A little care goes a long way.
Good timber is not fragile. Two minutes every few weeks keeps a board deep in colour, kind to knives, and ready for another decade in the kitchen.
Oil, beeswax, and a little patience.
Care
How to keep solid hardwood for thirty years.
Hand-wash only. Oil when the grain looks pale. Stand it on edge to dry. That is most of it.
Never Put It in a Dishwasher
Dishwashers blast wood with intense heat, gallons of steam, and harsh detergents. This dissolves food-grade glue lines and forces the wood fibers to warp and cup. Always hand-wash with warm water and mild soap.
Wash Both Sides & Stand on Edge
Never submerge your board in a sink full of water. Wash both the top and bottom evenly so moisture absorbs symmetrically, wipe dry with a towel immediately, and rest it upright on its edge to dry.
Feed the Grain When It Looks Pale
When your board begins to look light or chalky, the natural oils have washed away. That is your cue to apply a fresh coat of organic mineral oil and beeswax to restore its moisture seal.
The moment the timber wakes up.
Raw timber leaves the sanding bench dry, pale, and thirsty. Drag the handle to put on the first coat of pure food-safe mineral oil and local organic beeswax. It locks in moisture and brings out the hidden chatoyancy of the grain.
Oil & Beeswax Applied (Sealed)Raw Sanded Timber (Dry)100% Food Safe
Zero VOCs, petroleum solvents, or drying agents.
Deep Penetration
Oils saturate 3mm into the wood pores to prevent cracking and moisture rot.
Free Board Butter
Every board ships with a free 2oz tin of our workshop conditioning butter.
The 3-step conditioning ritual
How to use the complimentary tin of Kilkenny Board Butter that ships with every kitchen board.
- 01
Clean & Dry
Ensure the board is completely clean and dry before applying any conditioner.
- 02
Massage the Butter
Using a clean cotton cloth or paper towel, rub a dime-sized amount of beeswax butter into the wood in circular motions.
- 03
Rest & Buff
Allow the oils to soak into the pores for 20 minutes, then buff away any excess with a dry cloth for a smooth satin sheen.
Deep knife cuts after years of use? Don't worry.
Unlike cheap plywood or veneer, our boards are solid timber all the way through. If your board ever gets scratched or stained after years of Sunday roasts, lightly buff the surface with 320-grit sandpaper along the grain and wipe with fresh oil. It will return to showroom condition in under two minutes.