THE WORKTOP SHOPparagraph
Solid Wood Worktops
REAL WOOD
Warm, glossy, and earthy, wood countertops are decidedly beautiful, but they do require some upkeep.
Warm, glossy, and earthy, wood countertops are decidedly beautiful, but they do require some upkeep.
Wood is a sustainable kitchen worktop option that has natural beauty. However, whether you have solid wood or butcher-block countertops, keeping them as good as new takes some elbow grease and a few preventative measures. To prevent stains and scratches, we offer some pro tips to keep your wood countertops looking their best.
HOT TIPS
Apply Oil Regularly
After new wooden worktops both butcherblock and solid wood have been installed, a campaign of Danish oil should be rubbed into the surface. This is essentially the first line of defense against wear and tear, and can be done very easily by pouring liberal amounts of oil onto the wood surface, allowing the oil to soak into the wood. After about half an hour, excess oil can be rubbed off with a soft cloth, leaving behind a more durable, stain-resistant surface. Oiling should be repeated once every year or two.
Wipe Up Spills Quickly
Although you want the initial oil application to sink into the wood, this isn’t what you want to happen with other liquids. If you spill some wine, vinegar, or other coloured or acidic liquids on the worktop, wipe them up quickly before they seep into the wood’s porous cell structure, staining your countertops.
Scrub Away Spills and Scratches
If you aren’t able to wipe up spills before they turn into stains, try natural stain removers and sanding. A light sanding with high-grade sandpaper works wonders on light stains and scratches, which can be sanded out and then oiled. If a stain is too deep for sanding, try cutting a lemon in half and rubbing the wood with the lemon, along with a dash of salt, for extra scrubbing power.
Act Preventatively
Wood, doesn’t do well when it comes into direct contact with very hot items like searing hot pans and pots. Keep trivets and potholders handy to protect your countertops from stains and damage–if you start doing this from the beginning it will become second nature protecting your top.
Use Real Cutting Boards
Similarly, keep chopping boards within easy reach to prevent yourself from being tempted to cut directly on to your worktops. Using the sink and hob cut-outs for chopping boards will look just like your worktops, using them you won't regret it once you start seeing scratches and knife marks all over the chopping boards that will otherwise be on your worktops.
Don’t Turn to varnish
With the constant oiling and maintenance of a wood worktop, we understand that it might be appealing to coat your worktop in a shiny, smooth polyurethane varnish finish. However, doing this will actually end up being more work in the long run because it will be difficult to evenly sand out any stains or scratches that eventually appear. Rather than sanding the entire counter and re-coating, oiling has the benefit of allowing for spot fixes, while a coating requires entire refinishing.
PRICES
2 wood species readily available Oak and Beech butchers block see prices for size availability. Other species available please call.