I’ve noticed that there something of a natural progression when you start canning, even if it’s on a very small scale. Suddenly you start looking around your home and looking for ways that you can streamline, simplify and make from scratch. Several years ago, I started replacing counter top cleaners with vinegar solutions and powdered bleach scrubs with baking soda. And they were pretty darn good for a variety of basic cleaning.
Thing is, there were a couple things that those more natural cleansers didn’t do particularly well. For instance, the enamel in my bathroom sink is chipped near the drain and it bleeds rust on a daily basis (we haven’t replaced the sink because the whole bathroom must eventually be gutted, but it is still serviceable so we soldier on). It needs aggressive scrubbing with something more potent than baking soda. But after all the energy that went into ridding my home of chemical cleaners that made me light-headed, I didn’t want to invite them back for this one job.
A couple of weeks ago, the answer arrived* in the form of a box of Bon Ami products. Made from feldspar and a gentle soap, it’s an incredibly easy to use and made quick work of my rust stains (it also worked on rust-stained jars). You just rub a web cloth or sponge over the Bon Ami bar and scrub. It’s a fantastic complement to my arsenal of vinegar spray and baking soda (I must say, their spray cleaner is also terrific and has the added bonus of not smelling like pickles).
Now, I realize that I sound a little like an ad here. But truly, I’m a bit smitten with the Bon Ami bar (and the powder too). I’ve always had a weakness for old fashioned ways of doing things (which is probably why I started canning in the first place) and so I get an unnatural amount of satisfaction from using something that my great-grandmother may well have applied to her own sinks and tubs.
You’ll be excited to learn that Bon Ami has given me two more of these cleaning kits to giveaway here. To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post and share a story about cleaning unguents, solutions, powders or soaps (do you make your own cleansers? Did you grow up with Bon Ami? What’s your take on hand soap – bar or liquid?). Comments will close at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States (my apologies to all you reading from Canada and beyond).
One last thing. Because we’re in the social media age and all, I thought I’d mention that Bon Ami is on Facebook and they’re currently running a contest for a chance to win a green house cleaning. If you feel so moved, you can toss your hat in that ring too.
*I was sent this box of cleaning products at no cost to me. However, my elbow grease and opinions are all my own.
I just recently started my conversion to vinegar, baking soda, etc. I made my first batch of dishwasher detergent and have had wonderful success with it.
I’ve been using Bon Ami for years. It started with needing a cleaner for my knives; in Hawai’i they rust bad. Bon Ami cleaned the rust off like a champ. I began using it as an all purpose cleaner because it was natural and didn’t scratch. Now I use it frequently, especially on my apartment’s glass top stove.
OK…my take on soaps, they should clean without leaving residue and not dry your skin out. It should also be environmentally friendly. And, yes, I do make my own cleaning products.
I first used a can of Bon Ami cleaning powder when I was living in my first apartment without roommates. I love their little chick.
Mostly I use cleanser and dish soap for all of my cleaning needs. I’ve used baking soda when I’ve run out of cleanser, and it works pretty well. My mom makes homemade soap, and I absolutely love it. It doesn’t dry out your skin and it smells so wholesome. I’d love to give this Bon Ami a try, I’ve never heard of it before.
I love BonAmi, but haven’t been able to find locally. I too have done my best to go cleaning chemical free ~ combining, bottling all that is natural, but admittedly have pulled out the bleach product when the natural couldn’t do it. I would love to try the soap and the spray! Yes, I’ve made my own soaps and cleaners, Yes, BonAmi was under our kitchen sink. And I’m a liquid hand soap girl ~ hate to see a dirty soap bar.
I love cleaning products! Natural ones, like you. When I find a good one, it’s thrilling, as sometimes “natural” cleaners can’t get the job done. Right now, I make my own counter spray, with vinegar…but, my stove came with strict instructions to only use Bon Ami cleaner on the surface. So, I do use their scrub. The bar and spray are new to me and I can’t wait to try them out!
I literally have been using Bon Ami since the late 1980’s. It’s a great product. Have not tried the spray or bar soap. Here’s a link to a blog post I wrote about natural cleaning. http://milesawayfarm.wordpress.com/2011/01/14/natural-cleaning-101/
I use Bon Ami all the time! Great for hard water spots on glassware. I make my own automatic dishwasher soap for pennies. It works better than any commercial soap. Made from equal parts Borax and baking soda plus some kosher salt. Put vinegar in the rinse agent container.
