what is bartenders friend made of

What is Bar Keepers Friend made of?

Bar Keepers Friend. The original canned powder product has been manufactured and sold since 1882. 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, and Bar Keepers Friend has several various cleaning uses.

Can Bar Keepers Friend be used dry?

Bar Keepers Friend was never designed to be used dry. The original powder should always be mixed with water by either adding water to the powder and mixing it in or wetting the surface to clean and then sprinkling it with BKF. BKF, like any powder, can be blown into the air and should never be inhaled.

Who invented Bar Keepers Friend?

Bar Keepers Friend was originally manufactured in 1882 as a cleaning agent in powdered form. This formulation is still manufactured today. It was invented by chemist George William Hoffman in Indianapolis, Indiana.

What is the surfactant in Bar Keepers Friend?

Linear Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate serves as the surfactant in Bar Keepers Friend. Surfactants are compounds that “lower the surface tension of water, making the molecules slippier, so they are less likely to stick to themselves and more likely to interact with oil and grease” and so on.

What is the main ingredient in Bar Keepers Friend?

Bar Keepers Friend's seemingly magic powers come courtesy of its main ingredient, oxalic acid. This natural substance attacks rust, lime, tarnish and other stains on a molecular level, breaking the bonds holding them together to eliminate all trace. It works on multiple surfaces, too.

Is Bar Keepers Friend just citric acid?

The Bar Keepers Friend ingredients in the Soft Cleanser are: Citric Acid. Polymeric Dispersant* Nonionic Surfactant*

Is Bar Keepers Friend the same as baking soda?

Do I trust this Bar Keep? Is this stuff just baking soda in disguise? (It is not.) It's an entirely different chemical, oxalic acid, and it is hardcore. While my interactions with human beings have withered and my home bar-keeping has skyrocketed, I'm spending more and more time with Bar Keepers Friend.

How do you make Bar Keepers Friend?

Homemade Bar Keepers Friend - Kitchen, Bath, and Sink Cleaner1 cup baking soda.½ cups salt.½ cup borax powder.15 drops Lemon Essential Oil *

What should you not use Bar Keepers Friend on?

6. Don't Use it on Everything. 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.

Does Bar Keepers Friend have bleach in it?

Does Bar Keepers Friend contain chlorine? BKF does not contain chlorine or any caustic ingredients.

Is Bar Keepers Friend the same as Ajax?

So, How is Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser Different From Comet & Ajax? BKF is the #1 non-bleach Cleanser in the market today. The most significant differences between BKF Cleanser and Comet or Ajax is 1) the absence of bleach AND our use of oxalic acid, 2) the quality of “scrubber” used, and 3) the detergents used.

Is Bar Keepers Friend the same as the pink stuff?

Pros of The Pink Stuff Like Bar Keepers Friend, The Pink Stuff contains abrasives to help clean difficult stains. The abrasive material is milder than Bar Keepers Friend, but it gets the job done. It's a cruelty-free multi-purpose cleaner.

Is Bar Keepers Friend toxic?

The main ingredient in Bar Keepers Friend is oxalic acid. Although it occurs naturally in some plants and vegetables, such as chives and rhubarb, it is considered toxic. You must use caution with this ingredient because it has caustic (corrosive) properties.

Is Bar Keepers Friend corrosive?

Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser contains oxalic acid, which breaks down and removes calcium deposits from hard water. Better still, it is non-abrasive, so it safe for stainless steel.

Will Bar Keepers Friend clean grout?

While not as natural as hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, bar keepers friend works really well to clean grout and get it white again. To clean grout with bar keepers friend, wet the area first and then sprinkle the powder onto the grout lines.

What is the best cleaner to use on stainless steel appliances?

Dish Soap and Baby Oil Simple dish soap can also work to clean your stainless-steel appliances. 1: Clean the appliance with dish soap. 2: Put a small amount of baby oil on a microfiber cloth. 3: Move the cloth in the direction of the grain to polish and shine your appliance.

How is Bar Keepers Friend different from comet?

The primary difference between Bar Keepers Friend and Comet's ingredients is that Bar Keepers Friend is acid-based, while Comet is bleach-based. Oxalic acid is the main ingredient in Bar Keepers Friend, and Comet's main ingredient is trichloroisocyanuric acid (bleaching agent).

What is the difference between Bon Ami and Bar Keepers Friend?

The key difference between the brands is that Bar Keepers Friend products are more abrasive and potent than Bon Ami. What is this? Also, Bon Ami's powders feature a finer grit than Bar Keepers Friend, making them safer for use on sensitive surfaces such as non-stick pans or induction cooktops.

Why is it called Bar Keepers Friend?

Oxalic acid. Using that active ingredient, our chemist formulated an oxalic acid-based cleaning powder that he sold to taverns for use as a brass rail polish. Thrilled at the results, tavern owners dubbed the product, “Bar Keepers Friend.”

What cleaner has oxalic acid in it?

In fact, if you look on the back of a can of one of my favorite cleaners, Bar Keepers Friend, you'll read: Contains oxalic acid. That miraculous product, Bar Keepers Friend, a 12-ounce can is highly diluted generic oxalic acid.

Who makes bar keepers friend?

In the 1950s the product became the base of a line of cleaning products made by Indianapolis-based SerVaas Laboratories, which started producing and carrying products under the Bar Keepers Friend brand name. Additional products manufactured and marketed under the Bar Keepers Friend brand name include liquid, cream and spray cleaners.

