Cleaning Shower Heads and Faucets with BKF

September 21, 2022

Cleaning shower heads and faucets can be a challenge. However, you can bring rusted, hard water-stained, aging shower heads and faucets back from the dead with Bar Keepers Friend.

Shower heads and faucets can be made of stainless steel, chromed metals, brass, and ABS plastic, so be careful before you start. If you’re uncertain as to the material used to construct your shower head, it’s a good idea to test a small spot before cleaning the entire shower head. Keep in mind the ABS plastic shower heads look like shiny metal.

Cleaning Shower Heads and Faucets with BKF

What You’ll Need

• Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser
• Soft cloth (nothing abrasive)

Cleaning Your Shower Head 

• Dampen the shower head with warm water
• Make a paste using Bar Keepers Friend and water
• Use a soft cloth to apply the paste to the pan
• Use a toothbrush or other soft bristle brush on the spray holes
• Let it sit for one minute
• Rub the paste in a circular motion
• Wash in hot soapy water
• Rinse, dry, and shine
• Repeat as needed

Here’s What Some of Our Professional Fans Had to Say

Cottage Notes — How To Clean Faucets And Shower Heads

“Bar Keepers Friend can make good work of stainless steel shower heads and faucets. It will make the surface shiny and like new with a clean, fresh scent. Just wet the surface and rub on a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend. Rub in circular motions until the grime, if there’s any, lifts away. Then, all you have to do is rinse it clean.”

Bob Vila

“Sinks and faucets made from stainless steel and other metals will look shiny and new after scrubbing with Bar Keepers Friend. This might be one of the most conventional uses for the cleanser, but it’s popular for a reason. The product removes water spots and smudges, making metallic surfaces gleam and sparkle.”

TLC Cleaning — How to clean a shower head

“For the perfect finish, you need the perfect product. Bar Keepers Friend is the final touch to a super clean shower head that is worthy of praise … A rub of Barkeepers Friend offers the sparkle you need for a top-quality bathroom. Now it is time to enjoy your squeaky-clean shower in perfect peace!”

How to Clean Your Faucet with BKF 

What You’ll Need 

• Bar Keepers Friend
• Water (Okay, it’s the sink, so there might be water)
• Two soft, non-abrasive cleaning rags, we like micro clothes, one wet, one dry

Cleaning your faucet 

• Dampen the faucet with water
• Sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend on the faucet
• Wait a minute or two while BKF goes to work, but don’t let it dry out
• Scrub in a circular motion with a wet rag or sponge
• Run the water and rinse the BKF off the faucet
• Wipe down and shine with the dry cloth

Pro Tip: To save time, you can clean your entire sink all at once using the above steps! 

What the Pros Had to Say 

Muckywump — How To Clean A Faucet, Remove Hard Water Stains, Restore And Polish With Bar Keepers Friend

“This method will work for cleaning a faucet in a bathtub or shower or the sink of the kitchen and bathroom. No need to hire a professional for faucet cleaning or buying expensive faucet cleaner. Follow the easy steps to learn how to clean a bathroom like a professional. First, wet the area to be cleaned. Next, sprinkle a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend powder onto the faucet, then scrub with a mildly abrasive scrubbing pad. Finally, rinse with water and see the shine of a new bathtub or kitchen faucet.”

My Greener Living — Cleaning with Bar Keeper’s Friend

“On my kitchen sink, I have a brushed nickel faucet, handle, and soap dispenser. These get a lot of water spots on them when I am washing dishes. Just a little Bar Keeper’s friend on a damp cloth will polish the kitchen faucet and accessories very well.”

Strictly Sinks Cleaning

“Douse your sink with water and add a mild abrasive cleaner. We prefer using Bar Keepers Friend®. With a soft sponge, scrub with the grain and brushed pattern of your sink. NEVER Brush against the grain and rinse immediately with clean water and dry with a microfiber cloth.”

It’s about More Than Looking Shiny and Clean

A dirty shower head or faucet is not only unattractive, but it can also be a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and viruses. So, it’s essential to keep these clean not only for the aesthetics of cleanliness but for the health and well-being of your family.

Have questions about Bar Keepers Friend and our many cleansers and products? Contact us today!

About the Author 

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends (after COVID-19), he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook: A crash course in effective management.