About Country Woodworks

 

Care & Maintenance

​

There’s a lot to love about wood boards: They’re a pleasure to chop on and gentler on knife edges. And they’re far more beautiful than plastic ones. The only downside to wood is that it’s prone to warping and so requires more babying than plastic—wood must be hand-washed and oiled regularly. A warped board is a true tragedy in the kitchen. But by properly caring for your wood boards, you can help it avoid this fate so that it lasts for many years.

 

How to oil and wax your board

​

Wood naturally dries out after frequent washings, so you need to oil or wax it to prevent it from becoming brittle and cracking. Properly conditioning your board also creates a protective barrier against moisture, and this helps keep the board clean and makes it less likely to warp or crack. Conditioning the board also helps prevent it from staining or absorbing strong odors.

There are many ways to condition a cutting board. If you have a method that works well, or particular oils or waxes you prefer, keep using them. This is the method we like to use in the kitchen (and you can use this technique for other wood items, including salad bowls, serving trays, charcuteri, cheese boards and spoons).

Generously apply food-safe mineral oil—such as WATCH butch block Oil or bees wax or Mineral Oil—to the wood, and use a paper towel to rub it evenly over the entire surface and sides of the board. Its recommend to use mineral oil (or a blend) because it’s flavorless and odorless, and it won’t go rancid on your board like olive or vegetable oils tend to do. Mineral oil is also inexpensive and easy to find at most hardware stores.

Stand the board upright for several hours (preferably overnight) to allow the wood to absorb the oil.

The next day, use a fresh paper towel to wipe off any excess residue. Then apply a food-safe beeswax or a wax blend to help seal the oil in the board. We’ve tested our house blend Beeswax Finish, Cutting Board Natural Wood Wax, which were equally effective in our tests.

 

How often should you oil and wax your board?

​

There’s no one schedule for oiling boards, much like there is no one schedule for watering plants—it depends on the environment in which you’re storing the board, the type of wood, and how frequently you’re using it. Once a month is a good place to start, but there’s no harm in oiling your board whenever it looks thirsty. How can you tell? If you sprinkle a few drops of water on the board with your fingertips, it will bead up when the wood is sufficiently oiled (just like a waxed car). If the water disperses or soaks into the wood, your board needs more oil.

 

 

Many interesting myths surround furniture polishes, because marketing and selling them is big business. The labels on some of these products make entertaining reading by claiming that using a product will feed, nourish, condition, moisturize, replace lost natural oils, and even prevent cracking, warping and sun damage. Hmm. Fortunately, caring for the finishes on wood furniture isn’t nearly as complicated as those labels would have you believe. The two most important things you can do are fairly obvious. First, occasionally clean the surface using a rag dampened with water to keep crud from accumulating. Sometimes a deep cleaning is useful on older or neglected pieces. Second, avoid exposure to harsh elements. Direct sunlight, water, abrasions, and strong cleaning chemicals can all cause serious damage to finishes, and to the wood beneath them.

​

Additionally, you may choose to maintain the finish with a wax or polish. There are some good reasons to use these products, but furniture finishes are typically far more durable than polishes and waxes, and whether new or antique, do not really need any help from them to do their job of beautifying and protecting the wood. The simple cleaning method I mentioned earlier is my preferred approach for maintaining finishes and my standard recommendation to customers. Valuable antiques with old fragile finishes should not have wax or liquid polish applied without consulting a qualified professional. Oils can soak in between cracks in the finish and discolor the wood below.

​

​

Care & Maintenance Guide for Your Fine Furniture Finish

​

Generally a soft damp cloth followed by a dry cloth will be all you need to clean the finish. If a cleaner is required, use only a very mild soap and wipe dry. A high quality polish may be used occasionally. Apply polish with a soft cloth following manufacturer's instructions. Follow these steps and you will be assured that your finished piece will continue to look good for many years to come:

​

Cleaning: Fingerprints, cooking residues, tobacco smoke, etc. will accumulate on the finished surface. They will not damage the finish, but should be removed occasionally to restore the finish to its original state. Wipe the finish with a damp cloth using a non-wax polish or mild soap.

​

Dust Removal: Dust build-up is simply airborne particles of dust collecting on the finish. If not properly removed, this build-up may dull or even scratch the finish. Simply wipe the finish with a cloth dampened with a mild detergent or polish.

​

Spills: Your finish is resistant to most household spills. If a spill should occur, it should be wiped up immediately to avoid any potential damage.

​

Excessive Exposure: Heat, high humidity, direct sunlight or liquids can damage both the finish and the wood. Take care to avoid these conditions.

​

Avoid the following:

1. Excessive waxing.

2. Cleaners containing bleach.

3. Cleaners with abrasives that may scratch the finish.

4. Cleaners containing ammonia.

5. Dyes and inks from newsprint and plastic bags may penetrate into the finish when moist.