Bar Keepers Friend is a mild abrasive cleansing powder that can be used to clean and polish hard, nonporous surfaces, including stainless steel, porcelain, and glass. The active ingredient in Bar Keepers Friend is feldspar, a micro-abrasive that lends the powder cleanser its scouring power. Additionally, Bar Keepers Friend contains oxalic acid, which can help to cut through calcium deposits and other mineral buildup that can cause discoloration.
Because of its abrasiveness, Bar Keepers Friend should not be used on cast iron, granite, marble, painted surfaces, wood, glass, gold, or silver. It’s also not intended for use on fabrics, including leather.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite ways to use Bar Keepers Friend around the house.
Caitlin Sole
1. Restore Stainless-Steel Pots and Pans
One of the best-known uses for Bar Keepers Friend is for cleaning and restoring stainless-steel pots and pans that have become stained and battered-looking after years of use. Start by wetting the pan, then apply a paste of Bar Keepers Friend mixed and water with a soft cloth or non-scratch scrub sponge. Allow the paste to sit for one minute (but not longer!), then rub the paste in a circular motion, working from the center of the pan to its outer edges. Wash the pan well with hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and dry. Badly scorched or burned pans may need a second pass.
2. Clean Stainless-Steel and Porcelain Sinks
Stainless steel and porcelain sinks can also benefit from a deep cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend. The gentle scouring powder will remove scratches, rust stains, and other unsightly damage. Wet the entire sink and sprinkle the surface with Bar Keepers Friend. Then, use a non-abrasive sponge or cloth to rub the powder into the sink before rinsing. When cleaning stainless-steel sinks, work in the direction of the metal’s grain for best results.
3. Polish Brass and Copper
There are other metals, in addition to stainless steel, that respond well to Bar Keepers Friend’s gentle scouring power. Both brass and copper can be deep cleaned and restored using the powder cleanser, leaving them clean and shiny. Apply the powder and allow it to sit for one minute before cleaning brass or copper surfaces with a soft sponge and rinsing well.
4. Clean Glass Stovetops
Glass stovetops can be tough to keep clean, as spills and splatters from cooking become burnt on over time. Bar Keepers Friend is tough enough to cut through stubborn stuck-on food and greasy residue, but gentle enough to use on glass without causing scratching or etching.
5. Clean Stainless-Steel Appliances
In addition to polishing stainless steel, Bar Keepers Friend has grease-cutting power that is particularly useful for cleaning buildup from kitchen appliances, including ranges and vent hoods.
6. Remove Scratches from Dishes
Use Bar Keepers Friend to restore dishes and serving pieces that have become scratched over time. Apply the powder cleanser to a damp sponge or scrub pad and scrub the dish using gentle pressure to remove utensil marks, then rinse well, repeating if necessary.
7. Scrub Porcelain and Fiberglass Tubs and Showers
The gentle abrasiveness of Bar Keepers Friend makes it ideal for scrubbing buildup from soap scum off of porcelain and fiberglass bathtubs and showers. Sprinkle the powder directly on flat surfaces, or apply it to a damp sponge, cloth, or scrub brush and work it into the tub in a circular motion before rinsing well.
8. Clean Glass Shower Doors
While Bar Keepers Friend should not be used on mirrored surfaces, it is great on glass—especially on glass shower doors that are stained and spotted thanks to mineral buildup from water. Use the powder cleanser on a damp sponge or cloth to scrub away hard water buildup and soap scum, leaving glass shower doors looking like new.
9. Remove Rust Stains
Bar Keepers Friend is an excellent rust stain remover. The next time you spot a rust stain in a stainless steel sink, or on any other hard non-porous surfaces, use a small amount of BKF on a damp sponge to remove the stain.
10. Restore Cloudy Glassware
Drinking glasses, vases, and other glass pieces that have taken on a cloudy cast can be restored with Bar Keepers Friend. Use a sparing amount on a wet soft sponge or dishcloth to gently buff out cloudiness, leaving glassware sparkling.
