Stowe Craft Tips on wood and Pewter Care

Wood Kitchen Items Care"Do Nots"

1. Do not soak wood spoons, bowls or boards in water for more than 10 minutes,
2. Do not store it in your oven if it has a pilot light,
3. Do not leave it in bright sunlight for long periods,
4. Do not put wooden ware in the dishwasher.
5. Do not leave metal objects on a wet board, the metal will mark it.
6. Do not forget to oil wood boards and utensils when they start to feel wooly or rough.

How to Care for Wood Kitchen Items

First, regularly wash your wood cutting boards and bowls with soap and water. We recommend all natural real soaps like Sunflower or Dr. Bronner's. To be extra effective, use a scrub brush to get into any nooks or crannies. After washing, let your cutting board or bowl air dry. Just be sure water does not pool on it.

Second, sanitize your wood cutting boards, bowls and spoons:

Did you know studies have shown that a hardwood cutting board is more sanitary that those polyethylene, boards? It turns out, bacteria prefers to live in artificial plastic scratches and cracks. So, your old wood cutting board is actually more sanitary than the modern "improvement".

Here are a few home recipes for sanitizing solutions:

• Hydrogen peroxide 3% solution.
• White distilled vinegar, 3 tablespoons in 1 cup of water or
• Two tablespoons of bleach in a quart of water.

Cover your cutting board with the sanitizing solution and let sit for a few minutes. Then rinse with warm water and air dry. 

If you haven't oiled your wood for a few months- read on. 

How to Oil Wood Cutting Boards. Bowls and Utensils

Many woodworkers and cooks swear by Ed Wohl oil. It makes birdseye maple cutting boards and finishes them silky smooth with this oil. It is a blend of beeswax and walnut oil. Ed Wohl tells us "Shake the bottle thoroughly to distribute the beeswax, then apply liberally. Rub the oil in with a soft cloth in the direction of the grain."

Many woodworkers recommend oiling cutting boards with clean bare hands. The warmth and friction from your fingers helps the oil penetrate deeper.

Let it absorb and dry for a few hours. Then dry and wipe off any oil not absorbed. Then do it once more.

Two coats is normally enough to last months. If you find your cutting board wants more oil sooner than this, try three or four coats.

If you have any questions or comments on these care tips, please contact us at Stowe Craft Gallery.

Click here for a printable version of How To Take Care of Wooden Bowls - Spoons