Butcher Block Maintenance!

The upkeep on butcher block countertops.

Butcher block countertops are becoming more and more of a favorite for customers. It has incredible beauty and really transforms your kitchen space into something breathtaking. But it does require upkeep. Just like the tile in your home, Granite, decks, patios, and so much more in your home, annual maintenance will help keep it lasting and keep it looking beautiful.

Once your Butcher Block countertop is installed you should not need to do anything for a full year besides normal cleaning. I do recommend not to use harsh chemicals as this will wear the finish off very quickly. My personal recommendation is cleaning with thieves' cleaners as this is all natural and does an amazing job with cleaning.

Once that year is up it is time to start looking at maintaining your butcher block. The first step is to look for any scratches or knife marks. Wood does not withstand the cutting edge of a knife, but it can be repaired fairly easily if your husband decided not to use the cutting board one night. I like to take a pencil and do a zig zag pattern over the knife scratch and out in every direction about 5-6 inches or so. This pencil mark will help you keep the counter smooth when sanding out the scratch. Sand lightly the scratched area until all of your pencil marks are gone. Do this by repeating steps until the scratch is removed. Each time you do it, make your pencil marks wider and wider. Again, this will help you keep a big divot from forming from the sander. Always remember you can easily take wood off, it is hard to put it back. DO NOT GO DEEP with your sanding. If light sanding does not remove the scratches it may be time to look into some wood filler or epoxy.

Next you want to remove all the dust from the sanding and make sure your counter top is completely clean. Any dust or debri, or even dog hair from your pets, can get stuck in the finish and become a permanent member of your kitchen. After I clean the surface of the counter top I like to open a window and set a fan blowing out in that window. This gives the room a negative airflow and will help in ventilation and keeping dust off your countertops.

This next step is very important and is often over looked, but trust me it is well worth the time. You will need to find a wood conditioner. This helps bring the natural color and wood pattern out of the wood. There are too many wood conditioners on the market for me to name or give you a suggestion. Find one that fits your budget but also has good reviews from previous customers. Every one may have its own recommended way of application, but they truly all apply the same. Apply the conditioner, spread it around, let it sit, and then wipe off. This application process is how most conditioners are applied. Again, follow the manufacturer recommendations on application, but I bet it follows something similar to the steps previously mentioned.

After the sanding, filling, cleaning, and conditioning, now you can seal. As mentioned on the conditioners, there are many sealers out there. I personally like a blend of beeswax and mineral oil. Although this sealing method does not last forever, it is completely natural and safe for your food. This applies in a very similar way as the conditioner does; the only difference is I like to let it sit for a bit longer before I wipe it off.

I hope this helps you out if you are thinking of installing a butcher block or if you already have it in your home. If you have any questions feel free to send us a email and we would be happy to talk to you.