GENERAL CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Normal wear and tear will occur with all cutting boards, but with a little maintenance, your boards can last a lifetime and continue to look amazing.

Wood based kitchen items should never be left submerged in water for any amount of time. Most wood based kitchen utensils are also not meant to be put in the dishwasher. The extreme heat and long soak will cause damage to your items. Both soaking and putting items in a dishwasher can cause absorption resulting in warping, splitting and cracking.

Use a light dishsoap and running water to wash your cutting board. Hardwood, end-grain boards have antimicrobial properties that allow the board to absorb and kill bacteria as it dries and does not require significant disinfecting with normal use.

Wipe your cutting board of excess water and then place it to dry. Ensure that you are letting your board completely dry after every use to ensure no absorption. Dry your board on one of the narrow sides so that both large flat surfaces are able to dry evenly.

Do not place hot pots, pans or kitchen items directly on your board as it can leave char or burn marks in the wood.

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SANITIZING & SPECIAL CARE

Do not use bleach or chemical based cleaning products on your wood boards as it can break down the wood fibres. If you want to disinfect your board, use white vinegar at full strength or in a 1:1 ratio with water. Wipe the board with the vinegar and then rinse and dry thoroughly.

For stain and odor removal, sprinkle coarse salt on the board, add enough lemon juice to create a paste-like consistency and rub the board. Use half the lemon as your scrubbing tool or a cloth. Let the paste sit on the board for a few minutes to pull out the stains and odors. Rinse the board thoroughly to ensure all salt has been removed.

For tough stains and odors, apply a paste of baking soda and water after you have rinsed the salt & lemon off the board. Again, scrub and then let the paste sit on the board for a few minutes to pull any remaining stains & odors out of the board. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

If you are doing any of the above steps, you will need to season your board with a board butter as the board could dry out due to the disinfecting or stain and odor removal processes.

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CONDITIONING & SEASONING

This process is simple and easy to do. Ensure your board is clean and fully dry. Using a small dab of wood butter and either your fingers or a clean cloth, rub your entire board with the butter, trying to go with the grain if possible. Let the butter sit and soak into the wood for at least an hour.

Re-apply where needed, or buff using a clean rag, moving again with the grain, so that the board is returned to a nice lustre and the board has a smooth sheen.

Conditioning your wood helps avoid cracking, splitting and food odor and water absorption by providing a protective barrier on the board. Do not use cooking oils such as olive oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, etc as they will go rancid and cause your board to smell bad. Use specialty butcher block oil and conditioners, or make your own wood butter with beeswax and mineral oil or fractionated coconut oil (doesn’t go rancid). We have a recipe for a great wood butter that is easy to make and the supplies easy to find or order. We also sell it on our Etsy site if you would rather not make it yourself.

You only need to condition or season your boards a few times a year with normal usage. You will know it is time when your board feels “dry” to the touch and the colour is light and worn looking.