Cleaning a Mailbox with Bar Keepers Friend

June 1, 2022

I learned about cleaning a mailbox with Bar Keepers Friend the hard way. It was because of birds. I don’t know if this has ever happened to you, but a flock of birds must have dive-bombed my mailbox with droppings. So, I googled this because it’s happened to my car, patio furniture, and now my mailbox. I didn’t find any scientific evidence or explanation for why birds do this, but they do. Has it happened to you?

Kamikaze Birds 

I was hoping there was a name for this phenomenon, but I didn’t find one, so I’m calling it a mass dive drop. I can tell you this. My mailbox was a mess.

I knew I could use BKF products on a steel mailbox to wipe away rust, grime, and dirt. Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser,  MORE Spray + Foam, or Soft Cleanser would work. However, even on an unpainted steel box, you should test the product on a small area, such as the underside of the box.

Cleaning a Mailbox with Bar Keepers Friend 

Test it First

My mailbox is steel, but it’s painted black. You have to be careful with BKF on uncoated painted metal surfaces. However, as bad as the box was covered in gooey guano, I figured I didn’t have anything to lose. If I scrubbed the paint off while cleaning the dung, I’d either repaint it or buy a new box.

Although I considered using BKF MORE Spray + Foam Cleaner, I decided to go old school with Bar Keepers Friend Powdered Cleanser. First, I used my hose to spray off as much muck as I could. Then I made a paste using the powder and a bit of water. Next, I coated the box with the paste, let it sit one minute, and then wiped it off with a soft cloth. That process removed a lot of the avian muck but not all of it. There were white smudges all over my mailbox.

Dental Care

I figured I was due for a new toothbrush, so I grabbed mine from the bathroom, made a little more paste, and went to town on the mailbox with my “old” toothbrush. It took several applications, but I eventually removed the bird droppings from my mailbox. Did I mention the poop was even on the little handle that opens the box? Geeza.

So, now I’m ready for the next surprise attack from my fowl friends. Who knows where the next sneaky assault will come. It could be my front window, bicycle, or my fountain. Either way, I’m ready for them.

Cleaning a Mailbox with Bar Keepers Friend, Nothing to Lose

I’m not going to recommend this procedure unless you test it on your box first or if you’re like me and it’s a case of “What have I got to lose .” The final score at my house was Bird’s zero Randy, a shiny clean mailbox. I wish I had been smart enough to take before and after photos, but I was caught up in the challenge and wasn’t thinking. So, if you face a heinous hen raid and bring BKF to the battle, please take some before and after photos to share with us. You can upload your photos here.

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.