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.
My co-workers just introduced me to Bon Ami recently, I was planning to pick some up on my next trip to the store, but winning some would be great too! Yay for green and clean!
I’m really hoping they start carrying these products in my Fairbanks Fred Meyer soon. I love Bon Ami cleanser and use it all the time. I have terrible allergies with even “all-natural” scents and often find myself in a fit of sneezing with ECO-friendly all natural products and yes even unscented products! I’m always thrilled to find something that actually cleans and doesn’t leave me look like I was on some sort of crying fit. I hate cleaning, but not enough to make me cry!
I would love some of this stuff. I was making my own laundry detergent until I realized it was making me all itchy. I do use baking soda to clean my stainless pans, sink, etc. It works amazingly well!
I had no idea that Bon Ami made more than one product (the powder scrub) which I’ve been using instead of comet for years now. My trick is to put a few drops of essential oil on the sponge I use for sink cleaning for a pleasant scent.
I’ve never used Bon Ami but now I’m quite interested in it. Thus far we’ve stuck with baking soda and Mrs. Meyers.
With two small children who want to help do everything it is nice to have green cleaners around. thanks for the tip and info on Bon Ami. I have only used the dry cleaner for my sink and love it! So many great tips from your readers too!
I am always looking for something to make cleaning easier on my (and my household). I have EXTRAordinarily sensitive, dry skin and hate the way most cleaners and soaps make my skin feel. I use goatsmilk bar soap (local guy around here makes Kitchen Coffee soap…with grounds…awesome for waking up AND exfoliating!) for my body, hands and face, but haven’t found anything that does the same kind of job for my kitchen…yet!!!
I have always loved the “Hasn’t scratched yet” chick on their label. It reminds of when I was young! MK
I usually use vinegar, baking soda and water for just about everything!
I use their powder and have forever, but I have had my eye on their new line of products. I would love to try them out. I can’t handle the vinegar smell of the homemade ones, but I love Mrs.Meyers stuff!
I love making my own soaps and cleaners! I so want to win this! Mainly because they are so cute!!!
Your vinegar cleaner doesn’t have to smell like pickles! Just put a little essential oil in with it. We use lemon, lavender, rosemary and thyme in some combination. The essential oils are also anti-bacterial and you only need a few drops so a small bottle will last a long time.
I’ve used the bon ami powder, but not the bar. Would be interested to try it.
i’ve never seen/heard of bon ami before, but i’ll definitely be checking them out, now. i am in the process of turning everything over to greener & purer products & ways :o) this is perfect! i’ve loved learning about making homemade cleaners, detergents, etc.
I’ve never seen Bon Ami before but it looks like stuff I would love. I use a lot of Meyer Clean Day products now .. . I love the lemon verbena smell!
I use homemade laundry soap for towels, jeans, heavy duty things. Really love bar keepers friend for a scouring powder. Don’t know if it is on the bad chemical list, but it cleans my sink and flat cook top without scratching, as well as my stainless steel pans.
we actually used bon-ami at my job in a microbiology teaching lab at university, it worked great and we didn’t have to worry about chemical contaminants in our experiments!
I have been using Bon Ami for several years after I read about it in MaryJane’s Farm magazine. It works great. Thank you for the great give away.
Would LOVE to win this giveaway! I’ve always had Bon Ami in my house because my mom used it and said it was less toxic than other cleaners. I have been working on switching over my cleaning supplies to vinegar, baking soda and lemons (I have an almost 2 year old in the house and don’t want his mouth on a table, chair or floor that was cleaned with harsh chemicals – plus I want him to be able to help me, be involved, etc). Love the idea of these cleaning products from Bon Ami. Fingers crossed!
I use a lot of vinegar in cleaning, and buy locally made, natural bar soaps for the shower, but am trying to go even more green.
I am like you… I use vinegar and baking soda mixed with Castille soap to clean most things. I actually just bought the powder today to try on my stove top. It needs a little more umph… LOL! I would love to be entered into your drawing.
I’ve been using baking soda and vinegar a lot. Lemon juice works really well on those jams/jellies that have cooked onto the stove top. It would be great to try the bon ami products and have them on hand for when I’m out of lemons and baking soda.
I recently have been making my own hand soap with dr. bronners and lavender oil. Its cheap, works well and smells great.
I also clean with the baking soda/vinegar solutions. I started making my own laundry detergent about a year ago…I’m still iffy about that one.
for hand soap, i use liquid soap, but we use bar soap in the shower (dr. bronners) and green/natural products every where else.
my mom used bon ami when we were kids, but i’ve all but forgotten it. i’ve been on a natural cleaners kick but could use something a bit more abrasive to get the job done in the shower.
