Stainless steel cleaning

[Sea Dreaming]

You might also try a "magic eraser". Works really well and cheap. But it really depends on how deep the rust stain is.

[Painted Skies]

I know this is an old thread, however, today I recalled that some previous posters had recommended Bar Keepers Friend for cleaning rust from stainless steel (it is a citric acid-based product from the US).

Just got back from Costco here in Adelaide (South Australia); they are now stocking Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser in large 737g bottles (~3/4 litre) - they are sold in a 3-pack for AU$9.99. What a deal!

Think there will be a "whole lot of polishing goin' on" this weekend!

[Hearts Content]

Spotless Stainless

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Painted Skies

I know this is an old thread, however, today I recalled that some previous posters had recommended Bar Keepers Friend for cleaning rust from stainless steel (it is a citric acid-based product from the US).

Just got back from Costco here in Adelaide (South Australia); they are now stocking Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser in large 737g bottles (~3/4 litre) - they are sold in a 3-pack for AU$9.99. What a deal!

Think there will be a "whole lot of polishing goin' on" this weekend!

Can you let us know what you think of it after you have used it? I'd be interested in getting some.

[Vasco]

Barkeeper's friend is not citric acid. It's oxalic acid.

Sent from my SM-G532M using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Painted Skies]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Barkeeper's friend is not citric acid. It's oxalic acid.

Sent from my SM-G532M using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Perhaps your bottle contains something different than mine - here's a photo of the back label. Clearly says "Contains Citric Acid."

[GordMay]

You're both right.

From the (Liquid) Soft Cleanser MSDS:
OXALIC ACID 2 - 4%
CITRIC ACID 0.8 - 1.1%
➥ https://www.barkeepersfriend.com/wp-...-15.pdf?544c4c

From the (Powder) Cleanser & Polish MSDS:
Oxalic Acid 7.5 - 9.5%
Citric Acid not listed

[four winds]

It does work well. I use the powder version with a scotchbright pad or damp rag. And follow up with a quick wax.

Also on my forty year old Formica countertops, and gelcoat. Rust stains scrub off easily. Only a dollar per can here. Hard to beat.


Hey Rustic, haven't seen you post in a while. Good to see you still around.

[Painted Skies]

Originally Posted by GordMay

You're both right.

From the (Liquid) Soft Cleanser MSDS:
OXALIC ACID 2 - 4%
CITRIC ACID 0.8 - 1.1%

Thanks Gord, for this MSDS information - a bit surprised my bottle doesn't mention the oxalic acid.

Per Rustic Charm's request, here's my evaluation of Bar Keepers Friend:

* * * * *

As I mentioned in an earlier post of this thread - over the past 27 years we have tried nearly all the products on the market for cleaning/de-rusting stainless steel. Our favorite until this week was Spotless Stainless; however, they stopped importing it to Australia about two years ago (due to the adverse exchange rate and high shipping costs - but before that, it was over AU$50 a litre). Since then, we've been searching for a suitable alternative.

Last week we found Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) at Costco here in Adelaide really cheap, so we splurged on the 3-pack for AU$9.99. Just finished using it this morning on the topside stainless and was pleasantly surprised to find that it is every bit as easy and effective as the gold standard (Spotless Stainless). Not too surprising, since they are both citric acid-based products and are applied using the same method.... brush it on, wait awhile, rinse it off with the hose. BKF directions say to wash it off the surface within one minute of application - I applied it to about 1/4 of the deck hardware at one shot, and then rinsed it off. The only effect I found when leaving it on longer than recommended is that it is harder to hose off.

The photos are of my primary test vehicle for new SS cleaning products - the life raft cradle. Made of 1" stainless tubing, it is in a perpetual state of rusting. It was originally powder-coated but over time the paint has flaked away, along with any passivation layer (or this stainless is simply not suitable for a marine application). Even more vexing, is that this rust has stained the gel coat nonskid underneath - and BKF even removed that. In fact, in my stainless cleaning frenzy I used BKF with a scrub brush to clean the entire deck and it found it works better than my normal go-to product (Softscrub). We have even tried BKF on our brass sinks and faucets.... fab! We will now rid ourselves of two cleaning products (Softscrub and Brasso) and consolidate on Bar Keepers Friend. I'd rate it a 9 out of 10 - and only because it would be better if it was thicker... it drips when trying to apply it to vertical surfaces (stanchions, standing rigging, etc.).

Photos show the 'before' and 'after' on the life raft cradle.

Cheers, Katherine

[GILow]

Well those sinks look amazing. If you need some more stainless to test on I can help. :^)

BTW, someone may have made the same mistake with lifeboat cradle that I made when fabricating our stern ladder. In all the running around I forgot to specify 316 stainless. The poor thing is a mess but I am treating it as a template for remaking the ladder in the proper stuff later.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Painted Skies

Thanks Gord, for this MSDS information - a bit surprised my bottle doesn't mention the oxalic acid.

Per Rustic Charm's request, here's my evaluation of Bar Keepers Friend:

* * * * *

As I mentioned in an earlier post of this thread - over the past 27 years we have tried nearly all the products on the market for cleaning/de-rusting stainless steel. Our favorite until this week was Spotless Stainless; however, they stopped importing it to Australia about two years ago (due to the adverse exchange rate and high shipping costs - but before that, it was over AU$50 a litre). Since then, we've been searching for a suitable alternative.

