Bar Keepers Friend

Last updated
Bar Keepers Friend
Bar Keepers Friend logo.png
The Bar Keepers Friend logo, designed to resemble saloon doors
BarKeepersFriend.jpg
A can of Bar Keepers Friend in 2010, with English and Spanish text
Product typePowdered cleaning agent, liquid and spray cleansers
OwnerSerVaas Laboratories, Inc. (1957–present) [1]
Produced bySerVaas Laboratories, Inc.
CountryUnited States
Introduced1882
MarketsUnited States, Canada, United Kingdom [2]
Website www.barkeepersfriend.com

Bar Keepers Friend is an American brand of mass-produced cleaning agents. The original canned scouring powder product has been manufactured and sold since 1882. [3] It was invented by a chemist in Indianapolis, Indiana, where it continues to be manufactured by SerVaas Laboratories. [4] [5] The canned product's primary active ingredient is oxalic acid. Bar Keepers Friend has various cleaning uses.

Contents

Overview

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. The product was originally sold to bars in Indianapolis and Hoffman asserted in a patent application that the name had been used since January, 1887. [6] [7] The formula contains oxalic acid as a primary ingredient. [8] [9]

The Bar Keepers Friend logo represents the swinging doors of a saloon. [10] 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".

In the 1950s the product became the base of a line of cleaning products made by Indianapolis-based SerVaas Laboratories, [1] 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. [11] [12] SerVaas Laboratories had 40 employees in May 2011 [1] and 54 in April 2016. [4]

Production

Bar Keepers Friend products are mass-produced in a manufacturing environment that has significant automation in the process. [3] The powdered and canned (original) product is formulated in separate two-ton batches during the production process. [3] 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. [3]

Walter Miller Co era Bar Keepers Friend Packaging Bar keepers friend miller bar keepers friend.jpg
Walter Miller Co era Bar Keepers Friend Packaging

Active ingredients

According to the 2015 material safety data sheet (MSDS), the ingredients are feldspar, linear sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DDBSA) and oxalic acid. [13] The 2020 MSDS now gives the abrasive as glass oxide CAS 65997–17–3, although this could still cover natural feldspars. [14]

Prolonged use and extended skin contact may cause irritation, [13] peeling and contact dermatitis, which is avoided by wearing gloves. The product can also be an eye irritant. [13]

George Hoffman-era 1 lb Bar Keepers Friend boxes with wood shipping crate. Old bkf boxes 1.jpg
George Hoffman-era 1 lb Bar Keepers Friend boxes with wood shipping crate.

Performance and uses

In 1994, Consumer Reports found Bar Keepers Friend to perform on a par with Mr. Clean for removing baked-on soil, tea stains and other pot stains, and that it was better at removing rust. [15] 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. [16]

The product serves to make stainless steel resistant to oxidation via the process of passivation and can remove rust on stainless steel. [17] The product can also remove small scratches from stainless steel, [18] silver and plates. [19]

Uses of Bar Keepers Friend that are not noted on its label include removing hard water stains from glass and windows [20] and removing the brown or yellow stains caused by sunscreen containing avobenzone. [21] The product can also clean teak wood and bleaches it. [22] [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dry cleaning</span> Cleaning of fabrics in non-aqueous solvents

Dry cleaning is any cleaning process for clothing and textiles using a solvent other than water. Clothes are instead soaked in a water-free liquid solvent. Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), known in the industry as "perc", is the most commonly used solvent, although alternative solvents such as 1-bromopropane and hydrocarbons are also used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tide (brand)</span> Brand-name of a laundry detergent manufactured by Procter & Gamble

Tide is an American brand of laundry detergent manufactured and marketed by Procter & Gamble. Introduced in 1946, it is the highest-selling detergent brand in the world, with an estimated 14.3 percent of the global market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cif</span> Cleaning product

