Friday, March 23, 2012

How to Make Your Scratched Dishes Look Like New Again!

BEFORE                                                                              AFTER
After nearly a quarter century of use...this set of Mikasa French Countryside dishes that I got for my wedding have served me well! Sure they have a fair amount of grey scratches from metal utensil use...but for the most part they have worn like IRON! I figured that putting up with the scratch marks was just the price I paid for their years of loyal service.

Little did I know there is a SIMPLE FIX for this problem and it has been sitting on the shelves of my grocery store since 1882!!! Well, not MY grocery store, since it's only about 15 years old...but SOME grocery/general store...SOMEWHERE!



BEFORE


DURING
Apparently over 130 years ago, back in Indianapolis, some chemist guy was making some rhubarb soup (or something like that) and noticed how shiny his pans were when he was done. Being an entrepreneurial spirit...he took the active ingredient in rhubarb and formulated a cleaner that he then sold to local taverns.
Thus the name...Bar Keeper's Friend.

Pretty amazing when you think about it. Something created that long ago is STILL the BEST option for a accomplishing a number of household tasks!

Including, removing scratches (that I thought were permanent) off dishes with relative ease!


AFTER

Even the backsides of the dishes look great now!

OK, I've chatted quite a bit. Can you tell I'm trying to use up some space in this post with WORDS and BIG PICTURES because this is such a simple fix it doesn't take long OR take up much room in today's post?

But that doesn't change the "WOW Factor" of this product to me. 

So if your "well-loved" dishes are suffering from a similar condition...give Barkeeper's Friend a try. It's sold in most grocery stores along side the Ajax and Comet. You can also go to the Barkeeper's Friend website to see even MORE uses. Gotta love multi-tasking cleaners! :-)


And old, OLD cleaning "friend" is today's.....



31 comments:

  1. EileenMarch 23, 2012 at 4:44 AM

    I've been using BKF for 30 years, my SS sink still looks like new because of BKF.

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  2. EmmaMarch 23, 2012 at 5:03 AM

    Wow - don't think we get this stuff in Australia. I'm wondering if there would be an equivalent?

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  3. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 5:36 AM

    I use BKF to get the bottom of my shower clean.

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  4. BetsyMarch 23, 2012 at 5:55 AM

    I did this to some of my dishes and it worked beautifully, but found the grey marks came back after a few washings :( Hopefully your dishes have better results. But it's good to know I can spruce up my dishes before my mother-in-law comes for a visit!!

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  5. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 6:00 AM

    I have that exact same set of dishes, AND I have BKF under my kitchen sink... BUT I had no idea about this handy trick! Thank you so much! I'm going to go try it right this minute!!!

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  6. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 6:34 AM

    Love this! I have the same French Countryside china. It's been awesome, but many are scratched, like yours. I thought I needed new dishes. Who would have known? Thanks!

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  7. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 6:49 AM

    I love BKF for cleaning up marks on my walls...better than the magic eraser and costs a lot less!

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  8. Greylady3March 23, 2012 at 6:51 AM

    Also works like a dream on smooth top stoves with no scratching. Cheaper than the stuff they sell for cleaning the stove top and works better.

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  9. LilybeanMarch 23, 2012 at 7:02 AM

    I break a lot of dishes, so I get mine all second hand. I get all white but otherwise any old pattern that's handy in the thrift store that day. Sort of a shabby chic thing.

    But they all come with scratches like this, and like you, I thought they were permanent! Trying this soon.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    I have been uing Bar Keepers Friend for several years now. I use it to remove the marks from my porcelain sinks as well as to shine my stainless cookware. Works like a miracle. Love this stuff!

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  11. KimMarch 23, 2012 at 9:11 AM

    I've been using Bar Keepers Friend for over 20 years, you can use it on almost anything. One of my favorite use's is getting koolaid stains off my counter that the grandbabies leave behind & cleaning my chrome rims, LOL, I know, who'd a thought...

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  12. JennyMarch 23, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    Wow! I'm going to have to try it on my kitchen sink. I had no idea you could get scratches out! Thanks

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  13. CindiMarch 23, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    Works great on my 20 year old Swanstone sink. When we got new counters I opted to keep the sink it works so well.

    Also works on my almost 40 year old Corelle ware.

