Using Bar Keepers Friend Outdoors

May 24, 2023

When I mention to friends that I use Bar Keepers Friend outdoors, most are surprised and say they love it in the kitchen and bathroom but have never thought about using it outdoors. If, like many of my friends, you’ve never used BKF outside, you’ll be amazed at how many ways it can be used.

For example, in this post, Taking Bar Keepers Friend Outside, we discuss cleaning grills, siding, and windows. Yes! Siding and windows.

Siding, Windows, and More 

My home is part brick and part vinyl siding. Every spring, the vinyl begins growing mold on the north side. It happens to almost every home in the neighborhood, and if it’s not taken care of, the HOS sends the homeowner a notice with a time limit to clean it or face a fine. BKF to the rescue.

I’ve used BKF on my mailbox after it was dive-bombed by a flock of birds. I cleaned a stainless steel outdoor water bowl I’d left out far too long.

We’ve talked about cleaning your pool, bicycle, patio furniture, and more, so I wanted to share some things to clean outdoors that might be off your radar.

Using Bar Keepers Friend Outdoors

Saturday, I spent a couple of hours in my backyard with a sponge, towel, bucket of water, Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser, and original BKF Powder Cleanser. I love my backyard. There’s a wooded area behind my house, and in the summertime, it feels like being at a campground. Weather permitting, I set up my outdoor “office” and work out back. I’m writing this right now, looking at the woods.

The first thing I tackled was flowerpots. I’m an avid gardener with 30+ flower beds, and so far this year, I’ve filled 35 hanging baskets with flowers. However, I have 20-plus pots next to my flower workbench that have seen better days.

A Rule Breaker

I must tell you in this cleaning session I broke some rules. I cleaned materials not always recommended for Bar Keepers Friend, such as a wood camping table, and some things I wasn’t sure about, like clay flowerpots. So, before I attempted to clean something I was unsure about, I tried a small out-of-sight spot first, and you should do the same.

First up were flowerpots. I tried both BKF Powder and Soft Cleanser. These clay and plastic pots had been out in the weather next to my workbench in the woods for several years, and they’d seen better days. They’re not perfect, but after some BKF magic, they’re much more presentable. Pretty flowers in an ugly pot doesn’t work for me.

Next, I tried BKF Powder on an old wooden roll-up portable camping table. When I bought it at a yard sale, I was told to store it indoors when not using it. I didn’t listen, and it went from a shiny brown to a moldy gray. BKF is not recommended for wood, but I had nothing to lose, so I tried it on half the table. As you can see from the photo, it made a difference. I think one more round and then some varnish will bring it back.

Nothing is Impossible

After that, I thought, what the heck? Let’s try the impossible. I like to cook over a wood fire. Unfortunately, any rack I put over the fire is like putting it in the fire. It becomes covered with burnt grease and smoke. I used the powder to clean my top grill. I use a bottom grill and then set another on top, then I add aluminum foil on top of that. Last night I didn’t need aluminum foil! The baby back ribs were delicious! (Ask me, and I’ll share the recipe for perfect grilled ribs.)

I cleaned an old candle holder shaped like a sitting cat, a water fountain pot, and I even tried it on one of the 20 geodes I have.

All in all, it was a lot of fun in the sun, and even though I broke a few rules, I got a lot of stuff looking much better than it did before.

What outdoor items have you cleaned with Bar Keepers Friend? We’d love to hear your story and see any photos you have. Please drop us a note on the Bar Keepers Friend Facebook Page.

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.