I’ve been looking for Bon Ami, if I don’t win I’ll have to order some on Amazon 🙂
I house clean for an elderly couple once a week, and I bring my own vinegar cleaning solutions. But for the grimier things like the bathtub or range I end up using the chemical stuff. At my home I don’t bother because I don’t mind if things don’t look perfectly clean, but that doesn’t exactly fly with an old british couple in their 80s. I would love some more heavy duty cleaners that are a little more eco-friendly!
I have literally been using Bon Ami since the late 1980’s. A great product. Here’s a blog post I wrote about using natural cleaners. http://milesawayfarm.wordpress.com/2011/01/14/natural-cleaning-101/
Oh good friend how I adore thee –
I learned about Bon Ami from the clerk who sold me my first stainless steel pan. I’ve been hooked ever since and now have can under every sink in the house:) However, I’ve never seen other products so this little bar interesting.
hi marisa. i haven’t heard of this, but am excited to try either via your giveaway or getting it myself. i will say that i’ve never found a dishwasher detergent that works appropriately. any ideas or suggestions? cheers to a happy summer. samantha
I’m with you on the cleaning subject. In fact, tonight on my blog I’ll be posting on the homemade laundry soap, oh, I know everybody frugal knows about it already but I haven’t got to put my two cents in yet! Tossin’ in my hat to the giveaway! thanks for your interesting blog.
Another Bon Ami fan here!
I really like using a combo of baking soda and vinegar to clean. Another thing I have started doing is putting used lemon peels in a bottle of vingegar for cleaning.
Also lemon peels in a pan of water and microaved for a few minutes to create steam is great for cleaning the micro. Just let it sit in the over unopened for a while and wipe clean.
I’ve only used Bon Ami powder, which is a standard cleaning item in my house. Am I the only one who hasn’t used, let alone made the baking powder vinegar combo? I purchase a natural cleaning product. Based on all the comments here, need to get in gear and make some of my own (but I’ll never get rid of my Bon Ami!)
I’m a big fan of baking soda + vinegar and also use castile soap a lot. Would love to try Bon Ami. 🙂
My mother used Bon Ami powder and I use it too. It’s great stuff. Also, I have tried mixing my own floor cleaner in a spray bottle, but it leaks down the handle when I squirt. I wonder if it is the dish soap that causes that… Anyway, I have a small graveyard of chemical cleaners that I hope to dispose of responsibly some day.
What a great product! I love the powder – and would love to try the other cleaners. I use a friend’s homemade soap products and won’t use anything else. That, and the usual baking soda/vinegar dymanic duo.
Love BonAmi, but can’t always find it in my grocery store. Guess I have to do the mail order thing with this as well! My mother used to use this before that liquid scrubby stuff became popular and always went back to this as it was far superior to any of the new fangled products. My sister re-did her kitchen and bought a sink that the manufacturer recommends the use of BonAmi as the only scrubbing product…comes with a great reputation!
I’ve never heard of this but now I’m going to have to be on the lookout. I agree about streamlining and getting rid of horrid chemical cleaners. Hope I win 🙂
I adore Bon Ami powder, but have was unaware of the bar cleaner! I will be on the lookout to try. I try to use as many homeade and green cleaners as possible.
Fingers crossed for a win!
We are devoted to Vermont Soap Organics products but I do keep Bon Ami on hand for the kitchen sink.
It was my job in the late 50’s to shine mirrors in the bathroom and the only allowable method was a bar of Bon Ami and a soft cloth. Just seeing the chick on the can I use for most tasks brings back memmories of Saturday morning chores with my mom.
So lovely then are still quietly around all these years later.
I have just started making my own homemade cold pressed soap, laundry detergent and diswasher soap. I feel the same as you, once you start doing some of the old school, back to basic hobbies, you’re enthralled into thinking of other items that can be created from items in your cabinets and with your own hands. I think with being a person that loves to share new ideas and make people happy with a small handmade gift, it gives us great satisfaction when we can make things on our own many of which i am finding are more eco friendly as well-so that’s a bonus! I would love to try this product…
I too have been trying to either find more natural products or do more “from scratch” making of cleaning products. Recently, I discovered what a great scouring powder baking soda can be and you can store it in a handy grated cheese shaker (like the one you find on the table at pizza joints). It even cleans my fancy-pants Le Creuset pot better than just about any commercial cleaner. I’ve also been tinkering with borax for really cruddy gardening clothing and my greasy bar mop kitchen towels (aka “polishing towels” from the automotive section of the big box store) and I’ve been impressed.
