Wooden worktop hardwood worktop care guide

Continued: After a period of use the finish will become worn; the sheen will diminish and the surface become dull. Water will not form into droplets as readily, but tend to spread out and wet the surfaces. This is a clear sign that the worktop needs re-oiling; in fact it is better to re-oil before the surfaces quite reach this condition.

The time taken for wear to occur depends on the amount of use the surfaces have had. In any one kitchen there will be high wear and low wear zones; the former will need more attention than the latter.

The entire kitchen surface should be re-oiled regularly, at the very least every 6 months.

Applying worktop oil

The best time to re-oil is at the end of the day, when the freshly oiled surfaces can be left overnight without disturbance.

Tops must be clean and dry. Apply worktop oil with a lint free cloth, folded into a pad. Dispense the oil from a bowl or saucer onto the areas to be treated. Apply the oil liberally at first, so that it stands and can soak in. Pay particular attention to, and work the oil well onto areas which will have had repeated wettings in use, e.g. edges and ends, around sink cutouts, into drainer grooves, the water stop and the areas around taps.

After 30 minutes, wipe off the surplus oil with a clean cloth and leave it to soak in and dry naturally, overnight. Several thin coating applied in this way are far better than one liberal application.

Parched areas may need successive oiling like this to restore the surface finish and sheen.

If the surface develops any roughness after oiling it can be smoothed using a de-nibbing pad, (supplied). Work lightly, only in the grain direction. Wipe clean before re-oiling. <<Back - More>>