| Natural hardwoods set off kitchen fixtures and | | | | drug store. Vegetable or olive oil should not be used; |
| floorings beautifully, which is why they are so popular. | | | | it will turn rancid. Warm the oil up a little prior to |
| If your kitchen features wood surfaces, don't forget | | | | applying with a soft cloth, wiping along the grain |
| it's important to completely butcher block | | | | direction. Let the oil to soak in for four to six hours |
| countertops in the kitchen after each use, since | | | | then wipe off any excess oil that didn't soak in. |
| wood is naturally porous and absorbs bacteria and | | | | What about all those spills and marks seemingly |
| food odors. The more open-grained the wood, the | | | | branded into the wood? How do you get rid of stains |
| more porous it is. Oak is on the open grained end of | | | | on older butcher-block countertops? You could go |
| the scale, while maple is on the tighter grained end. | | | | ahead have the surface sanded and resealed. But |
| Mild soaps such as liquid dish detergent mixed with | | | | before you do, give this a try: shake some salt over |
| water work well for cleaning butcher block. You also | | | | the marks, and then scrub the wood with the cut |
| can use a solution of bleach and water to help | | | | open side of a lemon half. Letting the wood sit |
| prevent bacteria. Just combine 1 tablespoon bleach | | | | overnight, rinse with water afterwards. For the |
| with 1 gallon of water. This works really great if you | | | | darker stains, sponge on a solution of 3 percent |
| keep the solution in a spray bottle; just spray and | | | | hydrogen peroxide and water. |
| wipe the wood after each use. One thing you should | | | | If you do decide to sand and reseal, consider using |
| never use on wood countertops is a scouring | | | | one of the professional alternatives to mineral oils. |
| cleanser like Comet. | | | | You can find wood sealers designed for food |
| Wood countertops intended for use as cutting | | | | surfaces at many woodworking supply outlets. Look |
| surfaces are finished with penetrating oil, usually | | | | for products called Salad Bowl Finish; these are |
| mineral oil of some type. In order to maintain this | | | | approved as non-toxic for food contact on |
| finish and keep the wood stain-resistant, you should | | | | countertops and cutting boards and require less |
| periodically apply non-toxic oil, once every few | | | | frequent maintenance. Enjoy your clean new |
| months. USP-grade mineral oil is the best; it is the | | | | countertops. |
| cheapest food-grade oil and it is available at your local | | | | |