Wait What? You Can Clean Windows with Bar Keepers Friend!?

May 18, 2022

Yes, you can clean windows with Bar Keepers Friend. I've been using BKF for more than 50 years but didn't know I could clean my windows with BKF powder until last year. Here's the story. During the summer, I work at what I call my outside office. It's a round patio table with an umbrella that allows me to sit facing the wooded hill behind my home while I write away. From summer to fall, the maple, oak, and walnut trees hide the homes at the top of the hill from my view. When a storm threatens, I move inside and take in the view through our sliding patio door. On one such day last summer, I did just that but found the vista covered in smudges. It was the door, not the woods, which was smudged. The door had smudges on the inside, and water spots had accumulated on the outside pane of glass. There were water spots on water spots on smudges. I thought, there's got to be a better way to clean this door (or my windows). Then it hit me. I use BKF on my shower door, so wouldn't it work on my sliding patio door? The experts tell us we can use BKF on glass oven doors, glass stovetops, and glass table tops so why not windows? So, I got online and jumped down that rabbit hole where I found videos of people doing precisely that. BKF could rescue my view!

How to Clean Windows with Bar Keepers Friend

Make a paste of Bar Keepers Friend Powdered Cleanser and water. Note: Be stingy with the BKF powder. You don't need much
Rub it on the glass and then let it sit for five minutes
Next wipe up the paste with a soft wet cloth
Shine it clean with a dry rag or paper towel

Cleaning Sliding Patio Door Tracks

Sliding door tracks attract dirt, grime, bugs, and more. I use BKF MORE Spray + Foam cleaner to clean away the grime of time that builds up on tracks. Left unattended, the build-up can interfere with the operation of the door. I've tried cleaners that were more Pray and Foam than Spray and Foam. You prayed they would work, which usually meant they didn't. BKF Spray + Foam is tough on stains on many levels. It has two settings depending on your cleaning needs. For lighter cleaning, set the bottle to spray. For more challenging jobs, try the foam setting. Either way, you don't have to pray it will work. It works.

How to use BKF Spray + Foam

Rotate the trigger to the symbol for spray for regular cleaning or foam for deeper cleaning. You'll find two stops and the two symbols on the trigger. When I'm not sure, I give the trigger a squeeze to test it. Spray from 6 to 8 inches away, rub it thoroughly with a cloth or sponge, and then use a cloth to wipe it dry. It's that easy. If it's a stubborn stain, let the foam sit for one minute before rubbing.

It's a Yes! You Can Clean Windows with Bar Keepers Friend!

Thanks to a bit of elbow grease and BKF, my sliding patio door now offers a beautiful view of the woods. I'd still prefer sitting at my "outdoor office" on a nice summer day, but at least when the storms come and I move inside, I have a smudge-free, water-spotless view. If you're a fan of BKF, like me, but didn't know you could clean windows with Bar Keepers Friend, let us know if you give it a try. And while you're at it, take some photos! We welcome before-and after photos. You can upload your photos here if you want to showcase your window-cleaning efforts. Enjoy the view.

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.