How many cans of Bar Keepers friend are made?

In September 2016, the canned powdered product was manufactured at a rate of approximately 60,000 cans per day, which are packaged in 12, 15 and 21 ounce cans.

What does the bar keepers friend logo mean?

The Bar Keepers Friend logo represents the swinging doors of a saloon. According to the president of SerVaas Laboratories, Paul SerVaas, although some people complained during Prohibition, "the name was never changed. It's been Bar Keepers Friend since 1882".

What are the ingredients in a sandbox?

Active ingredients. According to the 2015 material safety data sheet, the ingredients are feldspar, linear sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DDBSA) and oxalic acid. Prolonged use and extended skin contact may cause irritation, peeling and contact dermatitis, which is avoided by wearing gloves.

Where is Bar Keepers friend made?

The original canned scouring powder product has been manufactured and sold since 1882. It was invented by a chemist in Indianapolis, Indiana, where it continues to be manufactured by SerVaas Laboratories.

Can Bar Keepers friend be used on real marble?

While recommending Bar Keepers Friend for a variety of household cleaning uses, author Heather Solos warned that it should not be used to clean silverware, pewter or real marble. The product serves to make stainless steel resistant to oxidation via the process of passivation and can remove rust on stainless steel.

What is Oxalic Acid?

Oxalic Acid is a white crystalline solid and strong organic acid that naturally occurs in many known fruits and vegetables such as rhubarb (like George William Hoffman discovered), spinach, beet leaves, swiss chard, and more.

How is Oxalic Acid Made?

Oxalic acid can be made and extracted in a number of different ways. Like our friend George William Hoffman, you can boil and extract the organic compound from rhubarb leaves, or any of the fruits and veggies mentioned above. Other chemists have opted to use nothing more than sugar and nitric acid to create it.

Can you use enamel coating on a Dutch oven?

Enamel-coated or lacquered Dutch ovens (most people use it to clean the outside of their Dutch ovens, the BKF folks told me, which is what I did, but otherwise spot-clean it first to see how it goes on yours)

Can you use BFK on melamine bowls?

Melamine (they suggest “using extreme caution”—I cleaned oil stains on the bottom of melamine bowls with BFK and it worked but I could also tell it dulled the plastic’s shine)

How to clean BKF?

Wet the surface to be cleaned, and then apply a small amount of the BKF product to the surface. With a damp cloth or rag, apply an appropriate amount of pressure and clean the area. Make sure to rinse the surface thoroughly after. Please see either the package or the product section of our website for more cleaning information. Always consult any manufacturer care section if available for proper cleaning procedures.

Is BKF kosher?

BKF is not currently a certified kosher product. In the past, BKF has been certified as kosher, and some earlier packaging had the kosher symbol. The BKF product has not significantly changed since that time.

Is BKF cleaner better than powder?

If a more restorative, deep-clean is needed; then the BKF Cleanser (powder) is likely the better choice. Bottom line: They’re not intended to be identical products. The powder offers the versatility of varying its “strength,” by the amount of water added; stronger or weaker. The Soft Cleanser is in effect “pre-diluted” or “ready-to-use” for a variety of (but not all) tasks, especially the more routine cleaning tasks.

Is it safe to use Bar Keepers friend?

Is it safe to clean the dishes and cookware with Bar Keepers Friend? Yes – when properly used, BKF is safe to use on food preparation and serving surfaces. In fact, BKF carries an NSF registration and can be found in many commercial kitchens.

Is BKF a bleach based cleaner?

BKF is an acidic cleaner, whereas most other powdered cleansers are alkaline (bleach-based). Acidic cleansers are more effective against mineral deposits and rust stains and are also recommended by most stainless steel product manufacturers over bleach-based cleansers.

What can Bar Keepers friend do?

Bar Keepers Friend can tackle mineral deposits on the shower door, rust on the grill, crayon marks on your painted walls, and so much more. It certainly does belong in every cleaning caddy and is worth considering for messes in rooms throughout the house.

Can you use Bar Keepers friend on stainless steel?

Don’t use it on stainless appliances without knowing this fact first. Bar Keepers Friend can remove rust, and this includes those irritating marks on your stainless steel refrigerator. Just know that Bar Keepers Friend can compromise the coating that minimizes fingerprints.

Is it safe to mix bar keepers friend with bleach?

Mixing cleaning products is always dangerous, and this bears repeating when discussing what not to do with Bar Keepers Friend. In particular, when Bar Keepers Friend, an acid, is mixed with bleach, toxic chlorine gas fumes are produced. Use Bar Keepers Friend alone, and rinse any areas you used it on before using any other cleaners in the same spot.

Is Bar Keepers friend safe?

In addition to making sure you’re not inhaling it, it’s important to protect your hands by wearing gloves. 4. Don’t actually use it on everything.

Can you leave Bar Keepers friend on too long?

Leaving the product on too long can cause discoloration on some surfaces, so don’t take a chance with this one. Use a timer and be sure to rinse it off once it’s worked its magic. 2. Don’t use it without getting it wet. Bar Keepers Friend in classic powder form allows users the flexibility of adjusting the ratio of cleanser to water, ...

Summary

Overview

Production

Active ingredients

Performance and uses

See also

Further reading

External links