The more efficient we become the more things lose their value. Since the industrial revolution, we have become increasingly proficient at manufacturing, significantly reducing the cost of goods and inadvertently taking their value down with the cost. These days, we frequently find ourselves replacing rather than fixing the objects that play an important role in our daily lives. When we stop to think about it, it doesn't seem quite right that in many cases it is cheaper to replace an item than to fix it. Or at least, the two often seem so comparable in cost that replacing it starts to appear like the smarter choice.
But when cared for properly, many of the items we are used to replacing can become more beautiful and meaningful as they capture the traces that tell the stories of their use.
In our store we take great care to select items that will withstand the test of time. They will weather and they will change, but if cared for properly this should only make them more meaningful as they become personal to their user. Part of this process involves investing a little more time into the care of the products. We are all busy and this can often make it seem like a challenge to find the time necessary to dedicate to the proper care of all of the items in our life that need care. But one of the simplest ways to avoid this feeling is to reduce the number of items we own. Owning fewer, higher quality homewares means we have fewer items to look after leaving a little more time to dedicate to their proper care.
So today we are sharing a brief 'how to' guide for caring for your handmade wooden items such as cutting boards, wooden kitchen utensils and even things like children’s wooden toys. While this 'how to' guide is written with our handmade cutting boards in mind, it can serve equally well as a care guide for all of your heirloom wooden items.
Our step by step guide to caring for your wooden cutting board with natural cutting board oil:
From time to time, particularly when the wood of your cutting boards looks dry or the finish appears dull, you can restore your cutting board with our All Natural Cutting Board Oil. Regular oiling will help to prevent your cutting board from drying out and cracking. Over time, continuous oiling will give it a healthy sheen and workable protective coating that will allow the wood to be washed with soap on a regular basis without drying it out. Think of oiling as a protective moisturising step for your wood.
Step 1:
Ensure that your boards are clean and dry by wiping them with a clean, dry cloth.
Step 2 (optional):
Over time, your board will acquire cuts and scratches from daily use. We appreciate these as part of the board's story. However, it is possible to reduce the appearance of scarring by lightly sanding the board's surface with fine grade sandpaper. Another alternative is to only use one side of your cutting board for cutting so that the other side is preserved as a display surface.
Step3:
Apply a liberal amount of all natural cutting board oil directly onto the board's surface. Spread and massage the oil into the entire surface of the board with a clean dry cloth. Try to cover the board's entire front and back surfaces as well as its edges and handle.
Step 4:
Allow the oil to fully absorb into the wood (we usually let it sit overnight). You can use our board oil to properly care for all of your wooden cutting boards as well as other wood items such as kitchen knives and other utensils.
Step 5:
When you next come to use the boards you can wipe off any excess oil with a clean, dry cloth or a paper towel. If the board still appears oily you can clean any excess oil off with soap and water.
Step 6:
When your board is new we advise that you repeat this process approximately three times. After this point, you should notice that your board will become much more resilient to normal use and will require less frequent oiling. From this point on oil your board as needed to ensure that it lasts for generations.
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Images above show our All Natural Cutting Board Oil, Maple Cutting Board in large and small, Blackline Cutting Board in large, Pallares Solsona Kitchen Knife, and Botanical Dyed Linen Tea Towel in Stone.