In 1882, an Indianapolis chemist noticed how clean and shiny his tarnished pot was after cooking rhubarb. Using an active ingredient that’s found in the plant he formulated a talcum-smooth cleanser that he peddled in brown paper packets to the city’s saloons.  So please were the barkeepers with how well it worked on bar fixtures and drain boards the product was dubbed the “Bar Keepers Friend.”

News of the gentle but hard-working cleanser spread and orders poured in from bartenders, restaurateurs and innkeepers.  Homeowners discovered the many uses of Bar Keepers Friend as well.  The name was briefly changed to “Housekeepers Friend” but sales dropped so much the original name went back on the can.

The same non-bleach formula that put a shine to copper mugs and brass rails of taverns at the turn of the century is used in households today on chrome, stainless steel, porcelain and ceramic surfaces among others. Delighted customers still spread the word.

Today, Bar Keepers Friend is still made in Indianapolis and sold across the United States and in many other countries ­– some 10 million cans and growing.  Loyal users can find Bar Keepers Friend in major retail stores including mass merchandise, grocery, drug and hardware.

“Once Tried, Always Used.”