What shouldn't you use Bar Keepers Friend?

Author: Catharine Kling DVM  |  Last update: Sunday, April 27, 2025

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.

What not to clean with Bar Keepers Friend?

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)

Is Bar Keepers Friend just baking soda?

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!

What happens if you don't rinse off Bar Keepers Friend?

Leaving Bar Keepers Friend on a surface for too long can lead to a few issues: Surface Damage: Bar Keepers Friend contains oxalic acid, which can be abrasive. If left on for too long, it may scratch or damage delicate surfaces, such as certain types of countertops, stainless steel, or porcelain.

Is it safe to use Bar Keepers Friend on stainless steel pans?

All that said, Bar Keepers Friend isn't for everything, namely anything that will scratch easily. According to the brand, it's safe for pretty much any non-porous surface, such as stainless steel, ceramic, and porcelain.

This Is The Biggest Mistake You're Making With Bar Keepers Friend

What is a non toxic alternative to Bar Keepers Friend?

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". Very Eco friendly!

Is Bar Keepers Friend safe for nonstick?

No. Though Bar Keepers Friend can be used on a variety of hard, non-porous surfaces (like stainless steel, glass, and enamel), it will strip the coating on nonstick pots and pans. The same goes for cast iron without an enamel coating.

What are the side effects of Bar Keepers Friend?

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.

Should you wear gloves when using Bar Keepers Friend?

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).

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 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.

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!

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 Keepers Friend safe for toilet bowls?

A surprisingly effective toilet bowl cleaner

The liquid version of Bar Keepers Friend is just as effective as the original powdered version, but it's easier to squeeze up into the rim of a toilet.

Can I clean my stove top with Bar Keepers Friend?

“Best glass stovetop cleaner. Bar Keeper's Friend cleaner works on a variety of surfaces but really performs well on glass. It works on any smooth stovetop surface, including glass and ceramic.

Is Bar Keepers Friend safe on plastic?

The old school Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser and our MORE Spray + Foam. Warning: Although a recent science fair project showed that BKF products are safe for multiple surfaces, some plastics may be etched or dulled by either product. Before cleaning plastics, first test the product on a small, inconspicuous area.

What not to use Bar Keepers Friend on?

Don't Use Bar Keepers Friend on Non-Recommended Surfaces
  • Marble and other natural stones: BKF original powder can scratch and damage the polished surface.
  • Non-stick cookware: The coating can be worn away, compromising its effectiveness and safety.
  • Gold or silver-plated items: It can strip away the plating.

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

Don't leave it on too long.

Instructions state that Bar Keepers Friend should be thoroughly rinsed from the surface you're cleaning after one minute. Leaving the product on too long can cause discoloration on some surfaces, so don't take a chance with this one.

Is Comet the same as Bar Keepers Friend?

While Comet, Ajax, and other household cleaners are bleach-based and alkaline, Bar Keepers Friend isn't.

Does Bar Keepers Friend make your hands peel?

Prolonged use and extended skin contact may cause irritation, peeling and contact dermatitis, which is avoided by wearing gloves. The product can also be an eye irritant.

Is Bar Keepers Friend safe for a bathtub?

Removing Stains From Bathtubs

“Bar Keepers Friend works wonders for rust stains.” For acrylic tubs, San Angelo suggests making a paste using baking soda and water.

Is Bar Keepers Friend toxic to dogs?

These cleaners are caustic if enough is ingested and they typically have immediate salivation, oral discomfort, vomiting or not wanting to eat and drink. For him to be acting normal, if he did get into a little of it, it wasn't in enough of a concentrated amount to be an issue.

Can you use Bar Keepers Friend on shower doors?

No problem! Looking for the best way to clean glass shower doors, sinks, toilets, and other bathroom surfaces? Look no further than Bar Keepers Friend.

Can you use Bar Keepers Friend on baking sheets?

Can I clean sheet pans another way? If you don't have baking soda or vinegar on hand (or were traumatized by middle school science fairs), get yourself a powerful cleaning agent that'll do the work for you, like Bar Keepers Friend.

Does Bar Keepers Friend stain clothes?

For instance, Bar Keepers Friend is an acid. Mixed with bleach, which could happen in the laundry process, it creates chlorine gas. Another reason you shouldn't use Bar Keepers Friend on fabric is that it can fade bright colors or damage delicates, both of which would ruin the fabric.

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