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Products · Cleaning & laundry · Bon Ami (Faultless Brands)

Bon Ami Powder Cleanser, 14 oz can

Reader ratings
Bon Ami Powder Cleanser, 14 oz can

A scouring powder of five named ingredients: mostly limestone and feldspar with soda ash, baking soda and under 1% detergent. No fragrance, dye or chlorine; EWG grades it A. Consumer Reports tested it, but its result is members-only.

Best for Scrubbing sinks, tubs, cooktops and pots without a scented spray, for someone who wants a short, mostly mineral label and does not mind a powder.

Our rating
Good (3.6 of 5)
Price range
Budget
Size
14 oz (397 g) can of powder; Bon Ami sells it only in this size now
Made in
Made in the United States, per Bon Ami’s FAQ

approx. $2.19 for a 14 oz can

See it on Bon Ami (Faultless Brands)’s site → (opens in a new tab)

We are not affiliated with Bon Ami (Faultless Brands). This link goes to the maker’s own page, with no tracking code. How we're funded.

Also sold at Amazon ($23 and up for six cans (about $3.90 a can)), Lowe’s ($13.68 for two cans ($6.84 a can)), Hemlock Hardware (Connecticut) ($2.29) , and 1 more.

Reader ratings & reviews

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    Reviews are personal experiences, not research, and they never change our quality ratings. Every review is read by our team before it appears.

    How we evaluated it

    How it scores Our rating, metric by metric Good, 3.6 of 5
    1. Ingredients 35% of the rating 4 of 5

      Five named ingredients, four of them minerals, with no fragrance, dye, chlorine, phosphate, preservative or ethoxylated surfactant, and one trace alkylbenzene sulfonate that EWG scores C.

    2. Cleans well 20% of the rating 2 of 5

      Consumer Reports tested it against three other powders in 2024 but its result for Bon Ami is members-only, and the maker’s own FAQ rules it out on glass, mirrors and non-stick pans.

    3. Independent testing 15% of the rating 3 of 5

      EWG grades it A and no ingredient worse than C, but that is a hazard screen of the label and we found no lab test of the finished powder.

    4. Trust 10% of the rating 3 of 5

      The maker prints the list, admits it does not disinfect and we found no recall or notice about this powder, but its parent Faultless Brands has had two Prop 65 notices (2013 and 2026) over other products.

    5. Value 20% of the rating 5 of 5

      $2.19 for 14 oz is about 16 cents an ounce at the maker’s store, one of the cheapest cleaners here, though resellers on Amazon charge about $3.90 a can or more.

    The rating, 3.6 of 5, is the weighted average of these scores. See how we rank cleaning & laundry and our standard.

    Where to buy Stores and the prices we saw 4 stores
    • Amazon (opens in a new tab) approx. $23 and up for six cans (about $3.90 a can). Six 14 oz cans, new offers from $23.29 on 2026-11-03 ($23.69 when first checked). Ships from Amazon but is sold by My Great Goods, a reseller, not the maker. A single can (B00JQGVAOO), also shown with My Great Goods, has 23 new offers from $4.62.
    • Lowe’s (opens in a new tab) approx. $13.68 for two cans ($6.84 a can). A two-pack of 14 oz cans, $13.68 on 2026-11-03, sold and shipped by Hearthshire, a marketplace seller. Online resellers charge two to three times the maker’s $2.19; a single can is $2.29 at the hardware store listed next.
    • Hemlock Hardware (Connecticut) (opens in a new tab) approx. $2.29. One 14 oz can, $2.29 on 2026-11-03 and in stock; the page offers same-day pickup and 1 to 2 day delivery, and we did not check where it delivers. It shows what a shelf price looks like.
    • Grove Collaborative (opens in a new tab) approx. $2.49. One 14 oz (397 g) can, $2.49 on 2026-11-03 and in stock. The listing carries this can's UPC (017500044038) and the same five ingredients as the maker's page.

    Prices as we saw them on November 3, 2026. They change often. These links carry no tracking code and earn us nothing.

    What’s in it Every ingredient, in label order 5 ingredients
    1. Calcium carbonate (limestone)
    2. Feldspar powder
    3. Sodium carbonate (soda ash)
    4. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
    5. C10-C16 alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (surfactant)
    Who tested it What each test found, and who paid for it 3 tests
    • Independent Consumer Reports (independent; members-only ratings) April 2024

      Compared Bon Ami, Bar Keepers Friend, Ajax and Comet against The Pink Stuff paste to see which cleaned best. The free text says the powders were all tough on heavy messes but did not perform the same across all surfaces, that they cleaned better than the writer's usual non-abrasive products, and that she would not reach for any of them daily. Bon Ami's own ratings sit behind the paywall, so we could not read them. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

    • Independent EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning (nonprofit; no lab test) June 2026

      Grades Bon Ami Powder Cleanser A with ingredient disclosure rated good: calcium carbonate A, sodium carbonate A, sodium bicarbonate A, feldspar C, alkylbenzene sulfonate C (data updated 2026-06-03). It is a hazard screen of the ingredients, not a test of the powder. We read the entry in a browser on 2026-11-03. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

    • Maker’s own test Faultless Brands safety data sheet (maker) June 2019

      Version 1.4, revised 2019-06-07, for product codes including 04403 (this can): limestone 60 to 100%, feldspar 5 to 10%, disodium carbonate 1 to 5%, alkylbenzene sulfonic acid under 1%. Classified Eye Irritant 2A (H319). Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

    Who paid, and why it matters
    • Independent The tester took no money from the maker for it: a consumer group, a journalist, a university or a regulator.
    • Paid certification An outside lab or certifier tested or listed it, and the maker paid for that.
    • Maker’s own test A lab report or certificate of analysis the maker commissioned and published.

