Cleaning wooden boards
Caring for and maintaining a hand-crafted wood cutting board does take a little effort, but the payoff is worth it.
How do I wash the boards?
After each use, wash with a quality dishwashing detergent and warm water. Wet the surface, apply the detergent and wash. Rinse thoroughly. (Do not leave the hot water running over the surface for an extended period of time!) Do not soak or place in dishwasher.
Can I use all types of knives?
Wood cutting boards are very durable, but serrated knives will wreak havoc on almost any good cutting board. If you’re going to use a serrated knife for bread, do it on a cheap plastic board that you can throw out when it gets scarred up
How do I remove stains or odors?
To remove stubborn stains, sprinkle baking soda over the cutting board, rub with a warm damp cloth and then rinse away any excess baking soda. To freshen up a smelly board, rub a halved lemon over the surface and let it sit for a minute or two, and then wipe off. The best way is to keep the board well-oiled and washed after each use. Using baking soda on a smelly area will help but avoid using a paste of baking soda and water.
If needed, how do I sanitize the board?
A solution of 1 tablespoon of Clorox to one quart of water is sufficient to sanitize. Spray on, let it sit, and then rinse. Or, mix a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water. Spray on, let it sit, and then rinse. Or, coat the surface with salt overnight. The salt will absorb the moisture and kill the bacteria. When prepping raw meat on your board, you will need to sanitize with either vinegar or a solution of 1 1/2 teaspoons of bleach in 4 cups of water.
Maintaining wooden boards
To maintain a wooden board, a wax wood conditioner needs to be periodically applied to the board. This will keep the board semi-waterproof which prevents the board from absorbing moisture or odors from foods and from splitting and warping.
Where do I find a quality wax wood conditioner?
Quality wood conditioner is made of all-natural food-grade mineral oil and beeswax. Brady’s Board Butter is just that. This creamy paste is made in small batches to ensure the highest quality. Use the paste as a monthly refresher to remoisturize and reseal any wooden item. Brady’s Board Butter will keep your board looking beautiful and useful for many years to come.
How do I condition the board?
Coat the board in Brady’s Board Butter, allow it to soak in for about 15 minutes, then wipe off the excess oil. If the oil absorbs very quickly then you need to apply a second coat. Don’t allow the board to dry out. Be sure to oil ALL the surfaces from time to time, not just the top.
Can I use any oil?
NO! Do NOT use cooking oil on your board! Even a very stable oil like coconut oil will go rancid over time. DO NOT use industrial mineral oil or any organic oil, vegetable, olive, nut oil, and the like. They all contain natural fats and will turn rancid over a period of time. The best oil to use is a combination of food-safe mineral oil and beeswax.
Do I need to “season” my board?
Your board will arrive already finished and ready for use. We use pharmacy-grade food-safe mineral oil, followed by our BRADY’S BOARD BUTTER for water resistance and protection.
How often do I use the conditioner?
There is not a hard set rule as to how often this needs to be done but I recommend you do this at LEAST 6x per year. And, if your board starts to look greyish, then that is a sign your board needs conditioner.
Why does more board feel “fuzzy”?
Trees drink water to grow and the cells didn’t stop working after the tree was cut down. The “Fuzz” that you feel are the grains expanding and standing up. Once these fibers get wet they will stand up again and make your board feel fuzzy. I actually cause this to happen twice during the making of your product by “raising the grain” and forcing these fibers to swell up so they can be sanded away. By doing this, you might not even notice this effect. But if you do, the good news is that the “fuzz” that you are feeling is very temporary and will get better with every wash as the semi-loose fibers are knocked off of the board. A sharp knife can also shave your board like a razor and a beard. Once these loose fibers are gone your board will remain smooth.
Brady’s Board Butter
Protect and maintain your board with our all-natural blend of food-grade mineral oil and beeswax.
Order your jar og Brady’s Board Butter today.
