It goes without saying that when you find something you love, you take good care of it. Regardless of how true that may be, sometimes our lives accumulate a bit more gunk than we’d like. Whether our bathrooms lose their sparkle or we can’t get that smell out of our kitchens, there is always room for improvement. When frustration builds and we can’t scrub it away, that’s when Bar Keepers Friend comes into play.
Bar Keepers Friend has been around for well over 100 years and is unique because of its main ingredient: oxalic acid. This acid is particularly efficient at removing rust. Oxalic acid is an organic compound found in many plants, but it is also used to make bleach, to create pesticides for bee keepers, and even in baking powder. It’s slightly more powerful than distilled white vinegar, but more abrasive than baking soda. Because of this, you won’t want to use it on porous surfaces or fabrics. Since this versatile chemical is very strong and capable of handling any mess that comes its way, but be sure to wear protective gloves, and even protective eye wear, while using it.
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This incredible, multi-purpose cleaner has been a favorite cleaner among American households for years, but it can do so much more than removing rust. Keep reading to find out why you need this affordable cleaner in your housekeeping arsenal.
Bar Keepers Friend: In The Kitchen
Due to the pandemic, families are spending more time than ever in the kitchen to stay healthy and safe at home rather than going out, if that is an option where you live. Because our homes are getting “lived in” much more often, and we are using our favorite items more and more, they tend to gain some wear and tear and before you know it, you’re peeking at a scratched dish or lack-luster appliance that used to sparkle and shine with each use! Thankfully, Bar Keepers Friend is a fabulous companion to any home space.
With a little elbow grease, some water, and a washcloth, most of your kitchen woes can be fixed in no time. Check out these incredible ideas for cleaning your kitchen with Bar Keepers Friend.
- Shine Up Your Kitchen Faucet
The more you become aware of how much you actually grab your kitchen faucet, the more you’re going to want it to be clean. Bar Keepers Friend can help make it look brand new while simultaneously removing any grime or harmful bacteria. - Make Your Oven Look Brand New
Have you ever opened your oven and wondered what you burned in there and when? Sometimes, even the best self-cleaning ovens need a little help! - Clean Up The Bottom Of Your Favorite Pots And Pans
This one requires some creativity and elbow grease, but your day-to-day cookware will look brand new after a good polish with Bar Keepers Friend! - Get Your Grill Summer-Ready
When our grill is our most-loved BBQ feature, it deserves some extra attention. Clean and polish your accessory inside out! - Clean The Rust Out Of Your Dishwasher
Let’s face it: Our dishwashers carry a huge load (pun intended) for our family. Sometimes, they start to look a bit tired. Spruce up your dishwasher and get the grime, and even rust, out of there so your dishes come out cleaner than ever. - Remove Built Up Grime From Your Slow Cooker
If you can’t remember the last time you used barbecue sauce in the slow cooker, but for some reason, there are barbecue sauce stains all over your gorgeous appliance, with a little water and BKF, this will look brand new. - Clean Your Stainless Steel Appliances
Stainless steel can be tricky, especially with fingerprints and sticky residue that can be left on surfaces. Gently polish your stainless steel for a sleek look. - Remove Unattractive Scratches From Your Favorite Dishes
This one is the most surprising. Did you know you can fix those dishes you’ve loved for years? All of those scratches from delicious meals can disappear, and your tableware will look as fresh as the day you brought it home!
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Bar Keepers Friend: In The Bathroom
The bathroom is probably one of the rooms in the home that challenge our cleaning capabilities and willingness to thrive, but it doesn’t have to be! This cleaner may have started out cleaning items used for food production, but people who have used Bar Keepers Friend for the past 100+ years have found that this miracle cleaner makes life easier in many other areas of the home!
- Remove Built Up Soap Scum From Shower Tiles And Tubs
Sometimes, no matter how hard we scrub, soap scum seems to want to stay. Creating a paste with Bar Keepers Friend and combining some determination along with elbow grease will have your tub smooth and clean in a fraction of the usual time. - Remove Hard Water/Rust Stains
Many people who experience hard water or rust stains in their bathrooms feel that they will have to deal with them forever. Thankfully, that’s not the case. - Get The Gunk Out Of Your Grout
Cleaning grout is the chore that no one wants to do. If you haven’t given up on it completely, Bar Keepers Friend can make this chore MUCH easier for you. - Shine Up Your Shower Door
Say goodbye to the perpetual, smudgy cloud that seems to be your shower door. Bar Keepers Friend polishes your glass, too! - Disinfect And Polish Fixtures
Just like our kitchen faucet, we are using our bathroom faucets more frequently than ever (especially because you should be washing your hands more often, too!) Give yourself a treat with a fancy faucet, courtesy of Bar Keepers Friend.
Bar Keepers Friend: Around The Home
- Buff Out Scratches From Your Car
It can be disheartening to see your beloved car get scratches, but with a little extra attention, she can be back on her A game in no time! - Clean Your Exhaust Tips
Exhaust stains can ruin the appearance of any vehicle, from the back anyway. This powerful cleanser will have them shining in no time. - Remove Sticky Labels
When you bring something new into your home and remove the label, you are either the type of person to scrub until the sticky residue is completely gone, no matter how long it takes, or you just accept that the residue will outlive both you and your family and it will remain there forever. BKF takes the choice out of the equation and can have your sticky residue gone before you know it. - Clean Up Your Foggy Headlights
Headlight restoration is expensive and can seem terrible exclusive. Not anymore! - Get The Rust Off Of Your Favorite Tools
If you use your tools, they are exposed to the elements whether we like it or not. With that exposure come natural consequences: dirt, limestone build up, and rust can impact the effectiveness of your favorite tools. Make them work for you again with a simple clean! - Don’t Paint Yet! Clean Your Vinyl Siding With BKF
Is your vinyl looking rough? Tidy it up before you start painting. - Make Your Utility Sink Look Brand New
If you have a utility sink in your garage, you can clear out any residue from previous jobs and keep it looking bright and ready to use.
Yes, sometimes it is easier to just throw things away. Yes, sweating over your exhaust pipe or a pair of pliers that you’ve used for years may seem frustrating, to say the least. However, the reward of a beautifully cleaned and polished home item or bathroom is more than enough reward for a few minutes of scrubbing. Keeping our things clean and caring for the items we bring into our home helps us to create a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, and that is priceless.
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