Bar Keepers Friend: The Ultimate Guide
Understanding Bar Keepers Friend
Bar Keepers Friend is a versatile cleaning product specifically formulated for nonporous surfaces, particularly metal surfaces like stainless steel. Its effectiveness stems from the presence of oxalic acid, a natural rust remover. Developed in 1882, Bar Keepers Friend has been a staple in commercial kitchens and behind bars ever since, earning its reputation as a reliable cleaning solution.
Ingredients and Formulas
The core ingredients of Bar Keepers Friend include feldspar (a mild abrasive), linear sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (a surfactant), and oxalic acid (a rust remover). It comes in both powdered and creamy liquid formulas, with varying strengths of these ingredients depending on the intended use. While Bar Keepers Friend is generally safe for kitchen and bathroom surfaces, it’s crucial to handle it properly as it’s not a disinfectant.
Safe Handling Precautions
To ensure safe usage, avoid mixing Bar Keepers Friend with other chemicals, especially bleach or ammonia. Inhale the powdered formula only in well-ventilated areas and always mix it with water or use it on a wet surface. Wear gloves and eye protection during prolonged use to prevent skin or eye irritation.
Product Variations
Bar Keepers Friend offers a range of formulas to cater to specific cleaning needs:
- Original Cleanser: A powdered formula designed to remove grease, grime, and restore shine to uncoated stainless steel and porcelain.
- Cookware Cleanser and Polish: A powdered formula with enhanced grease-cutting detergents, suitable for use on glass, ceramic, stainless steel, and enamel-coated cast iron.
- Soft Cleanser: A premixed liquid formula ideal for vertical surfaces like glass shower doors, containing fewer abrasive particles.
Effective Cleaning Techniques
To effectively use Bar Keepers Friend, adhere to these guidelines:
- Powdered Formulas: Always apply to a wet surface or make a paste with water to prevent excessive scratching. Gently rub the surface with a damp sponge or cloth, adding more powder as needed to remove grime. Rinse within one minute of application to avoid damage. Dry and buff with a soft cloth.
- Soft Cleanser: Apply to a dry surface and follow the same steps for cleaning, rinsing, and drying.
Surfaces Suitable for Cleaning
Bar Keepers Friend is recommended for nonporous surfaces, including:
- Stainless steel: countertops, cookware, sinks, appliances
- Aluminum: cookware, bike frames
- Glass: shower doors, oven doors, cookware, fireplace doors
- Copper: sinks, cookware
- Brass: figurines, hardware, musical instruments
- Ceramic Tile and Cookware: flooring, showers, bakeware
- Fiberglass: shower doors, pools, tubs
- Chrome: faucets, car trim
- Porcelain: toilets, tubs
- Steel: garden tools, golf clubs
Surfaces to Avoid
While Bar Keepers Friend is effective on many surfaces, there are certain exceptions:
- Porous surfaces: wood, fabric, leather, concrete
- Gold and goldplate: jewelry, decorative items
- Silverplate: flatware, dishes, decorative items
- Painted surfaces: walls, hand-painted dishes
- Cast iron: cookware, grills, decorative items
- Mirrors
- Granite: countertops, floors
- Marble: floors, countertops
Specific Cleaning Applications
- Stainless Steel: For optimal results, rub in the direction of the grain of the metal, following the faint lines created during the manufacturing process.
- Copper: Use Bar Keepers Friend paste to effectively clean copper sinks and cookware.
- Glass Shower Doors: The Soft Cleanser is ideal for cleaning vertical surfaces like glass shower doors, leaving them sparkling clean.
Additional Tips
- For a more effective clean, test Bar Keepers Friend on a small, inconspicuous area before using it on a larger surface, especially on fiberglass, plastics, anodized aluminum, coated stainless steel, or brushed metal surfaces.
- While Bar Keepers Friend can be used for spot cleaning oven interiors, it’s not recommended for overall cleaning due to the difficulty of rinsing the entire space thoroughly.
Conclusion
Bar Keepers Friend remains a trusted cleaning solution for various surfaces, particularly metal surfaces. By understanding its ingredients, formulas, and proper usage techniques, you can effectively harness its cleaning power to maintain the cleanliness and shine of your home.
