diff --git a/src/containers/blob/blob.js b/src/containers/blob/blob.js
index 6a9b871e..22606723 100644
--- a/src/containers/blob/blob.js
+++ b/src/containers/blob/blob.js
@@ -27,11 +27,13 @@ class Blobbiness {
 
     /**
      * @param {function} updateCallback call when the drawing has changed to let listeners know
+     * @param {function} clearSelectedItems Callback to clear the set of selected items in the Redux state
      */
-    constructor (updateCallback) {
+    constructor (updateCallback, clearSelectedItems) {
         this.broadBrushHelper = new BroadBrushHelper();
         this.segmentBrushHelper = new SegmentBrushHelper();
         this.updateCallback = updateCallback;
+        this.clearSelectedItems = clearSelectedItems;
 
         // The following are stored to check whether these have changed and the cursor preview needs to be redrawn.
         this.strokeColor = null;
diff --git a/src/containers/brush-mode.jsx b/src/containers/brush-mode.jsx
index 799ada60..b7027c14 100644
--- a/src/containers/brush-mode.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/brush-mode.jsx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class BrushMode extends React.Component {
             'deactivateTool',
             'onScroll'
         ]);
-        this.blob = new Blobbiness(this.props.onUpdateSvg);
+        this.blob = new Blobbiness(this.props.onUpdateSvg, this.props.clearSelectedItems);
     }
     componentDidMount () {
         if (this.props.isBrushModeActive) {
diff --git a/src/containers/eraser-mode.jsx b/src/containers/eraser-mode.jsx
index 62d5b4fe..423058c2 100644
--- a/src/containers/eraser-mode.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/eraser-mode.jsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import bindAll from 'lodash.bindall';
 import Modes from '../modes/modes';
 import Blobbiness from './blob/blob';
 import {changeBrushSize} from '../reducers/eraser-mode';
+import {clearSelectedItems} from '../reducers/selected-items';
 import EraserModeComponent from '../components/eraser-mode.jsx';
 import {changeMode} from '../reducers/modes';
 
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ class EraserMode extends React.Component {
             'deactivateTool',
             'onScroll'
         ]);
-        this.blob = new Blobbiness(this.props.onUpdateSvg);
+        this.blob = new Blobbiness(this.props.onUpdateSvg, this.props.clearSelectedItems);
     }
     componentDidMount () {
         if (this.props.isEraserModeActive) {
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ class EraserMode extends React.Component {
 EraserMode.propTypes = {
     canvas: PropTypes.instanceOf(Element).isRequired,
     changeBrushSize: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    clearSelectedItems: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     eraserModeState: PropTypes.shape({
         brushSize: PropTypes.number.isRequired
     }),
@@ -78,6 +80,9 @@ const mapStateToProps = state => ({
     isEraserModeActive: state.scratchPaint.mode === Modes.ERASER
 });
 const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
+    clearSelectedItems: () => {
+        dispatch(clearSelectedItems());
+    },
     changeBrushSize: brushSize => {
         dispatch(changeBrushSize(brushSize));
     },