Product Care

Maintaining wood products is a quick and easy task that will keep your product sanitary, looking new and extend the life of your board.  Wood is a natural product that is susceptible to a number of environmental factors such as extreme sunlight, heat (e.g. Dish Washer) and moisture (e.g. leaving it submerged in a sink). 

To preserve the natural beauty of the product and to maintain its durability a few simple rules can be applied.  Below is a summary of how you can care for your product so that it will last a lifetime.  If you have any further questions or need further explanation on anything contained in this article, then please get in touch.

SERVING BOARDS / CUTTING BOARD

Maintaining a cutting board is a quick and easy task that will keep your board sanitary, looking new and extend the life of your board. The most common question we receive each week is “How do I maintain my cutting board?”, so we’ve put together this short set of instructions to help you out.

General Approach

Wash your serving or cutting board with soap and warm water and scrub well. The volume of water and mechanical scrubbing is more important than soap in flushing bacteria and other food particles off the board. After washing the cutting board, dry immediately with a towel and let it air dry standing up or on a raised rack with air flow.

Depending on usage, at least once a month, apply an appropriate board oil or cream.

A Few “Do Nots”

– DO NOT place the board in the Dish Washer. Our serving boards are generally either made up of glued up pieces or strips of wood. The main reason you should never place a wooden board into your dishwasher is that the prolonged exposure to heat and water will cause your cutting board to warp and crack. Not only will it be difficult to chop on a warped board, but cracks in the wood are a breeding ground for bacteria, mold and other microbes that feed on trapped food particles and water

– DO NOT soak or allow the board to stand in water (even for a few minutes). The wood will absorb as much water as it can and potentially warp.

– DO NOT clean the board using harsh chemicals (e.g. Bleach). This will stain the wood and/or excessively dry the wood.

– DO NOT place a wet board flat to dry after cleaning. If the board dries on one side, it will cause the wood to warp.

– DO NOT oil your board with common kitchen oils (e.g. Olive oil or Vegetable oil) as these types of oils can be rich in fat which will eventually oxidise.  As a result, they will become rancid over time, and you will end up with a foul-smelling board. 

– DO NOT oil your board with standard mineral oil or other potentially toxic ingredients.  Always look for an oil that is non-toxic or food safe.

Additional Cleaning Suggestion

If your board has stains or smells, you could try using lemon juice or white vinegar directly on the affected area (do not apply this on the entire board). The acid in these liquids will neutralize the organic material or fats causing the issue.

Replenishing The Finish

Once your cutting board is thoroughly dry, apply the oil directly onto the surface of the board. Be generous with the application, especially if the wood is dry or you just purchased the cutting board or butcher block. You can apply the oil with a chip brush for ease of disposal. For New Zealand residents, we have found that these are stocked at your local Bunnings, Mitre10 Mega or Hardware stockist.  Most importantly, let the oil soak into the cutting board for as long as possible, at least a few hours or overnight if possible and buff well afterwards.

Our recommendation is to use a non-toxic or food-safe finish such as Tung Oil or Worktop Oil (see the product samples page for more information).

The goal of using board oil is to saturate the wood fibres and penetrate the wood as much as possible. This will help stop other liquids from entering and being stored within the wood fibres (e.g. blood, organic liquids etc. which may harbour harmful bacteria). It will also prevent moisture from soaking into the board. Having a well-oiled cutting board will keep the same shape when the wood fibers are saturated, so it will not expand and shrink compared to a board that is left to completely dry, then exposed to water. This shrinking and expanding effect is the main cause of cracked or warped cutting boards.