How to Care for Your Wooden Cutting Board and Kitchen Utensils: Three Simple Steps
Why should you look after your wooden spoons and cutting boards? Not just so they last as long as possible. Wood is a living, porous material – it easily soaks up smells and dirt, and over time bacteria can start to multiply on it. When it's neglected for a long time, wood dries out and absorbs everything even more easily, and any cracks become a perfect home for bacteria. By the way, a plastic board won't solve this – it gets scratched too, and unlike wood, plastic has no natural antibacterial properties. So wood is the right choice; it just needs a few minutes of care now and then. Don't worry, it's quick!
So how do you do it? We'll show you in three simple steps.
1. First, clean the wood thoroughly.
All you need is ordinary salt and a lemon: sprinkle the board generously with salt (ideally coarse), squeeze some lemon juice over it and then scrub the whole surface with the cut side of the lemon. The lemon disinfects the wood and the salt draws out grease and odours. Leave it for 15 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water and wipe dry. Once the board is completely dry, move on to the next step.
2. Wax the wood.
Take a piece of clean sponge or a dry cloth, pick up a small amount of wax and rub it over the whole surface of the board or spoon.
Why is beeswax better than oils?
Oil soaks deep into the wood and nourishes it from within. That's great, but it leaves almost nothing on the surface. Beeswax does both. Part of it soaks in (especially when blended with jojoba), and the rest stays on the surface as a protective layer. What's more, many plant oils (sunflower, rapeseed) turn yellow in the wood over time (they oxidise) – they start to smell and pass that taste on to your food. Beeswax is stable and doesn't go rancid.
Besides beeswax, our Beeswax Wood Balsam contains:
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Jojoba oil: soaks deep into the fibres and nourishes them from within.
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Tung oil: a natural wonder that hardens inside the wood structure once applied. It creates a tough "shield" that keeps water out, even with frequent washing.
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Essential oil: gives the board a fresh scent and has antibacterial properties.
3. A few tips to help your wood last for years
How should you store wooden boards?
Wood needs air. Don't leave boards lying flat on a wet countertop – the underside can't breathe and bacteria multiply there. Keep them away from the sink, where it's too damp, and avoid radiators and other heat sources. Ideally, stand your cutting boards upright on the counter or hang them up.
How should you wash wooden boards and spoons?
Wood doesn't like too much heat: don't wash boards in hot water and, above all, never put them in the dishwasher. After each use, wash the board with lukewarm water, a sponge and washing-up liquid.
How often should you wax wooden boards?
Try a simple test: put a few drops of water on the board. If they stay as beads on the surface, the protection is working. If the water soaks in straight away and leaves a dark mark, the wood is "thirsty". In the kitchen, repeating this ritual about once a month is enough.
What if my cutting board has cracks or old varnish?
Nothing is lost – it just needs a little "handiwork". To remove old varnish, start with coarser sandpaper (P80 to P100 grit). For the final smoothing before waxing and for repairing small cracks, use fine paper with P180 to P240 grit.
My tip: A sanding sponge is much more comfortable to use. It's easier to hold and follows the rounded shapes of spoons beautifully. You'll find one in any DIY store.
Extra tip: Always sand along the grain of the wood, never across it. That way you'll avoid scratches that would only stand out after waxing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I use the balsam on previously varnished wood? Not directly. Wax and oils need to soak into the pores. Old varnish has to be sanded off first, down to "healthy" wood.
What is tung oil and is it safe? Tung oil comes from the nuts of the tung tree. It's a 100% natural plant oil that is completely food-safe once cured. It's the oldest and best way to waterproof wood naturally.
How long does the balsam take to dry? Because of the tung oil, we recommend leaving the balsam on for at least 30 minutes and then wiping off any excess. The board reaches full durability (once the tung oil has cured) after about 24 hours.
Is it suitable for children's toys too? Absolutely! The ingredients are so pure that you don't need to worry if your child puts a wooden teether or toy treated with the balsam in their mouth.
Will the balsam change the taste of my food? Not at all. Tung and jojoba oils are flavour-neutral, and beeswax with a hint of essential oil only gently scents your kitchen – not your bread.
As you can see, it really isn't rocket science. Anyone can look after wood, and your boards and tables will thank you by ageing beautifully and perhaps even serving your children one day.
