Fivebraids Custom Woodworking, Inc.

Butcher Block End Grain Cutting Board Care Instructions:

All of our boards are thoroughly finished with mineral oil and wax prior to being sold. A quick wipe with mineral oil is all that should be needed and your new board will be ready for use. Here are some general instructions for caring for your new board:

Do:

- Keep your board well oiled as follows using only USP (food grade) mineral oil which can be purchased very inexpensively at any drug store, and most supermarkets:

Oil once a day for a week

Oil once a week for a month

Oil once a month forever

- Rub on a generous amount of oil, let sit for 10-15 minutes, then wipe off any excess oil. (Don't forget the sides and bottom of the board. They need conditioning as well.)

- For added protection, melt one part paraffin wax in ten parts mineral oil and apply as described above

- To clean your board, sponge it off with warm soapy water, then towel dry thoroughly

- To remove odors from your board, rub it with kosher salt and lemon juice

- To disinfect your board, rub it with one part vinegar to five parts water, then towel dry

Don't:

- Don't ever put your board in a dishwasher!

- Don't ever put your board under running water!

- Don't ever place hot pans on your board!

- Don't stand your board on its edge and allow it to drip dry! (Thoroughly towel dry instead.)

- Don't let your board dry out...keep it well oiled. (Allowing your board to dry out can cause warping and/or cracking of the wood.)

- Don't store your board near a heat source (stove top, etc.) This will dry the board out prematurely.

- Don't ever use any form of vegetable or cooking oil to treat your board. These will rapidly turn rancid and ruin your board beyond repair.

Even if you never use the board to cut or prepare food, your board should be kept well oiled to prevent it from drying out which will result in warping and/or cracking.

Keep in mind, if you've selected a board that is made of more than one species of wood, seasonal changes in humidity can result in one wood species expanding or contracting at a different pace than the others. This can sometimes result in a surface that doesn't feel as smooth as it did when your board was new. (You may feel the seams where the different species meet.) If this bothers you, simply take some 120 or 150 grit sandpaper and smooth out the surface. Be sure to re-oil the board after sanding. Try oiling before sanding. Sometimes a good thorough oiling will cure this so sanding isn't required.

Follow these instructions and your board will give you many years of service!