Bar Keepers Friend
Encyclopedia
Bar Keepers Friend is a powdered cleaning product
made by SerVaas Laboratories in the United States. Invented by a Central Indiana chemist in 1882, it has since become the base of a line of cleaning products by SerVaas, who started producing and carrying the product under the Bar Keepers Friend name in the 1950s. Unlike similar abrasive cleaning products, such as Comet
and Ajax, Bar Keepers Friend uses oxalic acid
as its active ingredient.
In 1994, Consumer Reports
found Bar Keepers Friend to be on a par with Mr. Clean
for removing baked-on soil, tea stains and other pot stains, and better at removing rust. While there are a number of appropriate uses for it, experts warn that it should never be used to clean silverware, real marble, or pewter.
The logo of Bar Keepers Friend represents the swinging doors of a saloon. According to the President of SerVaas Laboratories, Robert Silvers, although some people complained during Prohibition
, "the name was never changed. It's been Bar Keepers Friend since 1882."
Cleaning agent
Cleaning agents are substances, usually liquids, that are used to remove dirt, including dust, stains, bad smells, and clutter on surfaces. Purposes of cleaning agents include health, beauty, absence of offensive odor, avoidance of shame, and avoidance of spreading of dirt and contaminants to...
made by SerVaas Laboratories in the United States. Invented by a Central Indiana chemist in 1882, it has since become the base of a line of cleaning products by SerVaas, who started producing and carrying the product under the Bar Keepers Friend name in the 1950s. Unlike similar abrasive cleaning products, such as Comet
Comet (cleanser)
Comet is a powdered cleaning product sold in North America and distributed in the United States by Prestige Brands. Scratch Free Comet with Bleach Disinfectant Cleanser contains 1.2% sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate and 98.8% "other" ingredients...
and Ajax, Bar Keepers Friend uses oxalic acid
Oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is an organic compound with the formula H2C2O4. This colourless solid is a dicarboxylic acid. In terms of acid strength, it is about 3,000 times stronger than acetic acid. Oxalic acid is a reducing agent and its conjugate base, known as oxalate , is a chelating agent for metal cations...
as its active ingredient.
In 1994, Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
found Bar Keepers Friend to be on a par with Mr. Clean
Mr. Clean
Mr. Clean is a brand name fully owned by Procter & Gamble. It is used for a cleaning solution and related products, and as "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser", for a melamine foam cleaner.-History:...
for removing baked-on soil, tea stains and other pot stains, and better at removing rust. While there are a number of appropriate uses for it, experts warn that it should never be used to clean silverware, real marble, or pewter.
The logo of Bar Keepers Friend represents the swinging doors of a saloon. According to the President of SerVaas Laboratories, Robert Silvers, although some people complained during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, "the name was never changed. It's been Bar Keepers Friend since 1882."