Care and Maintenance of Hardwood
Before Initial Use
Application Instructions
Using a clean white cotton cloth (At MESI Woodshop we use a 2500 fine grit sanding pad):
- Sparingly apply a little MESI wood conditioner (either to the cotton cloth or sanding pad)
- Gently rub the wood conditioner onto both sides of the surface using circular motions
- Once the piece is covered, wipe the surface from end to end removing any excess conditioner
- Let the piece rest for 30-60 minutes allowing the conditioner to be absorbed into the wood
- With a clean white cotton cloth, buff the surfaces until all excess conditioner has been removed and the piece is smooth to the touch
Care and Maintenance
Treating the wood with MESI Wood Conditioner is something that needs to be performed regularly. Treating the surfaces once a month or when you feel your board is lacking its original luster is recommended.
The climate the wood is used plays a factor when determining when to condition the wood. When the house is dry (think winter or low humidity levels) the wood may need to be conditioned more often than mentioned.
When washing, make sure you wash both sides. This is very important as it will prevent the board from swelling due to uneven moisture absorption (top vs bottom). The rule of thumb for wood is to hand wash, using a little warm soapy water. Never place the cutting board in submerged water or dishwasher, this will cause the cutting board to warp or split when it dries. When cleaning with water, wipe dry after cleaning and let air dry.
There are many ways to clean stains on the wood surface. If there are stains from vegetables and fruits (beets, purple carrots, and berries), one way to clean this is to make a paste made from one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of kosher salt and one tablespoon of water (don’t use harsh, concentrated cleaners). Rub the paste on the stain using a sponge to gently remove them, adding a little lemon juice may also remove unwanted scents (i.e. garlic and onions).
Surface smoothness may become a little “fuzzy” as it is used (you may notice this when the wood is dry). You can bring back some of the smoothness of the surface by lightly buffing the surface with the provided pad and then re-applying MESI Wood Conditioner as mentioned above.
There is no magic formula for care and maintenance of wood, but following these simple steps will extend the life of natural wood.
Wood Conditioner
MESI's all natural wood conditioner has a Carnauba wax as its base and is vegan, as it is derived from the leaves and buds of the Brazilian palm tree Copernicia prunifera.
Ingredients are limited to: Mineral Oil, Carnauba Wax and a touch of 100% pure lemon essential oil (which helps prevent bacterial build up on wood)
Wood is organic, if properly cared for will last a lifetime