Butcher block countertops can add a gorgeous, natural look to a kitchen. And, when property maintained, butcher block is also very durable. Here's how to care for butcher block in 4 easy steps:
Thanks to one of my favorite bloggers, Dana at House*Tweaking, we get this step by step tutorial for caring for butcher block tops. It's really quite easy and will seriously increase the longevity of the wood.
For butcher block that hasn't been sealed with polyurethane, use mineral oil and old rags to freshen up the wood. First, wipe the surface of the butcher block to clear it of all dust, dirt, and debris. Then, pour mineral oil directly onto the butcher block. Next, rub the mineral oil into the surface, following the grain of the wood. And, finally, let the oil soak into the wood for a day or two. Easy, right?
If you've recently purchased butcher block and haven't treated it yet, Dana suggests doing this conditioning treatment 2 - 3 times per week for about a month. This is the method she used on her own IKEA butcher block top and, even with kids in the house, it still looks as good as new.
Dana also demonstrates how you can use extra fine sandpaper on butcher block to remove stains. In her post, Butcher Block Maintenance, Dana even sacrificed her own kitchen island, marking it with a Sharpie to demonstrate how easy it is to remove stains. Such blogging integrity!
Images: Dana Miller
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7 coats of tung oil on my ikea butcher block. it's been three months and water still beads. it really beats the daily mineral oil. and it is food safe but i don't cut on my countertops anyway.
dkeastbay, did the tung oil have awful fumes? It does sound like a great approach, but I've heard mixed reports on that issue.
I am thinking about putting these in my apartment - only problem is that I am keen to move OS for a couple of years. I am worried about how much damage tenants will do.
How hard wearing will a butcher block bench be if someone takes NO care of it for 2 years?
I only do this mineral oil treatment every few months...not daily. We don't cut directly on our butcher block and it's also located on our prep island away from the sink. The wood will lose its luster and be more susceptible to moisture without regular treatments. If you're not into maintaining countertops every few months, then don't go the unsealed butcher block route. But if you're willing to save some $$ with a little elbow grease then it's great! I just love that it feels like a living, breathing surface in our kitchen and I actually enjoy pampering it. Everyone who comes to visit immediately smooths their hands over the butcher block. It's a crowd pleaser.
We have butcher block countertops and we absolutely love them. We don't cut on them though. I found an all natural product that we applied once with a rag and haven't had to do anything with them ever again. The product is called Rubio Monocoat. It is stain resistant and water repellent. It doesn't off gas at all and is completely natural, made of plant waxes that harden. You apply it once to the raw wood, it just rubs in with a cloth, let it dry and that's it! Your butcher block looks gorgeous with a very natural look to it. It's not oily or greasy because it actually hardens and sets into the wood. There is no need to reapply this product at all, unless you get a big scratch or something, you then just sand that area and just apply the Rubio Monocoat to that area, it will only adhere to raw wood so there won't be any overlapping of the product. I hear it's awesome for wood floors as well. It doesn't give your wood that high gloss poly look (ew!!), just a nice smooth natural look just like the raw wood but with a protection. Oh, and did I mention it is ALL natural!!!! I can't say enough about this green product because I searched high and low for something that would protect our new butcher block countertops without looking like it was polyurethaned and without it being toxic and something that didn't need to be reapplied every month. Rubio Monocoat...and no, I am not affiliated with the company at all. I swear. :o)
i agree w/ tung oil, but make sure it's real tung oil! I get the one from the "realmilkpaint" website. This brand was also recommended by Martha Stewart and she showed it as a project in her magazine a few months ago.
All of my countertops are butcher block. I cut on them all the time. I love how they look. I wanted countertops I could USE, not ones I had to pamper. I do mineral oil them once every couple of months, but I love the scratches. This is a working kitchen. It shows, and I love it.
Butcher block is so pretty, but I would live in constant fear of edge dings, big scratches etc.
@Chris- why not just wait til you return so whatever damage is done by the tenants won't be an issue since you're going to replace them anyway?
I maintain my bamboo butcher block with olive oil! I cut on it every day the oil does a great job, keeps the wood smooth and has darkened the color, giving it a nice patina.
I second the 100% tung oil from Real Milk Paint company. I have cherry butcherblock, and I used three coats of the "dark' oil they have, and then finished it off with a coat of Tried and True Original Wood Finish, which is linseed oil and beeswax. I've spilled red wine on the counter and it just beads up. Nothing hurts it! I also used the tung oil on my floors, paneling, backsplash, and furniture.(I may have over bought... but it's great for everything, seriously.)
My stepfather is a carpenter and he has said that the best way to care for natural wood, especially butcher blocks, cutting boards, etc., is with mineral oil. Many people like to use olive/vegetable oils, but over time those oils will "sour" and ruin the wood.
Vegetable oils are not meant for butcher block countertops because they go rancid over time. Linseed oil can turn the wood yellow. Mineral oil is a petroleum based product and not something I would ever want to come in contact with my food. Tung oil is implicated in causing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (just Google it). Personally, I wouldn't use any of these oils especially when there's a natural and green product that is far superior and doesn't need to be reapplied constantly.
Heh! It kinda gets me how many people say they don't cut on their butcher block. Because, ya know, it wasn't made for that exact purpose? lol! I probably wouldn't do all my counters in butcher block but I have one next to my stove and I love being able to chop herbs and veggies directly on it! Yeah it's all scratched and dinged up but that's part of it's beauty too! Also, once every couple years I grab a piece of sand paper and go over it real quick and wipe it down with a bees wax oil. And then it looks basically brand new again.
We bought a commercial butcher block prep island on Craigs for our kitchen. According to the guy, it was used in a local blues club, and there is a small dip on one side where a lot of chopping must have happened. We cut right on it too, because, well that's what it's for. Once a month (or when I remember) I rub butcher block oil on it. I like the things in my house to have a patina and history.
This mineral oil process is exactly what you are supposed to do with soapstone counters. We did it once a week; as time goes by, you need to do it less and less.
I don't find it to be too much of a hassle, and so get a bit miffed when I read about the odd soapstone counter owner who finds this to be too much work.
We moved into a rental that has those awful '80s plywood and particle board cabinets in both the kitchen and bathroom. There is one tall cabinet in the bathroom next to the sink (a linen closet of sorts) with a large expanse of the plywood side exposed. It was beyond horrid because the moisture had dried the wood to a sickly gray. I used some butcher block mineral oil on them, and wow, what a difference. I mean, you can't really make those cabinets pretty, but the oil did restore the wood to a nice golden glow which is a big improvement.
There's an old saying for woodworkers that are finishing their benches, it also works for butcher block surfaces.
Oil it
once a day for a week
once a week for a month
once a month for a year
once a year for life