All the Ways You Can Use Bartenders Friend (but Not Like This)
Let’s talk about Bar Keepers Friend , an inexpensive canned acid cleaning powder that’s over 100 years old. During this time, people have found many uses for the cleaning product, which is why it has such a good name. to a bar that handles spills and messes with dozens of drunken customers. This is not true – BKF does much more than what is written on the bank. Here are a few less common ways to use it.
Powder vs Liquid
While BKF is available in both a traditional powder and mild liquid cleanser, the former is by far the more popular and utilitarian choice. BKF recommends a liquid cleaner for “everyday light cleaning” while a powder cleaner can be used for all sorts of tough cleaning tasks.
Whatever you choose, use it with gloves. Wet the surface you want to clean, add some powder and wipe with a damp cloth or cloth, pressing lightly if necessary. Leave for about a minute, then rinse the surface.
All the usual ways to use Bar Keepers Friend
Cleaning pots and pans. We’ve been recommending Bar Keepers Friend for years to remove stains from metal utensils, and for good reason: it actually removes baked-on stains (with a bit of elbow grease). Just don’t use it on non-stick surfaces .
Removing scratches from plates and bowls. Because it’s abrasive, you’re technically breaking the surface of your cookware to keep the illusion of smoothness, but that’s a problem for another day. Try it on the back of your plates first to feel the results.
Cleaning stainless steel with anything. Due to its acidity rather than alkali (or bleach based), Bar Keepers Friend is great for removing mineral deposits and rust stains, and is also a good option for polishing stainless steel. Use it on your appliances, faucets, tire rims, or any other rusty and/or dirty metal item that needs some attention.
But wait, there’s more
BKF also has some unexpected uses. You can safely use it to remove scratches on glass (but not mirrors, as it can ruin reflective surfaces) and even tiles and porcelain, for example, which means it’s perfect for cleaning grout and brightening up a toilet. Home Expert Advice notes that BKF is also really effective on dirty old linoleum and can even be used to buff out scratches on your car body. They recommend using a Magic Eraser to apply product to your car, but as we mentioned earlier, you can also use Scrub Daddy for this task .
What BKF cannot do
An abrasive product is an all-purpose cleaner and the list of things it can’t be used on is much shorter than the list of things it can be used on. But do not use it on cast iron, granite, marble, wood, fabric, leather, or any painted surfaces.