Care & Maintenance
How to clean and maintain your end grain cutting board
Congratulations! You are the owner of a new end grain cutting board. Follow this cutting board maintenance guide and let’s go over a few Do’s and Don’ts to make sure your cutting board stays beautiful and useful for many years.
Initial Care:
All boards created from 207 Woodworks come presoaked in food grade mineral oil and finished with a beeswax conditioner. It is recommended to soak both sides and edges of the board with mineral oil, allowing the oil to soak in for approximately 30 minutes before wiping it off with a cloth. Soak both sides of the board with mineral oil. DO NOT treat only one side, this can lead to warping (the board will begin to curl.) Wood absorbs liquids so applying mineral oil to both sides will allow the board to absorb the liquid equally, keeping it flat. After the oil has been wiped off, apply the beeswax conditioner to both sides of the board. Allow the conditioner to sit for several minutes before wiping it off with a cloth.
Need beeswax conditioned? Find it here:
or here https://www.etsy.com/shop/207WoodworksMaine
Cleaning your board:
DO NOT put your cutting board in the dishwasher, and DO NOT soak your board in water or any other type of liquid; you will be very sad. Wipe your board off after each use with a towel. If you want to wash it with soap, take a gentle dish soaped soaked paper towel wash and wipe the surface followed by a water only soaked paper towel. Immediately use a towel to dry the surface. After drying the board apply a new coat of mineral oil and conditioner.
Cutting Meats and Vegetables:
DO NOT cut any poultry or fish on your board unless you have followed the initial care instructions. The wax layer must be thorough on the cutting board before cutting poultry and fish to prevent bacteria from penetrating the surface. DO NOT leave meat on the surface longer than it needs to be to help prevent blood stains on the surface. In general, it is not recommended to leave vegetables or other food items on the cutting board, longer than necessary, to help prevent water marks and stains.
Stains and UH OHs:
Do not fret if a stain appears. All you need is a little baking soda, coarse salt, and half a lemon.
- Sprinkle the baking soda on the stain and sprinkle the salt on the outskirts of the stain.
- Squeeze the lemon on the baking soda and use the shell of the lemon to mix together.
- Rub around for a minute or two, bubbles will form from the lemon juice and baking soda.
- Let the paste sit for a few minutes before washing out with warm water.
- Reapply mineral oil and beeswax conditioner.
If you have deeps stains that are not coming out with the above steps, contact us here, we're happy to help.