Cif is a French brand of household cleaning products owned by the British company Unilever, known as Jif in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Middle East and the Nordic countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OxiClean</span> American brand of household cleaners

OxiClean is an American brand of household cleaners, including OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover, which is a laundry additive, spot stain remover, and household cleaner marketed by Church & Dwight. It was formerly owned by Orange Glo International from its introduction in 1997 until it was acquired in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laundry detergent</span> Type of detergent used for cleaning laundry

Laundry detergent is a type of detergent used for cleaning dirty laundry (clothes). Laundry detergent is manufactured in powder and liquid form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henkel North American Consumer Goods</span> American company

Henkel Corporation, doing business as Henkel North American Consumer Goods and formerly The Dial Corporation, is an American company based in Stamford, Connecticut. It is a manufacturer of personal care and household cleaning products and is a subsidiary of multinational company Henkel AG & Co. KGaA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pressure washing</span> Use of high-pressure water jet for cleaning hard surfaces

Pressure washing or power washing is the use of high-pressure water spray to remove loose paint, mold, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from surfaces and objects such as buildings, vehicles and concrete surfaces. The volume of a mechanical pressure washer is expressed in gallons or liters per minute, often designed into the pump and not variable. The pressure, expressed in pounds per square inch, pascals, or bar, is designed into the pump but can be varied by adjusting the unloader valve or using specialized nozzle tips. Machines that produce pressures from 750 to 30,000 psi or more are available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dust-Off</span> Brand of compressed gas cleaner

Dust-Off is a brand of dust cleaner. The product usually contains difluoroethane; although some use tetrafluoroethane and tetrafluoropropene as a propellant. It is used to blow particles and dust from computer, keyboards, photography equipment, and electronics, as well as many every day household items including windows, blinds, and collectibles. Dust-Off is manufactured by Falcon Safety Products located in Branchburg, NJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dishwashing liquid</span> Detergent used for cleaning dishes

Dishwashing liquid, or dishwashing soap, dish detergent, and dish soap is a detergent assisting in dishwashing. Dishwashing detergents for dishwashers come in various forms like cartridges, gels, liquids, pacs, powder, and tablets. It is usually a highly-foamy mixture of surfactants with low skin irritation that consumers primarily use for washing glasses, plates, cutleries, and cooking utensils. In addition to its primary use, dishwashing liquid also has various informal applications, like creating bubbles, clothes washing and cleaning birds from oil spills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpet cleaning</span> Process of removing dirt and stains from carpets

Carpet cleaning is performed to remove stains, dirt, and allergens from carpets. Common methods include hot water extraction, dry-cleaning, and vacuuming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comet (cleanser)</span> American brand of household cleaning products

Comet is an American brand of scouring powders and other household cleaning products manufactured by KIK Custom Products Inc. The brand was introduced in 1956 by Procter & Gamble (P&G) and sold to Prestige Brands in 2001. In 2018, Prestige Brands sold the Comet brand to KIK Custom Products Inc. P&G retained the rights to market the brand in Europe and to the professional market (non-home-consumer) in the United States.

S. Judson Dunaway (1890–1976), was an inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist to the community of Dover, New Hampshire.

Aveeno is an American brand of skin care and hair care products owned by American consumer health company Kenvue.

Personal care products are consumer products which are applied on various external parts of the body such as skin, hair, nails, lips, external genital and anal areas, as well as teeth and mucous membrane of the oral cavity, in order to make them clean, protect them from harmful germs and keep them in good condition. They promote personal hygiene and overall health, well-being and appearance of those body parts. Toiletries form a narrower category of personal care products which are used for basic hygiene and cleanliness as a part of a daily routine. Cosmetic products, in contrast, are used for personal grooming and beautification. Pharmaceutical products are not considered personal care products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleaning agent</span> Substance used to remove dirt or other contaminants

Cleaning agents or hard-surface cleaners are substances used to remove dirt, including dust, stains, foul odors, and clutter on surfaces. Purposes of cleaning agents include health, beauty, removing offensive odor, and avoiding the spread of dirt and contaminants to oneself and others. Some cleaning agents can kill bacteria and clean at the same time. Others, called degreasers, contain organic solvents to help dissolve oils and fats.

