Photo: Red Herring (Shutterstock)
Let’s talk about Bar Keepers Friend, the inexpensive, acidic scouring powder in a can that’s been around over 100 years. In that time, people have found loads of uses for the cleaning product, which is why the name is so, well, apt.
But the branding might also suggest that this isn’t a product for you, unless you spend your days belly up to a bar dealing with the spills and messes of dozens of inebriated customers. Not so—BKF does a lot more than it says on the tin. Here are a few less common ways to use it.
Powdered versus liquid
While BKF is available in both the traditional powdered and a soft liquid cleanser form, the former is definitely the more popular ad utilitarian choice. BKF recommends the liquid cleanser for “routine lighter-duty cleaning,” while the powder can be used for all manner of heavier-duty scrubbing tasks.
Whichever you choose, use it wearing gloves. Wet the surface you want to clean, add a little of the powder, and scrub with a damp cloth or rag, applying a bit of pressure if necessary. Let it sit for about a minute, then rinse the surface.
All the usual ways to use Bar Keepers Friend
Destaining pots and pans. For years, we’ve recommended Bar Keepers Friend to remove stains from metal cookware, and for good reason: It actually gets out baked-on stains (with a little elbow grease). Just be sure not to use it on non-stick surfaces.
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Removing scratches from plates and bowls. Since it’s abrasive, you’re technically breaking down the surface of your dinnerware to maintain the illusion of smoothness, but that’s a problem for another day. Try it on the back of your plates first just to get a feel for the results.
Cleaning stainless steel anything. Because it’s acidic rather than alkaline (or bleach-based), Bar Keepers Friend is great for clearing away mineral deposits and rust stains, and is also a solid option for brightening up stainless steel. Use it on your appliances, faucets, tire rims, or whatever rusty and/or scummy metal stuff needs some attention.
But wait, there’s more
BKF has some unexpected uses, too. You can use it safely on glass to remove scratches, for instance (though not on mirrors, as it can mar the reflective surface), and even on tile and porcelain, which means it’s perfect for scrubbing your grout and spiffing up your toilet.
Expert Home Tips points out that BKF is also really effective on dingy old linoleum, and can even be used to buff the scratches off of your car’s exterior. They recommend using a Magic Eraser to apply the product to your vehicle, but as we’ve mentioned before, you can also use a Scrub Daddy for this task.
What BKF can’t do
The abrasive product is a versatile cleaner, and the list of things it shouldn’t be used on is much shorter than the list of things it can be used on. But don’t use it on cast iron, granite, marble, wood, fabric, leather, or any painted surfaces.
