Bar Keepers Friend
Last verified: April 2026
Read our full verification: Is Bar Keepers Friend Made in USA?Est. 1882
Bar Keepers Friend has been manufacturing products in Indianapolis, IN since 1882. We carry 5 verified American-made Bar Keepers Friend products.
Heritage & History
Bar Keepers Friend was invented in 1882 by a chemist in Indianapolis who noticed that rhubarb left behind a bright, clean surface wherever it touched a metal pot. The active ingredient he identified was oxalic acid — a naturally occurring organic compound in rhubarb and other plants — and the original formula combined it with feldspar powder and a small amount of surfactant to produce a gentle abrasive cleaner with powerful rust and tarnish-removing properties.
The product was named for the barkeepers of the era who used it to keep tin and copper vessels gleaming. SerVaas Laboratories acquired the formula in the early 20th century and has manufactured it in Indianapolis ever since. The same Indianapolis facility that made Bar Keepers Friend in the 1920s is still making it today — more than 140 years of uninterrupted production from the same city.
Made in Indianapolis, Indiana
Every Bar Keepers Friend product — the original powder cleanser, the soft cleanser liquid, the spray, the cookware-specific formula — is manufactured at SerVaas Laboratories in Indianapolis. The company has resisted outsourcing or offshoring production despite decades of pressure on domestic manufacturing costs.
The powder formula remains essentially unchanged from the original: oxalic acid, feldspar, and a small amount of surfactant. The soft cleanser adds a cream base for surfaces that benefit from a non-abrasive application. Both products are bleach-free, which distinguishes them from most competing kitchen cleaners and makes them appropriate for stainless steel, copper, brass, porcelain, and glass without the discoloration risk that chlorine bleach carries.
Quick Picks
Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser and Polish 12 oz
Bar Keepers Friend
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Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray and Foam Cleaner 25.4 oz
Bar Keepers Friend
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Bar Keepers Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish 12 oz
Bar Keepers Friend
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bar Keepers Friend made in the USA?
Yes. Bar Keepers Friend manufactures 5 verified products in Indianapolis, IN. Bar Keepers Friend has been manufactured by SerVaas Laboratories in Indianapolis, Indiana since 1882, making it one of the longest-continuously-produced household cleaners in American history.
Where is Bar Keepers Friend manufactured?
Bar Keepers Friend is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. Manufacturing takes place in Indianapolis, IN.
What Bar Keepers Friend products can I buy?
We carry 5 verified Bar Keepers Friend products across Home & Kitchen. Every listing links directly to Amazon with verified American manufacturing.
When was Bar Keepers Friend founded?
Bar Keepers Friend was founded in 1882. Bar Keepers Friend has been manufactured by SerVaas Laboratories in Indianapolis, Indiana since 1882, making it one of the longest-continuously-produced household cleaners in American history.
Does Bar Keepers Friend ship from Amazon?
Yes, all Bar Keepers Friend products listed here are available on Amazon with free shipping for Prime members.