Making your wood last.

Our guide to caring for your hardwood cutting board (Wooded or otherwise).

Washing

After each use, wipe off crumbs and rinse with clean water. For deeper cleaning, use a gentle soap-based solution and scrub lightly. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue, then dry completely with a clean towel. Never let your board soak in water — even a few minutes of standing liquid can start the warping process.

Drying & Storage

After washing, stand your board upright on its edge. This exposes both the top and bottom surfaces to air, allowing even drying and preventing moisture from getting trapped underneath. If your board has feet, you can lay it flat — the feet provide the airflow you need. Store in a dry area away from the sink and direct sunlight.

Every few weeks→ Use Rapid Rub

Quick maintenance

After ~6-10 uses, or whenever the surface starts to look dry — grab your Rapid Rub. It's a softer wax blend of food-grade mineral oil, coconut oil, and beeswax that hydrates and protects boards in one step. Rub a thin coat on, let it sit for about 15 minutes, then buff it off. This is sufficient for routine maintenance for light-to-medium duty choppers.

Monthly / As needed→ Use Timber Tonic

Deep conditioning

If you're a regular chef, daily cook or Rapid Rub isn't soaking in the way it used to, you'll want to condition your board in two steps. Apply Timber Tonic — a viscous oil blend that penetrates below the surface to rehydrate the grain. Let it soak in for a few hours or overnight, then seal everything in with a hard wax. Our Stiff Shine is ideal for this, though Rapid Rub will also lock in the oil.

Has your board been neglected? Sitting unused in a cabinet, looking dry and sad? Here's how to bring it back.

Assess the damage

Before conditioning, check for serious issues: deep knife marks, wobbling, or cracks. Minor surface scratches are normal and will be addressed by the oil. Deep gouges may need sanding. Cracks or warping may need woodworking attention to resolve structurally before you can restore your board's appearance.

Deep oil treatment

For a truly dry board, you need more than a quick wipe. In our shop, we saturate dry/new boards with oil for 15 minutes, frequently re-applying generous amounts of oil to maintain full saturation (our Timber Tonic works well here), then wipe off excess oil and let it rest overnight. The wood should be completely and evenly hydrated, with deeply elevated contrasts.

Seal with wax

Once the wood is fully oiled and rested, finish with a hard wax like Stiff Shine. This seals everything in and restores that smooth, lustrous surface. Your board is back in business, and will just need routine maintenance depending on how you use it (see above).

The Dishwasher

The dark destroyer of cutting boards. The combination of heat, water, and harsh detergents will warp, crack, and ruin your board. Always hand wash.

Standing Water

Never let your board sit in a puddle or soak in the sink. Even a few minutes of standing liquid can cause uneven absorption, warping and cracking (particularly in thinner boards).

Direct Sunlight

UV and heat dry out wood quickly and unevenly. Store your board away from windows and don't leave it sitting on a sunny counter on a daily basis.

Wet Countertops

If your board doesn't have feet, don't lay it flat on a wet surface. The moisture gets trapped underneath and can't escape. Rest the board sitting on-edge or on-end for airflow.