    A certification is a floor, not a verdict: it checks what its program checks and nothing else. We weigh tests by someone with no stake in the result most.

    What people ask Worries raised online and elsewhere, and what we found 8 questions
    Will it scratch my sink or cooktop?
    Bon Ami’s FAQ (opens in a new tab) says it is safe for many hard surfaces including stainless steel, porcelain, enamel, fiberglass and acrylic, and not for glass, windows, mirrors or non-stick pans. It tells you to test polished, painted or decorative surfaces first and not to leave it on a surface. Feldspar is a mineral abrasive. Consumer Reports’ 2024 powder test (opens in a new tab) is the independent check, but its ratings are members-only.
    Is the dust harmful to breathe?
    The safety data sheet (opens in a new tab) says it causes serious eye irritation, that limestone dust may irritate the airways, and to avoid breathing dust. It lists no crystalline silica. Make a paste with water instead of sprinkling it dry, and keep the can closed.
    Does it kill germs?
    No. The FAQ (opens in a new tab) says it washes away germs, mildew and soils but is not antimicrobial. Our look at vinegar and baking soda covers what to use when you need to disinfect.
    Is the surfactant a concern?
    It is a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, a petroleum-based detergent, at under 1% by the 2019 safety data sheet. EWG scores it C. It is not an ethoxylated surfactant, so it is not the type that can carry 1,4-dioxane.
    Is the ingredient list current?
    The maker’s page lists baking soda, and the 2019 sheet does not. Bon Ami’s FAQ (opens in a new tab) says its ingredients are listed by technical names since new labeling rules and that the formulas are unchanged. We could not find a newer safety data sheet.
    Any recall, Prop 65 notice or lawsuit?
    None about this powder. The California AG’s notice search (opens in a new tab) lists two notices against the parent company: AG 2026-02317 (opens in a new tab) (diethanolamine, in a hot-iron cleaner, partly withdrawn) and AG 2013-00072 (opens in a new tab) (DEHP, in vinyl tool grips). CPSC’s recall search has no Faultless or Bon Ami record.
    Why are the online prices so high?
    Bon Ami’s own store charges $2.19 a can and a Connecticut hardware store (opens in a new tab) lists it at $2.29 and Grove at $2.49. The Amazon and Lowe’s listings we opened are resellers at about $3.90 a can or more, and Faultless’s resale policy (opens in a new tab) bars resellers from selling on Amazon and other marketplaces. Check the shelf price at a grocery or hardware store before you order.
    Is it PFAS-free?
    No fluorinated ingredient is listed. We found no independent PFAS test of the powder.
    Why we chose it What put it on our list 5 points
    • Five ingredients on the maker’s page: calcium carbonate (limestone), feldspar powder, sodium carbonate (soda ash), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and one surfactant, C10-C16 alkylbenzene sulfonic acid. The maker says it has no chlorine, phosphorus, perfume or dye.
    • The surfactant is a trace. The only safety data sheet we found for this powder (version 1.4, 2019) puts it under 1%, limestone at 60 to 100%, feldspar at 5 to 10% and soda ash at 1 to 5%.
    • EWG’s cleaning guide grades Bon Ami Powder Cleanser A (data updated 2026-06-03). Calcium carbonate, soda ash and baking soda score A; feldspar and the surfactant score C.
    • It costs $2.19 a can at the maker’s own store, about 16 cents an ounce, and the can is paper and aluminum made from 65% post-consumer recycled material.
    • It is honest about limits: the maker says it is not antimicrobial, not for glass, windows, mirrors or non-stick cookware, and that polished or decorative surfaces need a spot test.
    Trade-offs What to weigh before you buy 6 points
    • Consumer Reports compared it with Bar Keepers Friend, Ajax and Comet in 2024, but the ratings are members-only and we could not read how Bon Ami scored. Its free text says the powders were all tough on heavy messes but did not perform the same on every surface. The maker says Bon Ami is safe for many hard surfaces; that is its own claim.
    • The surfactant, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, is petrochemical-based. It is under 1% by the safety data sheet, and EWG scores it C. Everything else is a mineral.
    • It is a dust. The safety data sheet classes it as a serious eye irritant (H319), says to avoid breathing dust and warns that limestone dust can irritate the airways. Wet the surface first.
    • It does not kill germs. The maker says it washes germs away but is not antimicrobial.
    • The only safety data sheet we found is dated 2019 and does not list baking soda, which the maker’s current page does. Bon Ami says relabeling by technical name changed how ingredients are listed, not the formula.
    • The maker sells direct for $2.19, but the Amazon and Lowe’s listings we found were resellers charging two to three times as much, and Faultless’s resale policy bars resellers from selling on Amazon and other marketplaces. Walmart’s results were all third-party sellers too.
    What to know Details worth knowing first

    Bon Ami has sold the same idea since 1886: a scouring powder of ground minerals with a trace of detergent. Our guide to common cleaning products points to baking soda paste as a safe scrub. Bon Ami adds limestone, feldspar and soda ash, and its maker says there is no fragrance, dye, chlorine or phosphorus.

