Bar Keepers Friend®

1. Wipe or rinse out mouth.
2. Give a serving size of water to drink.
3. Rinse any exposed skin with lukewarm water.
4. Call 1-800-222-1222 for additional instructions.

If someone gets Bar Keepers Friend in the eye(s), there can be immediate burning and stinging, which requires prompt first aid to avoid an eye injury.

1. Start rinsing eye(s) with lukewarm water.
2. Call the Missouri Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for further recommendations.

Quick Facts about Bar Keepers Friend

Bar Keepers Friend is an unusual name for a cleaning product. This was named because it was initially formulated for barkeepers to polish the brass rails surrounding their bars. Over the years, it has evolved into an all-purpose cleanser that is available as a powder and liquid soft cleanser. It is known for its ability to remove stains, rust, lime, and tarnish on many hard surfaces, leaving them polished and rust-free. You can use this cleanser on stainless steel, aluminum, glass, copper, ceramic, fiberglass, porcelain, steel, and chrome.

What are the ingredients in Bar Keepers Friend?

The ingredients in Bar Keepers Friend are a mild abrasive or grit, linear sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate which is a surfactant or soap, and oxalic acid, which removes rust stains.

Oxalic acid is found in many plant-based foods, such as spinach, potatoes, and beets. Excessive ingestion of oxalic acid can inhibit the absorption of essential nutrients and irritate the mucous lining throughout the body, leading to pain and inflammation. Oxalic acid in cleaners such as Bar Keepers Friend is a cleaning agent. It reacts with rust, forming a rinsable, water-soluble complex. Because it is water-soluble, you can use it on cookware to remove the cleaner if you rinse it thoroughly.

You should take precautions when cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend, especially if there is prolonged use of the product. Cover your skin, mouth, nose, and eyes when using. This means wearing cleaning gloves, goggles, and a mask over the mouth and nose. The correct use of the product is to apply the powder to a wet surface; the powder particles do not form nuisance dust when wet. Keep in mind this product is available as a liquid soft cleanser that is premixed with water for convenience.

What To Do If You Inhale Its Dust

If you are exposed to the nuisance dust created by the powder while cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend, follow the following steps. Prompt and thorough first aid is key in preventing minor irritation symptoms from developing into a more serious problem.

• Get into fresh air to limit the amount you breathe in.
• If some particles get into your mouth, rinse with water, swish it around, and spit it out. Rinse several times.
• Gently rinse any skin exposed with lots of lukewarm water, using soap freely.

If you find someone has eaten a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend, do not panic. Wipe out the mouth with a soft, wet cloth and give them some water to drink. If problems start or you have questions, call the Missouri Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222. The poison center is open all day, every day, for poisoning emergencies and questions.

**Note: Don’t forget, every case is different. To make sure you are getting the best information for your individual situation, click below to call or chat. It is fast, free, and confidential.