As I was busily scrubbing my sink one day this week, I thought, “I have to blog about this.” It was one of those moments that makes me feel a bit crazy — but I’d be willing to be most bloggers have had moments like that, realizing that something really mundane might actually make a somewhat interesting or helpful blog post.
Sooooo, once I was done scrubbing, I took pictures of my kitchen sink. And a cleaning product. Again, that’s a little kooky outside of blogland.
Admit it: this is one delightfully shiny sink!
I think stainless-steel sinks get a bad rap because they can look so dull. Admittedly, if I was going to put money into a new sink, it would probably be a white farmhouse-style porcelain-coated cast-iron sink. That’s not in the budget, but that’s no excuse to have an ugly sink!
My attempt at faking a farmhouse-style sink with the cute little curtain.
Allow me to introduce one of the best cleaning products EVER: Bar Keepers Friend. I’m not a barkeep, but this product is my friend.
You don’t have a stainless steel sink? Never fear! You can also use this on porcelain, fiberglass, copper, brass, and more! Make sure to rinse thoroughly after using so it doesn’t have a chalky-looking residue. With a little elbow grease, it will even remove rust. One more little tip: after I scrub and rinse well, I dry my sink completely, and then use just a tiny bit of olive oil on a paper towel to polish the entire sink. Keeps it super-shiny longer, and things don’t stick to the sink as easily. I have actually had guests compliment me on my shiny sink, which is really weird, if you think about it: how often do you compliment someone’s sink? But I’m kooky enough to care about things like that, so I must attract friends who are kooky enough to notice things like that sometimes, too. 😉
One can lasts me a very long time, but you can usually find it at local stores or you can order at Amazon. Although it’s been around since 1882, it’s modern enough to have its own website, too: www.barkeepersfriend.com
Wife, mama, homeschooler, dog-wrangler. Introvert who finds joy in good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Fitness enthusiast and strength coach. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand.
Thanks – I’ll try that. My sink definitely looks dull and, actually sort of sad!
Samantha
I am pretty much in love with this Bar Keepers Friend, too! Just last night I was using it on a stainless steel pan, smiling to myself at its wonderfulness!
Must run in the family. ;o)
I can totally relate! I blogged about Bar Keeper’s Friend probably a year or two ago for a WFMW because I love it, too! It works great on my tub (which is why I originally tried it…if you’re going to force yourself to clean a tub, it should look like it’s been cleaned when you’re done) and my glass top stove. Love it!
I really like your new theme, too. I know you were a little frustrated with it last night, but it looks really good.
I too love this stuff! I use it for our ceramic cooktop and it works MIRACLES to remove the stuff that I constantly drip on the hot surface. And it works wonders in our textured fiberglass shower and tub liners.
I am so happy that someone introduced me to this stuff because it really is my friend too!
Great recommendation!
I LOVE this product. I heard about it through Flylady, and even my husband was amazed at how well it works on our stainless steel sink. I prefer the liquid kind, but lately it seems that I can only find the powder in local stores.
I posted my $3 bathroom wall art for a quick tip. Stop by when you have a minute! 🙂
Beautiful job, kooky friend!
If it makes you feel any better, we have an old porcelain sink that is very stained and looks awful unless I soak it in bleach once a week! I will have to keep an eye out for this product as you say it also does porcelain!
Thanks Jamie!
God gave me one of those farm style sinks you mentioned at the house we had in Chatham: http://www.godleadsusalong.com/2010/06/renovating-our-god-is-god-of-detail.html It wasn’t any easier to keep clean than the stainless steel kind but it just made you want to keep it clean.
The ss one I have now in the trailer could stand some of your enthusiastic touch.
The oil sounds like an interesting idea, and reminds me that my mom used a greasy rag on her black wood stove.
I also have a white porcelain sink that is heavily stained and requires frequent bleachings. This product looks worth the purchase, thanks for your “kooky” post :-)!
BTW, in our previous house, I had a stainless steel sink very similar to yours and I loved spiffying it up until it shone like yours… ((sigh)) I miss it.
Blessings, Julie
You motivated me to get up and go clean my ss sink! She’s sparkling behing me now! Thanks!
I read your post a while ago. I didn’t think to much about it. Then some time later, I went to the store and was picking up some cleaning supplies. I noticed the Bar Keepers Friend and remembered your post. I picked it up thinking I would give it a try. Wow! This has got to be the best product I have ever used. Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely *love* that you shared this. I’m obsessed with my sink being clean, I will be buying some Barkeeper’s Friend and I never heard about the olive oil trick, I will be trying that. Thanks!
Wow wish i could get my sink to sparkle like that !
Bar Keepers Friend has been a friend of my family for generations. Nothing compares to it. A few weeks ago my husband did dishes and left a brillo pad laying on my stainless steel sink! When I saw it I realized it had left a big rust spot. Normally I would have went off on him for letting it there, but not to worry, I just got out my Bar Keepers Friend sprinkled a little on and wiped it right off! It is also a life saver for my white counter tops, there is always coffee stains around my coffee… Read more »
I make my shower stall sparkle with Barkeeper’s Friend. It’s fabulous. I love the non toxic smell too.
Thanks for the tip useing olive oil to make my sink shiny after cleaning.
I use Bar Keepers Friend it worked wonders on my tub and facebowl.I will try the kitchen sink next!
I too love a Clean Sink! 🙂
Love this stuff
There is nothing better than a clean, shiny sink! Once all the kitchen has been cleaned I do the sink with the best product ever, Bar Keepers Friend!
My mom introduce me to Bar keepers friend years ago, I use it to clean my kitchen, bathroom sink, my stove it is great. I recommend it to my friends and family.
If my kitchen sink could once again shine like that, I would say Bar Keepers Friend performs magic!
[…] Bar Keepers Friend will Clean your stainless steel sink like See Jamie Blog shows us! I really need to do this to my stainless steel sink it looks insanely bad right […]
[…] Here’s the review and tutorial. Just make sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions to see if it’s an approved cleaner, which you can usually find with a quick Google search. Get Barkeeper’s Friend for $6.34 here. […]
[…] Here’s the review and tutorial. Just make sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions to see if it’s an approved cleaner, which you can usually find with a quick Google search. Get Barkeeper’s Friend for $6.34 here. […]
[…] Here’s the review and tutorial. Just make sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions to see if it’s an approved cleaner, which you can usually find with a quick Google search. Get Barkeeper’s Friend for $6.34 here. […]
[…] Here’s the review and tutorial. Just make sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions to see if it’s an approved cleaner, which you can usually find with a quick Google search. Get Barkeeper’s Friend for $6.34 here. […]