Can I use bar keepers friend on brass?

Author: Grayson Bogan  |  Last update: Thursday, January 8, 2026

Whether you're doing a weekly wipe down of your brass doorknobs or bringing a 100-year-old brass bed frame back to life, BKF is your answer. It's easy to use, safe, and it works. BKF is the answer to how to clean brass.

Is Bar Keepers Friend okay for brass?

Brasso and Bar Keepers Friend are two excellent brass cleaners used to polish up and clean the brass to a nice shine. I tend to prefer Bar Keepers Friend because it comes in a powder form, and I can make a thicker paste.

What is the best thing to clean brass with?

Brasso and Bar Keepers Friend are two excellent brass cleaners used to polish up and clean the brass to a nice shine. I tend to prefer Bar Keepers Friend because it comes in a powder form, and I can make a thicker paste.

What should you not use Bar Keepers Friend on?

Don't Use on Everything
  • Non-stick Cookware (Ruins the coating)
  • Cast Iron (Strips seasoning, can lead to rusting)
  • Granite, Marble (Dulls and etches)
  • Wood (Scratches finish)
  • Painted Surfaces (Removes/dulls paint)
  • Fabric (Damages fibers)
  • Leather (Dries and cracks)

Are Brasso and Bar Keepers friends the same?

Hands down, I pick Brasso above all the others. It gives a beautiful finish, didn't require too much scrubbing, and is inexpensive. The Bar Keeper's Friend Soft Cleanser required more scrubbing but it's multi-use so you aren't stuck with a cleaner you won't use again.

How To Clean & Polish Brass | Baking Soda vs Bar keepers Friend | Before & After ✨

Is there a substitute for Brasso?

Vinegar, Salt and Flour

Add flour and mix to a paste. Rub the mixture over your brass. Leave for 10 minutes. Rinse.

Is Bar Keepers Friend just baking soda?

Is Bar Keepers Friend just baking soda? Despite its similar appearance, Bar Keepers Friend is not the same as baking soda. Bark Keepers Friend is made from oxalic acid, a powerful cleaning chemical that can break down hard-to-move marks, grime, and dirt with ease.

What happens if you leave Bar Keepers Friend on too long?

While Bar Keepers Friend is powerful, it's essential not to leave it on surfaces for extended periods. If left for too long, it can etch surfaces. Apply the product, let it sit for only one minute, scrub as needed, and rinse promptly. Repeat if necessary.

Can you mix Dawn and Bar Keepers friends?

Mixing Bar Keepers Friend with a bit of dish soap works wonders and has the perfect amount of suds and scrubbing power! Just don't ever mix with other cleaners (especially bleach).

Does WD-40 clean brass?

We like to use WD-40. It is not only very easy to use, but is also quick and very effective. All you need to do is coat the gold and brass lamp with a layer of WD-40, which is a great to clean brass and let it sit for about 15-30 minutes. Take a clean cloth and rub the lamp in circular motions drying and buffing it up.

Does coke clean brass?

Cleaning brass: the basics

A number of household products can be used to help you maintain brass including everything from basic soapy water to Coca-Cola or white vinegar.

What is the best thing to clean brass?

Tomatoes contain an acid that helps to remove tarnish on brass and other metals; that's why applying a tomato-based product can work wonders on brass. Ketchup, tomato paste, and tomato sauce all work equally well. Apply a layer to your brass and leave it on for an hour. Then wash with warm water and dish soap.

How abrasive is Bar Keepers Friend?

Is Bar Keepers Friend abrasive? There are abrasive particles in all BKF products except for MORE Spray + Foam. The powder products contain more abrasive than the pre-diluted Soft Cleanser. For jobs that require additional scrubbing power, use one of our powder products.

Does toothpaste clean brass?

This might surprise you, but yes, you sure can clean brass using just toothpaste.

What not to use Bar Keepers Friend?

BKF cleans and polishes most hard, nonporous surfaces. However, never use BKF on the following: cast iron, granite, marble, wood, fabric, leather, or painted surfaces. Although many of our fans have used BKF on mirrors, gold, and silver (sterling silver is OK), we advise against it.

Why is Bar Keepers Friend better than Comet?

Bar Keepers Friend Doesn't Use Bleach

Bleach fumes will sometimes cause me to wheeze, if not start a full-fledged asthma attack. While Comet, Ajax, and other household cleaners are bleach-based and alkaline, Bar Keepers Friend isn't.

Does Bar Keepers Friend work on headlights?

Clear headlights are crucial to safe driving, especially in snowy conditions! Luckily, Bar Keepers Friend can help with that!

Should you wear gloves when using Bar Keepers Friend?

Do I need to wear gloves when cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend? Yes, we recommend using gloves to protect your hands. It's a good idea anytime, but especially for prolonged use or if you have sensitive skin.

Does Bar Keepers Friend actually clean?

Who is the Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser best for? Ultimately, if it's good enough for the pros, it's certainly good enough for me. It cleans tough stains, rust, tarnish and everything in-between, so anyone looking to tackle all of the above will want to add this to their cleaning supplies.

Can Bar Keepers Friend be used on glass?

Bar Keepers Friend is recommended for surfaces including stainless steel, copper, brass, ceramic tile and glass. The company does not recommend using it on gold, silver, pewter, anodized aluminum, mirrored surfaces, wood or cast iron.

Is bar keeper's friend ok on brass?

Whether you're doing a weekly wipe down of your brass doorknobs or bringing a 100-year-old brass bed frame back to life, BKF is your answer. It's easy to use, safe, and it works. BKF is the answer to how to clean brass.

How do you clean badly tarnished brass door handles?

Method:
  1. Mix the salt, flour, and vinegar in a bowl to form a paste. ...
  2. Gently rub the paste onto your door handle to form a light layer.
  3. Leave the paste to settle for 2-3 minutes.
  4. Wipe away the paste with a soft cloth.
  5. Using clean, warm water, remove the paste from the handles.

What is the blue stuff on brass?

Another type of tarnish is verdigris. This is a blue or green coloured substance which appears on old copper, brass and sterling. Verdigris is formed from a combination of oxygen, water and environmental pollutants.

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