Does stainless steel in your kitchen look dingy and dull from stains and hard water spots?
Are you wondering how to bring back the original shine?
Using Bar Keepers Friend stainless steel cleaner is the perfect solution for erasing tough stains and discoloration to reveal spectacularly clean steel that gleams like new.
Let’s dive into the easy step-by-step process so you can try Bar Keepers Friend’s magic for yourself!
How Do You Use Bar Keepers Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner?
How do you use Bar Keepers Friend stainless steel cleaner? You simply mix the powder with a small amount of water to form a textured paste, then thoroughly apply that paste to stained or dirty areas of your stainless steel.
Let it soak 2-3 minutes so the cleaning agents can start interacting with grime and tarnish.
Next gently scrub with a wet sponge or cloth before thoroughly rinsing away all residue with clean water.
That’s the quick rundown, now let’s explore the details of successfully cleaning stainless steel using Bar Keepers Friend.
Gather the Necessary Supplies
Before getting started with the stainless steel cleaning process using Bar Keepers Friend, you will need to gather a few key supplies.
Having all materials ready will make the job quicker and easier.
The first essential item is the Bar Keepers Friend stainless steel cleaning powder itself.
This can typically be found in the cleaning aisle of grocery and hardware stores.
Next, make sure you have an assortment of soft cloths, sponges, or non-abrasive scrub pads for applying paste and scrubbing.
Avoid any pads or brushes made of stiff bristles than could scratch steel surfaces.
You will also require some clean water, which can come from the tap, filtered water pitcher, or bottled water.
This will be used for mixing the cleaning paste and rinsing later on.
Finally, assemble the various stainless steel items that need cleaning.
This most commonly includes kitchen appliances like refrigerators, ovens and microwaves; sink basins and faucets; cookware such as pots, pans, and utensils; and outdoor items like grills.
Stainless steel requires regular cleaning to maintain its beauty and shine.
Mix Water and Powder into an Effective Cleaning Paste
Once supplies are gathered, the next key step is mixing Bar Keepers Friend powder into an effective steel cleaning paste.
Begin by measuring a scoop or two of the powder into a small mixing bowl or container – the exact amount is not super critical.
You mainly need enough to thoroughly cover the size of the area you intend on scrubbing.
Next, slowly stir in small splashes of clean water while mixing constantly with a spoon or spatula.
Watch as a thick paste begins forming.
The ideal consistency resembles a fairly dry dough that readily clings to surfaces rather than dripping or running off.
The paste should definitely not be runny and watery.
Continue adding modest amounts of water until desired texture is reached, then do a test dollop on a vertical stainless steel surface.
Properly mixed paste will adhere nicely without sliding down for 2-3 minutes.
This allows sufficient dwell time for the cleaning agents to start interacting with stains before scrubbing begins.
Adjust paste thickness if needed then you are ready to start applying.
Liberally Apply Paste to Soiled Stainless Steel Areas
Now comes the fun part – taking that cleaning paste you whipped up and getting it onto stained or grimy sections of stainless steel ready for scrubbing.
Using a soft cloth, sponge, or pad, take a generous blob of Bar Keepers Friend paste straight from the mixing bowl and thoroughly massage over the affected area.
Try to spread paste evenly across the whole stained patch, not missing any spots.
Apply a thick layer, really working the paste into stuck on deposits and tarnished regions.
Pay special attention to baked on food, grease splatters around cooktops and ovens, soap scum accumulation on sinks and appliances, mineral deposits from water, and exterior environmental stains on items like outdoor kitchens and grills.
Once the paste covers the entire soiled area, let it sit for 2-3 minutes but no longer.
This dwell time allows Bar Keepers Friend ingredients to start releasing dirt and breaking down tarnish, preparing the surface for more effective scrubbing shortly.
Resist rinsing or wiping during this short waiting period.
Scrub Off Loosened Grime then Rinse Clean
After a brief dwell time, that stainless steel surface should now be covered in dry, caked on Bar Keepers Friend paste.
Grab a new cloth, sponge or scrub pad and start gently scrubbing across that area using small circular motions.
Apply mild pressure as you scrub, but take care not to be overly aggressive or you may scratch steel surfaces.
The paste will feel mildly abrasive against the steel which helps lift stains away.
Focus on regions with heavier discoloration, periodically reapplying more paste as needed.
You will notice dark grime transferring to your scrub pad showing the cleaning solution at work.
Make sure to scrub the entire paste covered zone until the texture feels smooth and consistent.
Rinse regularly under clean running water to check your progress.
Keep scrubbing until all debris is lifted and only clean polished steel remains.
When done scrubbing, do a very thorough rinse to wash away all remaining cleaning paste residue.
This prevents any sticky film being left behind.
Check carefully that water runs clear.
Repeat scrubbing if any cloudiness or paste bits still cling to the steel.
Dry and Inspect the Freshly Cleaned Surface
As a final step after thoroughly rinsing soap residue away, take some clean soft cloths and carefully dry the whole stainless steel surface.
Make sure to wipe down all surrounding areas too, not just the recently scrubbed sections.
Proper drying helps strengthen the protective oxide layer on stainless steel while minimizing any new water spots.
Once the entire expanse is dry, take a step back and visually inspect from multiple angles, including indirect sunlight.
Check for any remaining stained or dull regions you may have missed.
Reapply a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend paste only to limited dingy areas if needed, scrub more, and rinse again.
But hopefully you reveal brightly polished, spotless, streak-free stainless steel that matches the clean surrounding areas that were untouched! Using Bar Keepers Friend as directed removes ugly discoloration and restores original steel luster and shine.
Admire how fantastic that kitchen appliance, sink basin, grill, orcookware looks now!
The logical flow of this stainless steel cleaning guide progresses through key phases – gathering supplies, mixing cleaning paste, applying to soiled areas, scrubbing and rinsing residue away, then finishing by drying and inspecting final results.
Letting paste dwell 2-3 minutes before wiping is vital so active ingredients sufficiently loosen stuck on gunk.
Thorough scrubbing and rinsing ensures no residue gets left behind.
Finally, careful inspection coupled with repeat spot cleaning guarantees optimal outcome.
Following this entire process using Bar Keepers Friend cleaner transforms dingy, lackluster stainless steel into spectacularly clean, smooth and brilliantly shiny metal that looks factory new!
Conclusion
Now that we have covered the full process for successfully wiping away stuck on grime and restoring stainless steel’s original shine using Bar Keepers Friend cleaner and a little elbow grease, let’s briefly recap the key steps:
- Collect all needed supplies – Bar Keepers Friend powder, water, soft cloths and scrub pads, stained steel surfaces requiring cleaning
- Mix powder and water into an evenly textured cleaning paste
- Liberally apply paste to fully cover soiled areas of steel
- Allow paste to dwell 2-3 minutes before scrubbing
- Gently scrub stained steel using circular motions
- Thoroughly rinse away all residue under clean running water
- Carefully dry entire steel surface with soft cloth
- Visually inspect for completeness and spot clean any remaining dingy areas
Following this reliable cleaning method allows you to safely and easily revitalize lackluster stainless steel objects by removing unsightly stains and mineral deposits yourself rather than resorting to expensive professional refinishing services.
Bar Keepers Friend is a game changing cleaner for refreshing sinks, appliances, cookware and more to resemble factory new condition.
Try Bar Keepers Friend stainless steel cleaner today and rediscover the joy of cooking, cleaning and entertaining in a kitchen full of gorgeously gleaming stainless steel surfaces!