Last week we found Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) at Costco here in Adelaide really cheap, so we splurged on the 3-pack for AU$9.99. Just finished using it this morning on the topside stainless and was pleasantly surprised to find that it is every bit as easy and effective as the gold standard (Spotless Stainless). Not too surprising, since they are both citric acid-based products and are applied using the same method.... brush it on, wait awhile, rinse it off with the hose. BKF directions say to wash it off the surface within one minute of application - I applied it to about 1/4 of the deck hardware at one shot, and then rinsed it off. The only effect I found when leaving it on longer than recommended is that it is harder to hose off.

The photos are of my primary test vehicle for new SS cleaning products - the life raft cradle. Made of 1" stainless tubing, it is in a perpetual state of rusting. It was originally powder-coated but over time the paint has flaked away, along with any passivation layer (or this stainless is simply not suitable for a marine application). Even more vexing, is that this rust has stained the gel coat nonskid underneath - and BKF even removed that. In fact, in my stainless cleaning frenzy I used BKF with a scrub brush to clean the entire deck and it found it works better than my normal go-to product (Softscrub). We have even tried BKF on our brass sinks and faucets.... fab! We will now rid ourselves of two cleaning products (Softscrub and Brasso) and consolidate on Bar Keepers Friend. I'd rate it a 9 out of 10 - and only because it would be better if it was thicker... it drips when trying to apply it to vertical surfaces (stanchions, standing rigging, etc.).

Photos show the 'before' and 'after' on the life raft cradle.

Cheers, Katherine

Thank you.. I'll see if I can arrange to get some.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Painted Skies

Thanks Gord, for this MSDS information - a bit surprised my bottle doesn't mention the oxalic acid.

Per Rustic Charm's request, here's my evaluation of Bar Keepers Friend:

* * * * *

As I mentioned in an earlier post of this thread - over the past 27 years we have tried nearly all the products on the market for cleaning/de-rusting stainless steel. Our favorite until this week was Spotless Stainless; however, they stopped importing it to Australia about two years ago (due to the adverse exchange rate and high shipping costs - but before that, it was over AU$50 a litre). Since then, we've been searching for a suitable alternative.

Last week we found Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) at Costco here in Adelaide really cheap, so we splurged on the 3-pack for AU$9.99. Just finished using it this morning on the topside stainless and was pleasantly surprised to find that it is every bit as easy and effective as the gold standard (Spotless Stainless). Not too surprising, since they are both citric acid-based products and are applied using the same method.... brush it on, wait awhile, rinse it off with the hose. BKF directions say to wash it off the surface within one minute of application - I applied it to about 1/4 of the deck hardware at one shot, and then rinsed it off. The only effect I found when leaving it on longer than recommended is that it is harder to hose off.

The photos are of my primary test vehicle for new SS cleaning products - the life raft cradle. Made of 1" stainless tubing, it is in a perpetual state of rusting. It was originally powder-coated but over time the paint has flaked away, along with any passivation layer (or this stainless is simply not suitable for a marine application). Even more vexing, is that this rust has stained the gel coat nonskid underneath - and BKF even removed that. In fact, in my stainless cleaning frenzy I used BKF with a scrub brush to clean the entire deck and it found it works better than my normal go-to product (Softscrub). We have even tried BKF on our brass sinks and faucets.... fab! We will now rid ourselves of two cleaning products (Softscrub and Brasso) and consolidate on Bar Keepers Friend. I'd rate it a 9 out of 10 - and only because it would be better if it was thicker... it drips when trying to apply it to vertical surfaces (stanchions, standing rigging, etc.).

Photos show the 'before' and 'after' on the life raft cradle.

Cheers, Katherine

It's being advertised as 'now available in Coles supermarkets'.. I'll pop in there later and see if I can find it.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by four winds

It does work well. I use the powder version with a scotchbright pad or damp rag. And follow up with a quick wax.

Also on my forty year old Formica countertops, and gelcoat. Rust stains scrub off easily. Only a dollar per can here. Hard to beat.


Hey Rustic, haven't seen you post in a while. Good to see you still around.

Hi yeah, I'm still around. I peruse the forum from time to time and if I'm looking for help/advice. But I made a decision to avoid the social discussions. Too stressful for me.

[Suijin]

I bought a bottle of Spotless Stainless today to try out. Applied it to some stanchions with some moderate surface rust, at the prescribed temperature, let it sit for 30 minutes, kept it moist, and...nothing. Did not do a thing.

So I took another stanchion and cleaned it with acetone, then mineral spirits on the theory that residual wax may have prevented the SS from working. I also shook the bottle, which I had not noticed in the instructions. Applied again, as per the first, and...nothing.

I'm perplexed. I would have expected it to do something, not nothing. I did notice that the areas without rust where it was applied were a little a little brighter, but it did nothing to the rust.

I can't square that with the rave reviews I've read. Very strange.

[IslandHopper]

For those using or have used BKF.....

Besides the powder/liquid option, which "flavour" are you using/prefer? seems there are a couple to choose from...

Bar Keepers Friend