I notice when I use Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser on raw wood… it actually lightens it up!
After some looking into it, the main ingredient in BKF is Oxalic acid (which is a bleaching agent).
In the past, I’ve used diluted clothing bleach to lighten wood but there’s a few factors in that technique I didn’t like. First, if it’s not a warm day to let clothing bleach on wood bask in the sun or a hair drier to use, it takes forever. Second, I’ve noticed that it makes the wood very dry after using clothing bleach. Third, it’s messy and smells!
I wanted to see if I could bleach this small table to a lighter finish.
Steps:
Core Materials Used
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- Powder: Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser
- Gloves: Hardy Work Gloves
- Scraper Tool: Husky 14-in-1 Painter’s Tool
- Tap Water
- Hand Towel
Apply BKF
Sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser to a freshly sanded and clean wood surface.
Spritz With Water
Mist the powder and entire surface with water. This will make the powder into a pasty mixture.
Work Into Piece
Work into the area in a circular motion.
Wait for it to dry.
Scrape Away
When the piece is completely dry, you’ll notice how caked on the dried mixture is.
Use a scraping tool to gently scrape away the product.
Clean
Wipe away excess product with a damp cloth. Wait for it to dry to see the finished look.
If you want your piece to be lighter, just repeat this process!
The Reveal
Enjoy the lighter wood finish!
A Touch of Grace 
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