Care and Maintenance
Just like with a cast iron skillet, your cutting board or other wood product can last for years and years, but not without a little TLC. Wood is a very durable material, but it is also organic and can respond to changes in moisture. Caring for your board is easy though. Just follow the steps on this page to keep your board in mint condition.
All of our products are shipped to you pre-treated with a combination of food safe mineral oil and bees wax. Boards and rolling pins are soaked for several minutes in a bath of mineral oil and then left to dry for 24 hours. Doing this ensures the mineral oil penetrates deep within the wood so that it won’t dry out. Mineral oil is used for this process because it will not go rancid like olive oil and is completely food safe.
After that a combination of mineral oil and beeswax is applied to the surface to add an extra layer of protection and water resistance. After 15 minutes we simply wipe off the excess with a towel. To make sure you are able to continue to maintain your purchase, every cutting board we sell comes with a 4 oz tin of our homemade board wax. We recommend you apply this wax monthly or whenever your board looks dried out.
Step 1: Cleaning
We recommend washing your board before using it the first time in case any dust found its way onto the board during the shipping process. After that, simply wash the board with soap and water after use. There is no special trick to this, but there are some points to avoid:
Never put wood products in the dishwasher. Doing so will almost certainly warp your board or cause other issues.
Never soak your board. Again this will cause warping and can lead to mold.
Never bleach or use harsh chemicals. Stubborn stains can be treated with white vinegar or a natural acid like lemon juice. Chemicals may become trapped in the wood and transferred to your food during future uses.
Step 2: Drying
After washing your board, dry the whole surface with a towel and leave the board to dry on its side or on its plastic feet. Ideally wait 24 hours for your board to dry completely before attempting the next step.
Step 3: Waxing
After several washings, your board will start to dry out and the color may also fade. Don’t worry, this happens and the solution is simple. After following steps 1 and 2, or with an otherwise clean and dry board, apply the included board wax to all surfaces of the board as if you were waxing a car. Rub in the wax in circular motions and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then take a clean dry towel or cloth and wipe away all of the excess wax. The board should look good as new. We recommend waxing your board about once a month, or whenever your board looks dry.