I’ve been toying with the idea of MYO laundry detergent but the wife does most of the laundry so I’d have to get her buy-in on that one.
I do have to say that it’s been difficult to find a good spray surface cleaner (a-la Fantastic) and dish soap. Vinegar is supposedly great but, as you mentioned, smells like pickles. I’ve tried a few of the popular “Earthy Crunchy” brands and found that most don’t dissolve stuff any better than plain water. I ended-up really liking the J.R. Watkins products (especially their dish soap…It actually lathers and doesn’t make sponges smell moldy like the regular stuff for some unknown reason). I haven’t done the research to see if the ingredients are all “really safe” but I assume they’re markedly better than their commercial counterparts.
I have been trying to switch over to more natural cleaners, but having trouble finding ones that are as effective as the chemical-y ones. I would love to try Bon Ami!
I love Bon Ami. My friend is a professional window washer and he swears by it to remove limey acid marks from old Southern California windows that seem to be etched by lime. Works great! Thanks for the news about the soap bar. I will get some and try it on a rust stain on a favorite ceramic coffee mug!
The hand soap for us is definitely liquid. Due to my job as a wound care nurse in the community, I usually carry my own with me. Bar soaps are covered in bacteria.
I too have just been ignoring the rust stains on the kitchen sink, because I didn’t really know what to do about them. Also excited to try out the bar version, I find powdered cleaners a bit annoying to use.
I don’t have any story as I don’t make my own; I just try to buy the more earth-friendly chemical free varieties–but I’ve been fascinated to read through what people are up to in the comments! I didn’t even know this was all possible.
Older ways are frequently the best. One of the things I miss that you can no longer purchase is Ivory Snow laundry soap powder/flakes (not detergent, but real soap). I used to collect vintage linens and used this laundry soap to wash them and then hang them on the line in the sun. It made the linens white and smelling fresh. Recently, I have made a mixture of Avon Bubble Bath and water in a spray bottle for cleaning my tile floors in kitchen and bathroon. The violet scented bubble bath leaves a nice smell after cleaning.
I would love to try this! I’m just starting to dabble in making my own cleaning products.
I love cleaning with vinegar based cleaners scented with a little essential oils.
I prefer more natural cleaners, but do not prefer the price, so I’ve been trying to move to vinegar and baking soda. But these sound fantastic!
I really like the looks of that cleaning cake. I make most of my own cleaners — I especially like combining baking soda and Dr. Bronner’s to scrub the tub.
I’ve never even heard of Bon Ami but I’d love to give it a try – we are remodeling a bathroom and that room is going to SHINE when it’s done!
I didn’t grow up with Bon Ami but noticed it at the very good cleaning section on our little local Ace Hardware here in my tiny community of East End, AR. I was having trouble cleaning my new white porcelain kitchen sink and didn’t want to grind off the finish with regular cleansers. The Bon Ami works wonderfully! I’ve never seen the bar form or the spray cleanser. You always bring me new ideas.
I’ve seen old Bon Ami adverts and am so happy to learn they are still around! I would love to give them a try. I tend to use vinegar in a lot of my cooker, but the smell can be an aversion. I love pulverizing lemons down the garbage disposal.
I have never heard of Bon Ami but I have been slowly transitioning (or trying to) to more natural cleaners. Method has been the gateway cleaner, and I honestly feel like the right combination of natural things works better than the chemically stuff.
I mean, what works better than lemon, vinegar and baking soda? Very, very little!
I’ve never heard of Bon Ami before, but would love to try it!
I’ve been slowly making the change to using fewer harsh chemicals in my home. As I’ve run out of something that I used for years, I just have been turning to the more natural solution. Bon Ami looks like it would be a great addition to my arsenal of cleaning products. And if it gets rid of the rust stains on jars, I’m hoping it would get rid of the rust stains that my old dryer just left on some of my clothes. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!
I haven’t graduated to fully homemade cleaners yet, but occasionally pour baking soda and vinegar down the bathtub. My other tip is a constantly full rag bag under the sink with old t-shirts, socks and towels.
