It was invented by a chemist in Indianapolis, Indiana, where it continues to be manufactured by SerVaas Laboratories. The canned product's primary active ingredient is oxalic acid. Bar Keepers Friend has various cleaning uses.
What are Bar Keepers Friend ingredients and are they safe? Is Bar Keepers Friend natural? We take a closer look at BKF as it's affectionately called. Unlike Comet and baking soda BKF is an acid based cleaner. It's inexpensive and cleans a lot of things!
There are, of course, other abrasive cleaners, but what sets Bar Keepers Friend apart is its super-fine texture, attributed to the ground feldspar that it's made from, which breaks down stains and makes them easier to scour away.
Bar Keepers Friend is a bleach-free, oxalic-acid based powdered cleaning product, ideal for cook wear. It's science, but it's also MAGIC.
#2 Bon Ami
The best part is that it's non-abrasive, so it won't scratch surfaces the way some harsher cleaners can. If you're looking for a more environmentally friendly alternative to Bar Keepers Friend, Bon Ami is definitely worth considering.
It is also known as Ethanedioic acid or Oxiric acid. This organic compound is found in many vegetables and plants. It is the simplest dicarboxylic acid with condensed formula HOOC-COOH and has an acidic strength greater than acetic acid. Excess consumption of oxalic acid can be dangerous.
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.
Oxyclean is not an acid at all. Comet and Ajax do not include oxalic acid.
While Comet, Ajax, and other household cleaners are bleach-based and alkaline, Bar Keepers Friend isn't.
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).
Ingestion: May cause irritation of the mouth and intestinal tract. Skin corrosion/irritation: Not a skin corrosive. Eye damage/ irritation: Causes eye damage. Respiratory irritation: Dust may be irritating to the respiratory system.
BKF is not harmful to the skin during casual use. However, gloves are recommended for prolonged use or sensitive skin. The oxalic acid in BKF is mild, but it may irritate sensitive skin and will sting in any open wound (similar to lemon juice on a cut).
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.
Bar Keepers Friend Kitchen Cleanser Powder, 21oz - Walmart.com.
Clear headlights are crucial to safe driving, especially in snowy conditions! Luckily, Bar Keepers Friend can help with that!
Complete answer:
The acid present in vinegar is acetic acid which is systematically known as ethanoic acid. It is a weak acid.
OxiClean contains several ingredients, but the important one for boosting and brightening laundry is sodium percarbonate — basically, dry hydrogen peroxide plus washing soda (also called sodium carbonate, which is very similar to but not exactly baking soda).
While oxalic acid is a normal end product of mammalian metabolism, the consumption of additional oxalic acid may cause stone formation in the urinary tract when the acid is excreted in the urine. Soaking and cooking of foodstuffs high in oxalate will reduce the oxalate content by leaching.
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.
Bon Ami is eco friendly and made with entirely different ingredients as BKF. Bon Ami Powder received the highest grade from EWG which is an "A".
Barkeepers Friend works much better in our ceramic sink than comet. Takes away the dark marks from pots and pans easily. Although the liquid doesn't work as well as powder. Been using BKF solely for years.
Substitutes of Oxalic Acid
Nitric acid in low concentration can be used to replace oxalic acid. It helps to give a gold surface to aging surfaces. Sulfuric acid is also used to replace oxalic acid in the cleansing of metals.
The equivalent mass of oxalic acid is 63.
Oxalic Acid reacts violently with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); FURFURYL ALCOHOL; and CHLORITES to cause fires and explosions. Oxalic Acid will react with SILVER and SILVER COMPOUNDS to form explosive Silver Oxalate.