How To Care for Wooden Utensils

Have you ever noticed that when wooden utensils are used regularly they loose their glossy finish? Here’s a few helpful tips on how to care for wooden utensils to make them last for a lifetime.

Do’s:

• Wash wooden utensil by hand in warm water with mild dish soap.

• Towel dry them.

• Sand down the grain-raise with a fine grit sandpaper. Grain-raise can occur on wooden utensils that are used a lot. This is the fuzzy look that appears on wooden utensils as they are used. Grain-raise is when fibers of wood turn upwards from heat and moisture. Be careful to rub the grain-raise off, not rubbing down to a new layer of wood.  You may have to do this 2-3 times, but eventually the utensil will become seasoned and won’t require it.

• Rub wooden utensils once every 1-3 months (depending upon use) with a soft rag and mineral oil. The purpose of this is to keep the utensils from soaking up a lot of moisture every time they are used–making them swell and shrink each time they get wet and dry again.

Don’ts:

• Don’t wash wooden utensils in the dishwasher. The detergent will eat away the finish and cause the wood to crack.

• Don’t allow wooden spoons to air dry. Getting rid of as much moisture as possible will keep the wood from swelling and shrinking every time it gets wet and then dry again.