Bon Ami! I would love an alternative to vinegar and soda that works, and I keep hearing more about Bon Ami! What a fantastic giveaway 🙂
I use a lot of baking soda, and a lot of Dr. Bronners. I have been using Dr. Bronners for years and just love it. I use vinegar, but sometimes I just can’t handle the smell, and I’ve never become used to it. 🙂
My husband makes all of our window cleaner and it works MUCH better than windex. Simplify is a key to my life…would love to try the Bon Ami!
I used to make my own cleaning solutions with vinegar, but my boyfriend hates the smell (which is not great for my love of all things pickled). Bon Ami sounds like a great product to try!
Loved the information on your post. I am so happy to see a review on their other products besides the cleaning powder, which seems to be the only one of their products stores in my area carry.
I have used vinegar, baking soda and other homemade cleaning products for some time and was very happy to hear Bon Ami has something that will work on rust. I will definitely be looking for it now.
Love the post! I like hearing how everyone uses more safe cleaning agents. I would love to try Bon Ami. Just started to make my own laundry soap. I use mostly Seventh Generation cleaning supplies but it can be pricey.
have been considering picking up a Bon Ami for those times when a little more oomph is required for dried or baked on gunk… despite enjoying the fizz of the natural scrubbing bubbles of baking soda and vinegar (yay high school chemistry!). Wondering if it can be used on granite and stainless steel as thats my kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
I have switched over to liquid soaps for handwashing… despite being a strong believer in multiple hand washing, being a single person with 1.5 baths and a kitchen sink, have found that bar soaps dry up and dont lather up well as they age. Or, they turn into gloppy messes that are a pain to clean up. The best is the double duty kitchen kind that works for washing dishes and hand washing too!! Like I said, kind of a freak about hand washing….
I vacillate between natural and store-bought cleaners – only because I inherited the apartment I’m living in from an old roommate who signed the lease over to me; she in turn had gotten it from her old roommate who’d signed the lease over to her. But the thing is, both those prior lease holders left a huge stash of Lysol and Mr. Clean and such behind, so I go back and forth between “I want to be environmentally conscious” and “argh, I am sick of this stuff taking up space!”
I use a lot of Dr. Bronner’s, though – the unscented for hand-washing laundry, and then the peppermint for showers in the summer. The peppermint has so much mint oil that the menthol actually has a tactile effect.
Love to give Bon Ami a try. As with many of your friends I thought it was another comet type product. Gone green in many ways but cleanning products are an area that I need to explore more.
I remember having bars of this soap in the basement to clean hands after working out side with my Dad.
I have used Bon Ami in the past and did not realize that it was eco-friendly. I too have some rust and other scrubbing jobs that need more than baking soda and vinegar can handle. I remember my mom being excited when she found Bon Ami cleanser at the grocery store. Evidently she had been looking for it for years! I would LOVE to Win
I grew up with Bon Ami! Reminds me of my grandmother, who who used it daily. I have to confess that I am slowly transitioning to green cleaners, although there are still a fair share of chemicals in my home. Having kids has really forced me to consider the impact of harmful fumes and chemicals in the home, but my naturally thrify nature means that I feel compelled to “use up” what I have before buying anything else, including safer green cleaners.
My mom used Bon Ami when I was younger. I liked it because I could breathe. I have asthma and harsh chemicals were a trigger. I didn’t know that they even offerd a bar soap. I will look it the store for it now.
I remember buying my first can of Bon Ami, I was so excited that it only cost 79 cents! I grew up with it in the house, and started buying it after I got married. I needed something mild to scrub my new pots and pans. I use it around the house too, and finish my chores with a good scrub of the stainless sink. I didn’t know they made other products, so I’d love to win! I’ll head over to FB too! Thanks!
I have been on the brink of switching to natural cleaners. Your post served as a good reminder that now is a good time to abandon those toxic cleaning solutions.
I love bar soaps, probably because I always seem to get them as gifts, so they become part of my “using it up” philosophy. But I also find them less drying than liquid soaps.
I always use vinegar in the kitchen but like you said…it would be nice to have a natural cleaner that doesn’t smell like pickles every once in a while
I’ve looked at these products in the store but never bought. I’ll love to try them.
Huge bon ami fan
I to have been going more natural in the cleaning department, been making my own laundry soap for a couple years & use a lot of vinegar & baking soda. But I agree, there are areas that this just doesn’t cut it….we have lots of rust & it just needs that extra kick! I would love to try these products & see if they got the power but yet not the chemicals! Thanks for the info!