Thank you so much for your suggestion! I have never heard of it but I will try to find it up in Vancouver. Keep up the good work 🙂 I have been reading your blog for the last six months but just too nervous to write a comment. Thanks for all the inspiration.
I haven’t jumped into the relm of doing things the old fashioned way in regards to cleaning materials. I do, however, use natural, handmade soaps from the Shepherd Soap Company in Washington. Their soaps are gentle and so good on the skin!
Sometimes I feel like loving Dr. Bronner’s soap is like drinking the hippie Kool-Aid, but it really does clean everything and a bottle lasts forever. It’s also the best product I’ve found for cleaning the grease filters in the range hood. I just soak them in a solution of hot water and Dr. Bronner’s and the grease just melts off. A light scrub and a rinse and they’re sparkling!
Love their products and use them instead of harsher products. I’m a big fan of white vinegar, baking soda and elbow grease.
I use vinegar and baking soda solutions whenever I can – I also love barkeepers friend – and a great, no-chemical way to get fingerprints off the wall – rub a piece of white bread on them!
For hand soap, I’ve been buying the all-natural all-purpose liquid soap at the co-op and spiking it with a few drops of spearmint essential oil. We have a very small bathroom and with five people messing with a bar, I’d have to wipe the sink of soap slime several times a day. I believe that by buying the liquid soap in bulk and using resusable containers, I’m avoiding the packaging problem most liquid soaps have. The advantage of the spearmint oil is that the soap smells so nice that it is pleasant to wash hands… and three messy kids need all the encouragement they can get 🙂
My grandmother always used bon ami I have used it before but forgotten about It would love to try these products thanks
I’ve heard of the Bon Ami products but never used them myself. I use Felsnaptha soap bars for laundry stains and I’ve used it in my own homemade laundry detergent. I would agree that as we go back to the old ways we look for more old ways that worked!
i currently use mrs. meyer’s for practically everything (i love the lavender scent!) but would love to give another brand a try.
I love bon ami it reminds me of my grandma and her cleaning habits!
I have not really started the whole move from harsh chemical cleaners yet, though I have a slew of blogs bookmarked with tips and recipes for more natural cleaners. I suppose it is time to start replacing all of those old cleaners with the natural ones.
I make my own almost everything- from counter spray to laundry soap- but bon ami all the way in the 80+ year old bathtub. Good to know about the soap bar- I’ll look for it- I am out of the powder!
Sounds like Bon Ami would be a great alternative! We have really bad hard water where I live, and none of the nasty chemicals work that well. I wonder if this would?
I have recently started ridding my house of chemical cleaners, but I’ve been struggling with the soap scum on the vertical sides of the tub. Perhaps this would do the trick!
Longtime Bon Ami powder user. Would love to try it in bar and spray form (neither of which I knew existed until now!).
I LOVE Bon Ami…the smell of it reminds me of my childhood!
Baking soda and vinegar are the basis of everything in my house, but I’m sure Bon Ami would be a welcome addition with the likes of Mrs. Meyers and Dr. Bonner’s.
I’ve heard of Bon Ami but never used it. Based on your intro, however, I certainly need to give it a try as Charleston is humid and we seem to acquire rust spots over night!
We use vinegar on all the windows and mirrors and use baking soda as a scrub on other services. I can’t do laundry without Charlie’s soap, which isn’t homemade and natural, but is a wonderful alternative to those other messy detergents.
I make my own laundry detergent… and BOY is it cheaper and cleans better IU find the clothing softer and fluffier than with store bought… but still the best part is that it costs me 1.70 for a months batch (and i have a handicapped child who entails ALOT of laundry).
I grew up using the powder, but have never seen the spray or the bar until now. I’d love to try them out!
Hooray! I’ll try anything that is a “good friend”! I’d like to see if it works as well as Bar Keeper’s Friend 🙂
ooh I’ve heard of it but I did’t really know anything about it!
Huge Bon Ami fan here. I’ve never seen their cleaning bar before and would be thrilled to try it. We make a lot of hydrogen peroxide based cleaners and I am a huge fan of adding grapefruit seed extract. Trying little by little to phase out the harsh cleaners that denigrate indoor air quality.
We use a lot of vinegar and baking soda. I do however use Bon Ami spray cleaner in the kitchen for quick clean ups. Thanks for the opportunity!
I purchased a natural-brand powdered dishwasher detergent that was TERRIBLE. It wouldn’t dissolve, no matter what, and my dishes were still dirty, AND covered in soap lumps. However, I discovered that it makes a wonderful tub and tile scrub! I mixed it with a little baking soda and peppermint oil, and give a splash of vinegar for a little post-cleaning disinfecting and my bathroom is always shiny and fresh.
My first introduction to Bon Ami was my first housecleaning job for a former professor of mine. She had me use Bon Ami powder. I loved everything about it from the way it worked so well to the chick on the label.