Stains on glass are inevitable. But when choosing a cleaner that can effectively eliminate all the dirt, grime, and germs, you need to be very careful. After all, you don’t want the cleaning product to damage the glass in any way.
To clean glass with Bar Keepers Friend cleaning powder, mix it with water, rub it on the surface, and clean it up using a wet cloth after five minutes. If you’re using the foam cleaner, choose the required setting, spray the solution on the glass, rub it with a sponge, and wipe it dry.
One product that most people swear by when it comes to deep cleaning is Bar Keepers Friend. But what is it, and is it safe enough to use on glass? What about other surfaces; is it safe enough for those? Any safety tips you should keep in mind? Let’s take a look.
What is Bar Keepers Friend?
Bar Keepers Friend (on Amazon) is a brand of cleaning products designed to take care of the most stubborn stains like dirt, built-up grease often seen on stove tops, and burned-on stains like those at the bottom of a Dutch oven. Their products include powders, creams, liquids, and trigger sprays.
What makes this a favorite of many is that it removes stains without causing any damage. Plus, the company recommends it for many surfaces including glass, ceramic tile, copper, stainless steel, and brass.
Can You Use Bar Keepers Friend to Clean Glass?
As the company suggests, Bar Keepers Friend is safe to use on glass, whether glass table tops, stove tops, oven doors, or windows.
To clean windows using BKF:
- Mix water and the BKF powdered cleaner to make a paste. Remember, you don’t need a lot of powder; a little bit will do.
- Rub the paste on the glass and allow it to sit for around five minutes.
- Use a wet, soft cloth to wipe the paste.
- Use a paper towel or dry rag to make it squeaky clean.
Using the BKF Spray + Foam Cleanser
Another lesser-known use of BKF’s Spray + Foam cleanser is cleaning sliding door tracks. Unfortunately, these tracks attract a lot of grime, bugs, and dirt. With time, these things only continue to build up, and if left unattended, they can interfere with the door’s operation. Luckily, BKF is a lifesaver.
The BKF spray is tough on the stains, so there’s nothing to worry about. Depending on your cleaning needs, you can choose from two settings. If you want to do light cleaning, use the spray setting and use the foam setting for deep cleaning or more stubborn stains.
Choosing the setting is easy. There are two stops and two symbols on the trigger; you have to choose the right one. If you are unsure which settings the spray is on, you can do a quick test. Just squeeze the trigger, and you’ll know if it’s on the spray or foam setting.
For the most effective results, spray the solution 6-8 inches away and use a sponge or cloth to rub it thoroughly. Wipe it dry with a cloth, and you’re done! Allow the foam to sit before rubbing it in case of stubborn stains.
Avoid Using Bar Keepers Friend on These Surfaces
Bar Keepers Friend can damage many things if you’re not careful. You should avoid using it on melamine, enamelware, wood, uncoated cast iron pans, non-stick pans, granite, or marble.
The company also recommends avoiding using it on mirrored surfaces, anodized aluminum, pewter, silver, and gold. So, keep BKF away from your favorite skillet, faucets, and wood cabinets.
Meanwhile, the best surfaces for BKF are stainless steel items ranging from sinks to sheet pans, glass, Dutch ovens, and other coated cast iron pans and cookware, instant pots, stove tops, chrome, and porcelain.
Safety Tips to Keep in Mind
The powder contains a combination of detergents, abrasives, and oxalic acid. These work together to remove stains and other stubborn residues. However, because of its heavy-duty nature, it can cause damage even if it’s used on a suitable surface.
To prevent that from happening:
- Make sure you don’t let BKF sit on a surface for too long. If you’re not careful, it can cause scratches and discoloration. So instead, rinse the solution after a minute. And if you’re unsure about using the powder on a particular surface, do a spot-clean test instead.
- Also, ensure not to mix BKF with other cleaning products or chemicals, such as ammonia or bleach, since it might lead to harmful chemical reactions.
- It’s also recommended that you use a new cloth or sponge to clean up the product instead of the one you use for washing dishes.
- Oxalic acid in BKF can harm the skin, so you should wear gloves for cleaning.
- Inhaling the dry powder can also be dangerous, even if it’s an accident. This is why you should wet the surface you’re using BKF before dispensing it and use a pre-dampened cloth to scrub it.