Like all natural materials, it is important to treat your wooden worktops with respect, and take care of them. Here are a few pointers on how you can keep them looking good for years to come!
Direct Contact
Don't put hot pots, pans or trays straight onto the worktop. The worktop may burn or stain so use a mat or a trivet. In fact, most metal vessels (such as aluminium cans, iron, copper, or steel containers) can stain the amber and as such contact between the two should be avoided. Take care with pigmented spices, such as turmeric, which can stain the surface.
Cleaning
Clean your surface with warm water, washing-up liquid and a soft cloth. Avoid using any abrasive and chemical-filled cleaning products and wire scouring pads. Be sure to mop up any large spillages as soon as you can – liquids should not be allowed to pool on the surface or stand for a length of time as that may stain the surface. Don't use multi-purpose cleaning products which contain chemicals as this may damage the worktop. Try to keep the area around your sink dry, or the wood may begin to blacken and rot.
Direct Cutting
Do not cut directly onto the worktop. Please place a chopping board or butcher’s block on top of the worktop surface to maintain its longevity.
Re-oiling your worktop
Don’t forget to oil your worktop regularly to maintain its beauty and longevity! Wood is a natural material and a proper course of oil treatment is essential to ensure a long and trouble-free life. Use linseed or Danish oil (available from DIY stores) and a lint-free cloth – microfibre works well. Pour a little oil directly onto the worktop and, using the cloth, spread it over the surface until you have a very thin and even layer. Keep going until you’ve covered all your worktop, then apply another coat. The oil will take a few hours to dry the first time you apply it, but up to eight or more hours for subsequent coats. Adding several thin coats is far more effective than just one thick coat – you can’t over-oil a wooden surface.
When the surface has a sheen, and water 'beads' or forms into droplets, you can tell that the worktop is in good condition. When the surface is dull and droplets don’t form, you need to re-oil the worktop. Ideally, you should re-oil the surface before it gets to that stage. In the first few weeks of use, special care must be taken to prevent the worktops becoming stained before they have built up sufficient oil protection. In particular water must not be allowed to lie on the surface.