| Wood Kitchenware | | | | 2. The surface is becoming rough or "feathery" |
| I love the feel of my birdseye maple sugar spoon. It | | | | 3. It feels tacky or sticky.How to refinish your wood |
| looks good, but more important, it feels good. To keep | | | | spoons and bowls: |
| it looking good for a long time, I've spent time | | | | Cover your counter with several layers of |
| researching the best care and cleaning advice I could | | | | newspaper. If there appears to be a layer of oil on |
| find. Today, I'm sharing what I've learned about caring | | | | your wooden ware, scrape off what you can with a |
| for wooden spoons, bowls and cutting boards.Routine | | | | wooden spatula. Clean and sanitize as described |
| care: Wash your cutting boards or spoons with soap | | | | above. Then, wet the entire piece with water and coat |
| and water. I recommend all natural real soaps like | | | | it with lots of kosher salt. After ten minutes, wet a soft |
| Sunflower or Dr. Bronner's. To be extra effective, use | | | | cloth with warm water and scrub the piece. The salt |
| a scrub brush to get into any nooks or | | | | draws out bacteria and gently smoothes the finish. |
| crannies.Always air dry your wooden ware. Be sure | | | | Alternately, use 120 grit sandpaper.Once it is dry, oil the |
| water does not pool inside a bowl or on your wooden | | | | wood. I use Ed's cutting board oil. This product has a |
| ware.Occasionally sanitize your wooden ware. Did you | | | | natural walnut oil base. Some people prefer mineral oil, |
| know, studies have shown that wood is more sanitary | | | | saying it is more stable than nut oils. Mineral oil, though, |
| that those polyethylene, hard plastic boards? Visit for | | | | is a man made petroleum product and many hand |
| more details and for recipes for homemade sanitizing | | | | crafters prefer nut oils. Nut oils are safe, natural and |
| solution."Do Not"s: | | | | environmentally friendly.Ed says "Shake the bottle |
| 1. Do not soak your wood in water for more than 10 | | | | thoroughly to distribute the beeswax, then apply |
| minutes, | | | | liberally. Rub the oil in with a soft cloth in the direction of |
| 2. Do not store it in your oven if it has a pilot light, | | | | the grain." Many woodworkers recommend oiling with |
| 3. Do not leave it in bright sunlight for long periods, | | | | clean bare hands. The warmth and friction from your |
| 4. Do not put wooden ware in the dishwasher. | | | | fingers helps the oil penetrate deeper. After a few |
| 5. Do not leave metal objects on a wet board, the | | | | hours of drying, wipe off any oil not absorbed. Then do |
| metal will mark it.Sometimes your wood will need a little | | | | it again. Two coats is normally enough to last months. If |
| extra love & care. Signs your wooden ware needs | | | | you find your pieces need retreatment sooner than |
| more attention: | | | | this, try three or four coats. |
| 1. It is changing color, getting darker or lighter | | | | |