Stain removal is the process of removing a mark or spot left by one substance on a specific surface like a fabric. A solvent or detergent is generally used to conduct stain removal and many of these are available over the counter.

Dr. Beurt Richard SerVaas was an American businessman, publisher, and politician. He served as a US Naval Officer in China during World War II, after being recruited by the Office of Strategic Services. He later served on the Indianapolis City-County Council from 1961 to 2002, the last 27 years of which as the council president.

Scouring powder is a household cleaning product consisting of an abrasive powder mixed with a dry soap or detergent, soda, and possibly dry bleach.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Schouten, Cory (May 12, 2011). "Bar Keepers Friend parent lands new headquarters". Indianapolis Business Journal . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Bar Keepers Friend back to clean up UK". The Grocer . November 1, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2017.(subscription required)
  3. 1 2 3 4 Reynolds, Pat (September 16, 2016). "Accuracy improved in auger filling". Packaging World . Archived from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Maker of Indy mainstay Bar Keepers Friend plans expansion". Indianapolis Business Journal. April 18, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ "The Bar Keepers Friend Story". Barkeepersfriend.com. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Sunday Adverts: George William Hoffman Co. (Bar-Keepers' Friend)". Historic Indianapolis. 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  7. ↑ Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office. Vol. 49. 1889. p. 1849. Retrieved 2015-03-30.
  8. ↑ Hunt, Mary (February 10, 2016). "Mary Hunt: Three generic cleaners same as brand names but cheaper". Herald-Review. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ Wiseman, G. (2002). Nutrition and Health. Taylor & Francis. p. 67. ISBN   978-0-415-27875-1 . Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  10. ↑ "About Us". Bar Keepers Friend. February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  11. ↑ The Good Housekeeping Institute (March 20, 2013). "Bar Keepers Friend Cooktop Cleaner Review". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Our Cleaning Products". Bar Keepers Friend. February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  13. 1 2 3 "Safety Data Sheet" (PDF). Servaas Laboratories. December 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Safety Data Sheet" (PDF). Servaas Laboratories. December 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Bar Keepers Friend. | Science & Technology > Chemistry from AllBusiness.com". October 14, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-10-14.
  16. ↑ "7 Places To Use Bar Keepers Friend - Home-Ec 101". February 18, 2009.
  17. ↑ Schaefer, M. (2014). The Homebrewer's Handbook: An Illustrated Beginner's Guide. Skyhorse Publishing. p. pt145. ISBN   978-1-62914-989-9.
  18. ↑ Dominguez, J.M. (2015). The Holy Grail Maintenance: Maintenance Reference Guide. Page Publishing. pp. pt191-192. ISBN   978-1-68139-095-6.
  19. ↑ Custer, D. (2010). Food Styling: The Art of Preparing Food for the Camera. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   978-0-470-08019-1 . Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  20. ↑ Romero, Cristel (August 13, 2015). "7 products to make cleaning your home quick and easy". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Juniper Hill Cleaners, Lexington's Premier Residential Cleaning Services Solution | Say Goodbye to Sunscreen Stains: The Magic of Bar Keeper's Friend - Juniper Hill Cleaners, Lexington's Premier Residential Cleaning Services Solution". 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  22. ↑ Badham, M.; Robinson, R.; Badham, M. (1999). Sailors' Secrets. McGraw-Hill Education. p. 56. ISBN   978-0-07-134869-0.
  23. ↑ Unger, B.; Sovchen, D. (1999). Absolute power trip: lifestyle guide for women boaters. Greenleaf Enterprises. p. 57. ISBN   978-0-9665319-4-7.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.