    It is on the list for its short label and one outside screen. EWG grades it A, with no ingredient scoring worse than C. That is a hazard screen of the ingredients, not a cleaning test, and Consumer Reports’ 2024 test of four powders keeps its ratings behind a paywall, so we cannot say how Bon Ami scored or whether it scratches. The maker names the limits itself: not for glass, mirrors or non-stick pans, and a spot test on polished surfaces.

    Two cautions. It is a dust, and the maker’s safety data sheet classes it as an eye irritant and says to avoid breathing it, so make a paste. And it does not disinfect; see our look at vinegar and baking soda for what to do when you need that. The maker sells a can for $2.19, and the online resellers we found charge two to three times as much, so look at a store shelf first.

    What we checked Each claim, and how sure we are of it 7 checks
    How Bon Ami Powder Cleanser, 14 oz can measures up against our cleaning & laundry criteria
    What we checked What we found
    Full ingredient disclosure Maker’s claim Five ingredients on the maker’s page, each with its CAS number; the 2019 safety data sheet gives percentage ranges for four components.
    Independent mark: EWG Verified EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning grades it A, data updated 2026-06-03. It is not EWG Verified, and no ingredient scores worse than C.
    Independent mark: EPA Safer Choice Not verified No Bon Ami rows in EPA’s Safer Choice products table (queried 2026-11-03).
    Fragrance-free Maker’s claim The maker says it contains no perfume or dye, and the list names none.
    Honest germ claims Maker’s claim The maker says it is not antimicrobial and makes no germ-killing claim.
    Independent cleaning test Not verified Consumer Reports compared it with three other powders in 2024 (published 2024-04-29); the ratings are members-only, so we could not read Bon Ami's result.
    PFAS Maker’s claim No fluorinated ingredient on the label. We found no independent PFAS test.
    What the labels mean
    • Verified We opened an independent record that confirms it: a certifier’s listing, a regulator’s list or a lab report. It is linked under Sources.
    • Maker’s claim The maker says so on its own page or label. We read it but found no independent record.
    • Not verified We looked and could not confirm it, or the maker does not say. Treat it as unknown.
    Sources Where our facts come from 14 sources
    1. Bon Ami Powder Cleanser 14 oz product page. Maker’s page. Ingredients and claims as seen 2026-11-03. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    2. Bon Ami store: Powder Cleanser 14 oz. Maker’s page. $2.19 for one can (SKU 04403-E) on 2026-11-03. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    3. Bon Ami FAQ. Maker’s page. Says it is made in the United States, is not antimicrobial, is not for glass or non-stick pans, and that its package is 65% post-consumer recycled. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    4. Faultless Brands safety data sheet: Bon Ami Cleanser. Maker’s page. Version 1.4, revised 2019-06-07, covering product codes 04402 to 04437 including 04403. Composition ranges and the H319 classification. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    5. Consumer Reports: Best Powder Cleansers, Tested by Our Experts (Bon Ami, Bar Keepers Friend, Ajax, Comet). Test report. Published 2024-04-29. Only the introduction is free; the ratings are members-only. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    6. EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning: Bon Ami Powder Cleanser. Certifier or regulator listing. Grade A, data updated 2026-06-03. Read in a browser on 2026-11-03. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    7. Bon Ami Powder Cleanser, six cans, on Amazon. Independent source. New offers from $23.29 on 2026-11-03 ($23.69 when first checked), ships from Amazon, sold by My Great Goods. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    8. Bon Ami Powder Cleanser, two-pack, on Lowe’s. Independent source. $13.68 on 2026-11-03, sold and shipped by Hearthshire. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    9. Bon Ami Powder Cleanser at Grove Collaborative. Independent source. $2.49 on 2026-11-03, in stock, UPC 017500044038. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    10. Bon Ami powder cleanser at Hemlock Hardware. Independent source. $2.29 on 2026-11-03, in stock; barcode 00017500044038 matches this can's SKU 04403. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    11. Faultless Brands resale policy. Maker’s page. Says resellers may not sell Faultless products on Amazon or other online marketplaces. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    12. California AG Prop 65 notice search: Faultless. Certifier or regulator listing. Two notices against the parent, about a hot-iron cleaner (2026) and vinyl tool grips (2013); none about Bon Ami powder. Searched 2026-11-03. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    13. CPSC recall search: Faultless. Certifier or regulator listing. No records for Faultless or Bon Ami on 2026-11-03. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    14. EPA Safer Choice products table. Certifier or regulator listing. No Bon Ami rows on 2026-11-03. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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