This is an ode to Bon Ami, a cleaning product that is over 120 years old and still unparalleled in its performance.
We came across Bon Ami when were designing our Apartment Therapy Home Cleaning Kit and looking for a scrubbing powder that was environmentally friendly. It has been a staple ever since. Not only does it not rely on harsh phosphates, chlorine, perfume or dyes (as most other cleaners do), it has a gentle abrasive - provided by the mineral feldspar - that cleans really stubborn stuff without scratching.
Invented in 1886 by The J.T. Robertson Soap Company of Manchester, Connecticut, the history of Bon Ami is a classic story of early century entrepreneurship and mid century marketing and late century environmental concerns.
Bon Ami almost disappeared altogether in the late 60's only to be resuscitated by new ownership, a great ad campaign ("Never Underestimate the Cleaning Power of a 94 Year-Old Chick With a French Name.") and inclusion in the 1974 Whole Earth Epilog:
A letter helped the reintroduction of Bon Ami from Gordon T. Beaham, III and was reprinted on page 594 of the September 1974 Whole Earth (Catalog) Epilog. The letter pointed out that Bon Ami could be considered less harmful to the environment than other cleaners because it did not use phosphates, chlorine, perfume or dyes in its formula: "But we live in a time, I believe, when many 'old fashioned' old reliable products are about to become New Products, and Products of the Future, as we delicately restructure our priorities, re-direct technology toward what's ecologically necessary."
What a nice note to end on. If you haven't tried Bon Ami lately, why don't you put aside your Comet and your Ajax and give it a try.
Maxwell, right on! I've been using Bon Ami for two years now and would recommend it to anyone. It works like magic even on the dirtiest surfaces.
Wow, I've never heard of it before. Thanks Maxwell!
Heard of it, but always assumed it was similar to Comet, Ajax, etc. -- will definitely give it a try!
been using Bon Ami since forever! my mother-in-law is 89 and she introduced it to me. works really great on white Corningware dishes -- even takes off those metal scratches from untensils. :)
Baking soda works like magic too!
I love Bon Ami but have always been troubled by the slogan "hasn't scratched yet" with the little chick pictured who will undoubtedly start scratching any day...
It is not only gentler on the environment, but on your hands as well (when you forget to don your cleaning gloves).
Best... cleanser.... ever. Too bad I have to make a special trip to buy it. My usual household items store (Target) doesn't carry it.
It makes me think of chemistry lab (both high school and college), as that was always by the sink to help clean glassware.
Where can you buy it? I've never seen it in a store before (but never looked for it, either).
for a campy view of bon ami in action, watch the film mommie dearest, joan crawford throws a can of bon ami at christina in the bathroom and tells her to clean up this mess. as mother's day is near i'm sure it will be on tv soon.
its sold at whole foods
Been using Bon Ami about thirty years now. The best!
If only I could find Octagon Soap somewhere...
patrick-
i love that scene!...mommie dearest and christina on their hands and knees scrubbing together, sobbing.
My grandfather worked at the Bon Ami factory in Manchester, Connecticut when he came over from Northern Ireland, so I have a soft spot in my heart for Bon Ami. Plus, it really is good!