How to clean a countertop or cutting board finished with Mineral oil and Beeswax
Wood has antimicrobial properties of its own and because of this wood tops are self-cleaning to an extent, but they still require regular cleaning with use.
It is important to understand that when you clean your countertop you are removing some of the oils that are protecting it in the process, so please make sure to re-oil and condition your butcher block regularly. Proper conditioning will have a great impact on the life of your block.
When cleaning your top or cutting board use a light amount of mild dish detergent, a damp sponge, then scrub and rinse as you would any of your other dishes. I recommend using warm, not hot, water and rinsing it out thoroughly, letting it dry, and re-treating it with mineral oil.
Do not leave your cutting board flat on any surface when drying. You want your cutting board to dry evenly on all four sides to prevent any cupping, checking, etc.
Stain Removal Suggestions
Lemon Juice and baking soda.
- Dust the baking soda over your top, squeeze out the lemon juice, and rub it in using the open side of the lemon. Rinse off any remaining baking soda and lemon juice, let it dry, and re-treat it with mineral oil.
White distilled vinegar
- Spray the vinegar evenly over the surface of your top and let it sit for 5 minutes, wipe off any excess vinegar, let it dry, and re-treat it with mineral oil.
Sanding and refinishing
- Because our tops are made out of solid wood they can be sanded at any time to remove stains, knife marks, etc. Make sure to follow proper sanding practices to get the best result, wipe away any dust from sanding, then re-oil and condition.