I love to cook. Whether putting together a healthy, veggie-forward meal on a weekday or something more indulgent and cheesy on the weekend, I always find myself looking forward to dinner.

What I don’t look forward to, however, is the cleanup. I have finally entered into the stage in my life where I have a dishwasher, but there are still a few items that need a hand wash every night.

And at least two or three times a week, those pots, pans, and baking sheets inevitably end up with caked-on messes that regular dish soap can’t handle.

A few years ago, I was very close to throwing away a brand-new pan because food had become stuck to it and didn’t seem like it would ever come off. But I did some Googling, and found what has now become my go-to for the toughest, hardest food messes: Bar Keeper’s Friend.

Why I Love Bar Keeper’s Friend

A lot of reviews and Reddit threads talked about the “magic” and “miracle” of Bar Keeper’s Friend, and while I was hopeful, I was also healthily skeptical.

But turns out, there wasn’t any need for skepticism. From the moment I squeezed it onto that almost-trashed pan and started to scrub it with a non-abrasive pad, I was pretty amazed. It removed the caked-on mess so quickly, and with hardly any effort on my part.

It’s part of my cleaning arsenal now, and any time I have a dish cleaning issue, I turn to it. There’s no longer any need to let dishes soak in the sink, or throw away an otherwise great pan.

I use it to clean stuck-on scrambled eggs off my (supposedly nonstick) frying pan. When I thought my pans were just permanently stained, I took some Bar Keeper’s Friend and saw them lift off pretty much immediately.

I’ve cleaned burned food and grease off sheet pans. I’ve tackled sticky, sugary syrups on the bottom of my oven from a baking mishap. In every instance, Bar Keeper’s Friend has always come through.

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Bar Keeper’s Friend Soft Cleanser

Other Ways to Use Bar Keeper’s Friend

Even though Bar Keeper’s Friend is my go-to for cooking-related cleaning, I’ve only just scratched the surface of what it can do. It’s great for cleaning many different surfaces and items around the house, like stainless steel sinks and appliances, ceramic tile, and aluminum.

But its uses go far beyond the kitchen. You can use it to clean chrome, brass, copper, and porcelain, making it an underrated bathroom cleaner. Or take it outside and clean your fiberglass pool, steel gardening tools, and chrome car fixtures.

What Not to Clean With Bar Keeper’s Friend

Bar Keeper’s Friend is a truly multipurpose cleaner—but it shouldn’t be used on just anything. A few things you should avoid cleaning with Bar Keeper’s Friend include:

• Gold
• Goldplate and silverplate
• Painted surfaces
• Cast iron
• Mirrors
• Granite and marble

Always reference the manufacturer’s instructions before using Bar Keeper’s Friend.