Caring for your Boards

Thank you for your recent purchase and welcome to the Artisan Ridge family!

After unpacking your board, you may notice some oil spots on the wood. This is completely normal, as part of our process is to saturate the board in oil and beeswax.  We recommend that you allow your board to settle in the new environment before use, and to wipe off any excess oil over the first 48-72hrs.

To keep your board in great condition, please follow the care instructions laid out below.

One thing that a lot of people forget, is that when a tree is felled and milled, it loses its' protective coat of bark in order to be crafted into a beautiful piece of furniture or art for your home.  Our boards are all saturated in a mineral oil bath and buffed with a unique blend of bee's and carnauba wax to provide the protection and sheen that we all love on those new boards.

Like any other tool in the home, it's important to maintain your board and it's fairly easy to do so.  We've listed some of the common questions you may have, but if there's anything that you would like to ask us specifically, then please jump on our chat service, or email care@artisanridge.com.

Your board should last for many years if taken care of correctly - welcome to the Artisan Ridge family!

"The sharing of food is the basis of social life." - Laurie Colwin

Maple End Grain Cutting Board Set

Cleaning:

  1. For best results use a clean, damp cloth to wipe off your board once you are done using it.  If you have sticky residue on the board, then we recommend using a soft scrubby with a small amount of mild dish soap and warm water, and gently scrub to loosen the residue.  Quickly rinse or wipe clean so no soap is left on the board, and towel dry immediately.

  2. Once towel-dried, lean your board against the wall to allow airflow all around until completely dry.


Wooden boards should never be held for long periods under running water, placed in the sink and NEVER in the dishwasher.

Maintenance:

  1. Add your favorite mineral/board oil to the board 1-2 times a month to help keep the wood moisturized and healthy.  This helps prevent the wood from drying out, and potentially splitting.  It will also help with healing score marks left by your knives.  We recommend leaving the board with oil overnight, topping up the oil if you observe dry areas.

  2. Any time you notice your board looks ‘parched’, we recommend adding a board conditioner, or our Rejuvenating Board Butter. This is a deeper nourishment than mineral oil alone.  Add a thin coat of the butter all over the board, paying close attention to any juice grooves or engraved areas, and leave overnight. Wipe off excess with either paper towels or a soft dry cotton cloth.


If you have any further questions or need any advice on one of our products, please don't  hesitate to contact us.  Our support email is care@artisanridge.com.

Our Board Care Range

Taking Care of Your Hardwood Boards

Board Care FAQ's

Why is my board oily out of the box?

To give your hardwood board longevity, we ensure that your board is provided to you in the best condition possible. During the transport process it is perfectly normal for oils to seep from the fibers of the wood, and this is to be expected. Simply rub the oil back into the board with a clean dry cloth as part of your ongoing maintenance.

Your board will continue to breath, and we recommend you wipe off any excess oil over the next 72 hrs before using.

How do I clean my board?

A simple wipe down with a clean damp cloth should be sufficient for cleaning, however for those tough and sticky residues, wet a soft scrubby sponge, add a little mild dish soap and gently scrub.  Rinse and dry immediately, then leave to air dry standing up.  Please, do not leave your board in the sink, or under running water and NEVER in the dishwasher - this will affect the grain, causing the fibers to absorb water and will cause your board to warp and split.

My board is feeling and looking dry - what can I do?

Once your board is fully made, we submerge it in a mineral oil bath for 24hrs. After that we apply our wax paste, and then buff to a sheen. We recommend that every month you apply your favorite mineral oil to maintain a healthy board.  If your board looks neglected, then allow the oil to pool in those dry spots, topping up the oil over a 24hr period.  Wipe dry, apply your wax or conditioner, then buff.

We've spent some time crafting (in our opinion!) the perfect conditioning paste to help you keep your cutting and charcuterie boards in great condition for years to come.  Check out our  Rejuvenating Board Butter.

If you're experiencing any other issue with your hardwood board, please reach out to us at care@artisanridge.com and we'd be happy to help you!