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How To Treat Your Natural Hard Wood Cutting Board With Organic Oils And Lemons

Our ManMade Woods hardwood cutting boards are beautiful, natural and made to last a lifetime. However, as with any natural product, over time and use (as we’re sure you’ll be using it every day!) you’ll need to re-apply the natural organic oils to the top cutting surface to ensure it lasts the test of time. Below we will give you tips on how to treat your natural hard wood cutting board.

Long Wood Cutting Board

Every cutting board we make has 6 coats of natural cutting board conditioners and oils. Below I’ll list the steps to take on a new virgin surface of a cutting board to prepare it for use.

How to prepare your new cutting board for use:

  • Sand the top surface smooth using a fine grit sand paper
  • Apply 2-4 coats of natural cutting board conditioner. Allow 20 minutes to dry between new coats. Each product will list directions on back.
  • We use the brand ‘Howard’, which is FDA approved, food grade mineral oil & natural waxes. But you can look in any search engine or hardware store to find something you like.
  • Apply 2-4 coats of natural cutting board oil, allow 20 minutes to dry in between each coat.
  • Again, we use the Howard brand but as above choose what works for you.
  • After all the coats are applied and dry, wipe down with a dry cloth or towel.
  • Rinse off, Let dry, Ready to go!
Long Wood Cutting Board

What we apply, should last about a year depending on how often you use your board. You’ll be able to tell if your surface is getting real light and looking real rough if you need to re-apply. Once it’s time, we’ll list the steps for you below.

Steps to renew your natural cutting board surface:

  • Sand down with fine grit sand paper or sanding block
  • Apply 3-4 coats of organic butcher block oil, allow 20 minutes for each coat to dry before the next.
  • Once dry and all coats are applied, wipe board down, rinse off, let dry, and you’re ready to go again for another year or so!

Other tips to ensure your natural wood cutting board lasts:

  • Never wash your wood board in a dishwasher!
  • Never let your wood cutting board sit in standing water for a long period of time.
  • After use, rinse off your board with hot water, then let it dry.
  • When washing more thoroughly (or always after contact with raw meat), use hot water and soap to wash top surface, being delicate not to chip the bark, and then rinse off once clean, dry with towel and then let air dry the rest of the way.
  • Treat your board with lemon/salt combo monthly.

Steps to treat with lemon/salt combo:

Long Wood Cutting Board
  • Take a teaspoon of salt and add it to your boards cutting surface
  • Cut a lemon in half, and rub the salt into the entire cutting surface using the inside of the lemon
  • The lemon/salt combo will act as an anti-bacterial which will help get rid of any bacteria on your board from frequent use.
  • It’s not 100% necessary, but doesn’t hurt to throw another coat of cutting board oil on after this, the lemon/salt will clean and treat your surface nicely though.
  • Rinse off, dry, and ready to go again!

Looks like a lot of steps, but really it takes about 5-10 minutes of actual work (excluding dry times) to ensure your beautiful, and natural wood cutting board lasts for decades to come! It’s definitely worth ensuring your boards beauty over time. Let us know if you have any other questions on renewing or maintaining your wood butcher block below in the comments and we’ll get back to you.

Looking for a natural hard wood cutting board of your own? Grab one here >>

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