Abrasive cleansers

[stevet]

Remember when we used to have products like Ajax and Comet and others that actually scrubbed while they cleaned? Now they are non-abrasive and do not give the results you used to get with the old products. Hard to remove stains from toilets, sinks and bathtubs are no match for today's Ajax or Comet.

Are there any products still out there that worked like the old ones did? Maybe I am not looking hard enough or maybe I should check Ace Hardware for the elusive item.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[yogitunes]

don't know if older products are still available or if they were changed to non-abrasive as well....

Old Dutch cleanser....comes to mind

you may have to resort to Industrial/commercial type products......Drackett Products are what we had in Maintenance jobs....

also, you can sprinkle Baking Soda in combination with your cleanser for some abrasive...

another one....ZUD cleanser.....

http://www.supplyhero.com/ZUD-Heavy-Duty-Cleanser.9.42576.3.htm

 

[yogitunes]

I also wonder about this type of Ajax....Calcite Base.....not enough info if this would refer to the abrasive...

https://supplyhero.com/Ajax-HeavyDuty-Oxygen-Bleach-Powder-Cleanser-Calcite-Base.7.282.3.htm

 

[kate1]

I use Bar Keepers Friend and Bon Ami, they both claim to be original formulations. Bon Ami isn’t really abrasive but it’s really great on more delicate things, BKF is fantastic on tubs, sinks, etc. I have a 40s era house with an old cast iron enameled tub and kitchen sink and BKF makes them shine like new. It’s great on tile too.

 

[stevet]

Thanks,

Kate, I will if see I can find a can of BKF and give it a try.

 

[petek]

I used ZUD for years and have trouble finding it now.. Bar Keepers Friend pretty much works equally as well though.

 

[imperial70]

Borax?

I keep a box of borax in the house and use it when scrubbing the tub and toilet. I use some Pine Glo (made in good ole NC) for disinfectant and cleaning properties. The borax provides just enough abrasive without removing the shiny finish IMHO.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Bar Keepers Friend

My new favorite. It works wonders. It will make your stainless steel exhaust tips look like new. I have used it on numerous occasions with lots of luck.

 

[intuitive]

Bar Keepers Friend

It's the best out there at moment.

 

[ea56]

Nothing cleans and shines my Farberware stainless steel pots and pans better that BKF. And it also makes cleaning my oven a breeze too. It takes very little effort to remove burned on grease for the oven surfaces with BKF, and its easy to wipe out too. I always have a can on hand and an extra too.

Eddie

 

[launderess]

Hasn't Scratched Yet

Bon Ami was never an highly abrasive cleanser, that was its key marketing claim to fame. It was developed for use on porcelain and other fine household surfaces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Ami

https://www.bonami.com/our-story/

As one who remembers since childhood cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces with Comet and Ajax cleansers of old vividly recall the "grit" both left behind. Took copious amounts of rinsing and even then things had a sandy/coarse white residue.

 

[steved]

Home Depot

I buy both BonAmi and Bar Keepers Friend at Home Depot

 

[joeekaitis]

My BKF source:

 

Walmart Neighborhood Market.  I avoid our Walmart Supercenter at all costs.

 

See?  Contrary to popular belief, I do NOT live inside an ALDI.

 

[joeekaitis]

BKF Before and After photo

 

Residue and rainbow heat marks after pressure poaching Italian sausage and washing the pot in the dishwasher.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Bon Ami is not as carefully made as it once was. Back in the 1960s many automakers recommended it for cleaning windshields, but the current product has a warning on the can to not use it on windows or mirrors.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">We used to carry Zud at the now completely gone OSH. Like everythnig else in this world, Zud is available on Amazon. Good stuff.</span>

 

[jamiel]

Some windshields starting in 1986 began to have coatings on them to prevent facial lacerations which would be scratched using an abrasive cleaner.

 

[lordkenmore]

Comet and Ajax cleansers of old vividly recall the "grit

I think I recall this, too. At least, I can recall back in the 80s that after the bathtub was cleaned there would be some sort of grit.

And I know I've heard horror stories here about the finish on fixtures getting destroyed by abrasive cleansers. I've heard stories here of people who see something from the 50s that would be wonderful if it were in good condition--but the finish was destroyed decades ago by cleanser.

 

[launderess]

Bringing This Back On Home

To wit washing machine related, early on Bon Ami was recommended by many makers of washing machines.

This was because when semi-automatic (or whatever you want to call wringer and other sorts of vintage washing machines) switched to either metal or porcelain tubs they still needed cleaning after wash day. In some respects just like stationary or portable wash/rinse tubs. Usual culprit in either case was same as bathtubs and sinks; soap scum from using all that substance on wash day.

After doing the wash just like after bathing tubs needed to be cleaned out, and since Bon Ami didn't scratch it wouldn't harm the metal or porcelain tubs.

Detergents and "self cleaning" fully automatic washing machines put an end to cleaning wash tubs after laundry day. Though looking at often the ring of muck a tops of some toploaders, they could do with a scrubbing.