items, the blue side is coarser and has a rougher texture than the red side, acting like sandpaper. So it’s a two-in-one product.