Wow, blast from childhood! My Dad always had a can under the sink or in the garage. Haven’t seen it in years……. Going to have to hunt it down! Thanks!!
I wonder if this would work on my hard water stains in the shower?
I am a vinegar freak for cleaning! Counters, laundry….you name it!
We have softened water in the house, except for our drinking water. Our house uses a well and the water is delicious, but very hard. Our softener plugged up and did not realize it right away and ran a load of dishes. They came out all caked and coated. We have had the softener fixed, the dishes I have washed in vinegar and managed to get the rime off. The inside of my new stainless steel dishwasher though is still streaked, no matter what I have tried. I bet trying Bon Ami would work, where the vinegar and soda did not.
I have taught my daughters, proudly, to clean with Borax, lemon juice, white vinegar, kosher salt and baking soda. They’ve grown up thining this is perfectly normal and that purchased cleaners are only for really stubborn, special jobs. I would love to give Bon Ami a try. 🙂
I’m a Mrs. Myer’s devotee. The basil scented handsoap is my very favorite thing.
I use their powder cleaner all the time, but have not tried the bar or the spray. I’ve always been really happy with the powder so I’d love to give the others a try!
I’m a big fan of doing as much of my cleaning as possible with baking soda, vinegar, lemons and salt. But a little extra oomph in the form of Bon Ami would be a welcome addition!
I have never used Bon Ami, mom never purchased the product. By the time I was on my own it was not available in my area. I much prefer home cauldren of cleaning agents not only for the cost savings, but the fact they are far more effective. I love the the movie “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” promoted Bon Ami.
I’ve never tried Bon Ami – it’s not something that I come across at my grocery store here in Canada, although I’m sure it must be available somewhere! I’ve heard nothing but good reviews. I make my own cleaners, mostly with baking soda, vinegar, and the occasional dose of borax. It’s so nice to clean with products that you’re not afraid to breathe in!
I too use vinegar and baking soda in my everyday cleaning but it is harder to scrub with the baking soda at times. I would love this kit as I totally forgot about BonAmi! My grandmother used to use a wet rag and the Bon Ami bar to do her windows. I remember it would dry white on the glass and then she would use another cloth to wipe the windows clean and no streaks!
I have used the Bon Ami powder before but am very interested to try the other products they make. We are trying to cut out harsh chemicals and use mostly vinegar and baking soda for cleaning. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
I love natural cleaning products! I use vinegar and baking soda also. along with my fav essential oils
I LOVE Bon Ami and haven’t been able to find it locally. Another product that I’ve always loved but can’t find any more is Red Cross Nurse disinfectant spray. It had a beautiful light lavender scent.
I knew Bon Ami came in a powder, but I wasn’t aware of the bar form. Great product! Another old-time bar product I like is Fels-Naptha, for treating laundry stains–great for rubbing on “ring around the collar”.
I love Bon Ami. Grew up with it and still have a little under the sink. We primarily use vinegar and water but have rust stains from well water and would love to try it on these. Thanks.
I’m always looking for gentler, less caustic ways to clean. I would love to try this! Right now, Mrs. Meyers is my go-to because it smells so fresh (basil scent) and seems gentle.
I am trying to be more environmentally friendly with the products I use. I would love to try Bon Ami.
I’ve only recently started using gentler cleaning products, like borax and vinegar. It’s been an adjustment–I need to re-wire myself not to think that something has to smell like chemicals to be clean!
I have not thought about Bon Ami. I am glad to know it works well. I am going to look for it next time at the store.
I enjoy making homemade cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products using as many local products and recycled bottles as possible. Please feel free to share this link which contains six recipes for some common green cleaning products:
http://theintentionalminimalist.blogspot.com/2011/06/homemade-cleaning-supplies.html
Thank you for sponsoring the giveaway!
I love Bon Ami!
I grew up with a Mom who used Bon Ami powder, but she always insisted on saying it “french” which caused me some embarrassment growing up in the deep south where everyone would say, “bawn ammy.” I actually haven’t had occasion to purchase cleaning products in a while since uncovering a massive stash of soaps and powders in an old packing box. I’ve played around with the vinegar/water spray solution, but find that I feel like everything smells like pickles after I use it…which reminds me, back to canning!
