How To Care For Your Wooden Boards

• Never put your wooden chopping board in the dishwasher as the water and the heat will cause the glues to deteriorate.  Hot water will also cause cracks to form in the board and these become the idea place for bacteria and odour to enter the wood.
• Wooden chopping boards should be scrubbed after use with hot, soapy water, do not submerge, before rinsing them, wiping them off and allowing them to dry completely.  A paste of baking soda and water can clean and deodorise a wooden board, while bicarb soda and lemon juice is a fantastic way to remove stains and disinfect boards.  It is enough to physically scrub the board as wood has been proven to be naturally antibacterial.  Just make sure that nothing remains on them and that they are cleaned straight away.
• To clean your wooden boards: brush of any loose bits. Wipe the surface with a warm soapy dish cloth then wipe off excess moisture. Never put timber boards in a dishwasher or immerse in water. Timber boards are porous and they will absorb water and can split when they dry. If a board is submerged in water by mistake, dry off with a towel as soon as possible. Store boards flat to help prevent warping.
• Wooden boards should be never placed in the dishwasher
• Once a month apply a small amount of mineral oil or beeswax, rubbing with a lint-free cloth in the direction of the wood grain. (Walnut oil, almond oil, and bamboo oil are good alternatives, but stay away from olive or vegetable oils, as they turn rancid quickly.
• Reapply until the wood stops absorbing the oil. Wipe off excess and dry board overnight.

Totally Bamboo

Totally Bamboo has formulated their revitalizing mineral oil to preserve and extend the life of your bamboo cutting board and wood products. Apply a generous amount of revitalizing mineral oil on your cutting board. Spread with a soft cloth and leave on overnight if possible. Rinse before using and repeat as necessary. Click here to view revitalizing oil.

The Big Chop Nurturing Cream

The first thing to do with your new Big Chop timber board home is to "season" it. Do not even use it to cut or chop anything until you season it for the very first time. This is much like seasoning a cast iron pan, but you are applying it to a wooden cutting board. This cream is a recipe of a blend of oils and waxes including lemon oil that conditions the board and leaves a lovely citrus perfume. Wooden cutting boards have their own natural oils and for the most part they are antibacterial. To season a timber board is to add another layer of protection to it. The Big Chop "Timber Board Nurturing Cream" will help to seal the pores of the wood and keep out particles and bacteria as well as help prevent warping.

Now apply a coat of the cream, to the board liberally for the first coat massaging in with paper towel. I usually do 3 to 4 coats of seasoning the first time, letting each layer of cream I apply to dry for at least four hours, so overall this can take a day or two, but believe me in the long run you will be glad that you did this. So take your time and apply those coats even if it takes a day or longer. Click here to view nuturing cream.