    @Emma - Haven't found another soft scrub or powder that works as well.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Janet L.March 23, 2012 at 11:05 AM

    BKF is also great for porcelein sinks, bottoms of Revere Ware pots and pans, counter stains, grass stains on my golf shoes and more. I love it and use it all the time!

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  15. Charlotte WilsonMarch 23, 2012 at 11:24 AM

    I have tried other cleansers but it is really hard to scrub off the marks. I think I will try BKF.

    thanks!
    ♥charlotte

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  16. labbie1March 23, 2012 at 11:47 AM

    I LOVE barkeepers friend! You can use it to clean glass flat top stoves as well. It doesn't scratch them but cleans like nobody's business!

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  17. landfrau74March 23, 2012 at 12:21 PM

    When my rhubarb is ready to be harvested, I will try to make enzyme cleaner from the outer layer I peel off. I´ll let you know if it works.

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  18. CaroleMarch 23, 2012 at 2:53 PM

    Thank you! Thank you! I too have French Countryside dishes, and have lots of those awful little marks on them. I knew there was something out there to clean them with, but couldn't remember what it was. Thanks to your expertise, I can make mine like new again too. Mine are older than yours, but in very good shape otherwise. Thanks again, Jillee.

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  19. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 5:51 PM

    I mentioned on Pinterest that the dishes looked like my pattern, Pfaltzgraf's Gazebo White, but I see, on closer inspection that it's Mikasa-still very lovely, and worthy of restoration to its original lustre! Thanks so much for the tip! Will definitely try this. Shelly Yost

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  20. UnknownMarch 23, 2012 at 7:39 PM

    I live this tip!! Am going to go get some to spruce up my dishes and pots. Can't wait to see the results.

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  21. Rob and DeannaMarch 23, 2012 at 9:46 PM

    I have used BKF for several years. When I ran out, after reading your post about Peroxide/Dawn and Baking soda I just started using that instead. Just curious, did you try the above before BKF? Wondering if BKF is still better for some things?

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  22. AnonymousMarch 24, 2012 at 7:51 AM

    AMAZING !!!
    I already had Bar Keeper Friend that I use on my ceramic cooktop stove and stainless sink, I had never used it on my white dishes. I am so impressed. I immediately tried it and my dishes look like new - Thank You !!

    ReplyDelete
  23. MicheleMarch 24, 2012 at 8:17 AM

    I use my Franciscan Apple dishes for everyday, and have scratches like yours. I have been a BKF fan for years, but didn't know I could use it on dishes. Guess what I will be doing today! Thanks so much for the tip.

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  24. AnonymousMarch 24, 2012 at 6:38 PM

    Thank you so much for this recommendation...I intend to purchase this product!

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  25. NoniMarch 24, 2012 at 9:25 PM

    I LOVE BKF, I use it for practically everything!!

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  26. AnonymousMarch 25, 2012 at 10:17 AM

    I would like to know if I can get this product in Canada. Have never noticed it in the store. Please let me know and where. Thanks

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  27. CandyMarch 25, 2012 at 2:37 PM

    My sink is like these scratches on plates and my sink used to be all shinny but now its all scratched up with the same type of marks, do you think it would work to get these scratches out??

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  28. AnonymousMarch 26, 2012 at 2:37 PM

    I bought the BKF this weekend, and after MUCH scrubbing on a few of my plates they were better, but I could still see the marks and then I had a big mess in my sink. I decided not enough change in the dishes to do all 32 of them. I will buy new dishes and leave these at the thirft store for someone who doesn't mind doing the scrubbing or living with scratched dishes.

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  29. LeesaMarch 27, 2012 at 8:13 AM

    I have Fiesta Ware in Cobalt Blue. Does this also work on colored dishes?

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  30. AnonymousMarch 27, 2012 at 2:11 PM

    Nothing cleans copper bottom pots better than BKF!!!

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  31. UnknownMarch 27, 2012 at 11:59 PM

    Candy...I forgot to mention that it works great on your sink too. :-)

    I'm not sure about whether this is available in Canada. I will look into that.

    Leesa....Barkeeper’s Friend DOES work on Fiestaware. It's made from a non-bleach powder cleanser.

    ReplyDelete

Please post a comment if you feel so inclined! I love reading your thoughts and suggestions! And let's just face it....we're a lot smarter collectively...than individually. :-)