Caring for your boards
How do we finish our boards?
At Oren we produce our own Food Grade Board Balm. Made of natural ingredients, our balm is a mix of organic beeswax, mineral oil and orange oil, a water-resistant and antibacterial balm that is food safe and good enough for your skin!
The mineral oil nourishes and conditions the board, binding with the timber molecules to resist and prevent water damage. The wax strengthens and protects the surface fibres of the board, rejuvenating immediately. Orange oil works an antibacterial barrier and has a sweet and spicy scent when added to the woody board.
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How to clean my board?
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Wipe clean with mild soapy water. Do not soak your board or place in the dishwasher as this will discolour and warp the natural timber.
After wiping down, allow the board to air dry thoroughly. Avoid using your best linen to dry the board as occasionally natural tannin within the wood can seep out. After a few uses this will stop happening.
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Should I re-finish my board?
After some wear your board will need re-nourishing. An easy process which can be done with a simple lint-free cloth and any good quality wood balm.
We stock our own Wood Balm here online, or alternatively you can use any natural food oil such as olive, rapeseed or vegetable.
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How do I apply Oren Wood Balm?
It’s always best to lightly sand your board before applying Oren Wood Balm, this is not vital but will help aid for a smoother and professional finish in the long-run. Before we get started, start with a small amount of balm, a little amount goes a long way. The heat from your hand and the rubbing movement itself liquifies the balm, making it easier to rub in and stretches the balm further.
Start with a clean dry board, grab your lint-free cloth (a paper towel also works) and take a small amount of balm and start rubbing along in the direction of the grain found on your board. Repeat this until the whole area is covered. You’ll notice the colour change immediately as the board is re-nourished. Leave for a few minutes, allowing the balm to penetrate the timber and soak up the beneficial oils. The final step is to buff the board, doing so in a circular motion with a fresh cloth or paper towel.
My board went slightly fuzzy after I wet it. Why?
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Natural fibres will “fur up” on contact with moisture, creating a slight fuzziness where the board has absorbed moisture (this can also occur in a particularly damp environment). Don’t worry at this point, because we finish them to such a smooth condition that they won’t fuzz up too much. Any furring can be buffed back to a smooth state – you can do this using very fine sandpaper (240 grit or above), or a simple nylon scourer.
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​Will the board be damaged if I cut on it?
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Your board will become marked if used as a cutting board, but this only adds character! If you prefer an unmarked board, we suggest cutting on one side and serving on the other.
​​Will certain foods stain my board?
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Timber will soak up specific foods with strong colouring such as beetroot, strawberries and meat juices. These stains will certainly add to your boards character but if you prefer avoiding this, wipe your board clean immediately or even avoid cutting these types of foods on your board. ​
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How long will my board last for?
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If treated well your board should last a life time! The important key is to avoid soaking your board and re-nourishing with a good quality balm from time-to-time. It’s impossible to tell if a natural crack will appear after wear and tear, please be mindful of this, timber is an organic material and we cannot rule this out completely.
Please get in touch if you have any further questions, we will be happy to answer!
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