I’ve never seen the bar, but my wife has always picked the powdered cleanser over other things.
I made my own laundry detergent and have made some other cleaners. I love Bon Ami but haven’t tried the spray or bar. Thanks for the giveaway!
I was just lamenting my lack of good/safe cleaning agents this morning. As a pregnant person I’ve just been using warm water around the house to wipe up messes…fingers crossed I’ll get to try out a new safe cleaning supply!
I make my own bar soap and I’m slowly getting to where I’m ready to make the liquid soap.
My husband detests the smell of vinegar…so I have clean my cupboards on the fly when he’s not around! I wish his nose wasn’t so sensitive, or I had something to mask the smell of the vinegar…
It has been a long time since I have used Bon Ami. I didn’t know they were still in business. I use a large bottle of alcohol that I attach a spray nozzle to clean in my bathroom, which is very cheap and in the kitchen I use hydrogen peroxide bottle with a spray nozzle to clean counters and etc. I use another brand of sink cleanser to scrub my kitchen sink and then spray it good with the peroxide at night before I go to bed. It whitens it as good or better than Clorox without the smell or risk of harming my clothes etc. The peroxide kills most all germs and so does the alcohol and both are cheap. The peroxide is orderless and as effective as Clorox.
Ah, ‘Good Friend’, Marisa (another word for Bon Ami) Thank you for the Food in Jars site & your ever welcome plethora of good Motherly Earth suggestions for living simpler & more basic lives the way our ancestors did. You asked for me share? This is a gift for everyone to try. It’s superb and has multiple benefits. I clean every surface in my house with this homemade cleaner including windows which cut through the chemicals used in window cleaners and leaves windows perfect – after using it a few times to remove residue of window cleaning products. Use it on wooden cutting boards, inside refrigerator, even ‘near’ food because it won’t contaminate or poison foods:
2 cups of water, 1/2 cup vinegar, 2/3 cup hydrogen peroxide, 20 drops teatree oil, 20 drops lavender or lemon grass essential oil, 1 TBPS castile soap. It goes after virus, bacteria, mold, spores, grease, dirt, stains. Health note: in the heat of summer, I had a painful, oderous, red rash with raised pustules on my abdomen in the sagging skin folds caused by a C/S after my daughter was born. Instead of going to the Dermatologist, I used the homemade spray on the deep maroon skin blotches, and it was gone within 24 hours. I didn’t need anti-fungal cream or an expensive trip to doctor. I shared recipe with my 85 year old Dermatologist and he loved it. This homemade product kills spores (fungal) bacteria and viruses. My cast iron enamel sinks, tubs are daily cleaned wth my homemade product to kill germs, but I need the power of Bon Ami to remove dark brown dissolved iron stains that come from the iron which is naturally occurring in the aquifer water underneath the island I live on.
I’m ready to trade this family secret housecleaning recipe with you and the world in exchange for the Bon Ami products you are giving away. I’m on disability and could use every little bit of help to keep my world healthy and clean. And thank you for sharing the tip to use Bon Ami on VERY old canning jars I was given by an 85 year old woman. I never thought of that.
Thank you so much. Linda
I like cleaning with baking soda. It does the job better and faster than any other chemical cleaning products I’ve found. But, it has its limitations, and I would love to try Bon Ami products.
I really want to switch to all natural cleaners. I’ve thought about making all of my own cleaning supplies but haven’t made the leap yet. I think this would be a good intermediate step for me.
I clean my whole house with vinegar and baking soda. It feels so good to know that there are no toxic chemicals anywhere!
I use the powder, but Ive never seen the bar soap or the spray! I would love to try them! I gave up nasty chemical cleaners when I had my baby and have never looked back!
I grew up with BonAmi and when I got married and “set up housekeeping” I changed up to “modern” products. Never worked as well and I may as well have been throwing money into the wind! Haven’t tried the bar and would like too!
I’d never heard of Bon Ami until my husband and I began dating. One of his jobs each year for his grandmother was to clean all of her windows. He swore by Bon Ami glass cleaner, and I must say, it does an amazing job. I mostly use microfibre now, but when I need to bring out the big guns (like for the outside windows), we pull out the Bon Ami.
I love Bon Ami. But I didn’t realize it had a bar soap too. Very neat… really! I can’t count how many times I’ve knocked over my Bon Ami can. I agree with your smelling like pickles comment…. small price, right?