How to clean butcher block

Scrub the countertop: Take a scrub brush or sponge and scrub the countertop with hot water and mild dish soap. Rinse with hot water: Run a clean dish cloth through hot water and rinse the countertop well. Sanitize with vinegar: Spray undiluted white vinegar onto the countertop, and let sit for a few minutes.

Periodically oil the butcher block with your choice of food-grade plant or mineral oil. Letting the block dry out because of a lack of oil is the #1 cause of problems with the butcher block. A good rule of thumb is once a week for the first month and then a minimum of monthly thereafter.

Food-grade mineral oil is the most common oil to use on a butcher block or cutting board. Other popular options include walnut oil, and, in the case of cutting board conditioner, beeswax and carnauba wax.

Food-safe mineral oil is recommended for regular upkeep and helps keep the surface stain-repellant and looking its best. However, repeated applications won’t build the surface or help repair minor wear like other products. Mineral oil also provides the most matte sheen of all our suggestions.

There is no such thing as using too much butcher block oil. Once the wood is fully saturated with oil, it will not take on any more oil.

Sealing Butcher Block Countertops with Mineral Oil

To seal butcher block with mineral oil, you simply apply the mineral oil generously, let it soak in, and wipe off the excess. You need to do it fairly regularly at first but then only about once a month after you‘ve gotten through several applications.

Food prep, chopping and finishing instructions

Butcher Block Oil to all surfaces, top, bottom and all four sides. A new unfinished butcher block or wide plank top should have at least two coats of butcher block oil before being used.

Oil. Polyurethane is a liquid coating that dries into a plastic film. This is great for sealing the countertop, but then there’s a layer of plastic between you and your pretty new wood. Also, poly finishes generally have to be removed entirely before any scratches or worn spots can be repaired.

You definitely have to make sure to use silicone around the sink seam and also use a good wood sealer. I began considering using polyurethane around the sink area for extra water protection and then using a food-safe tung oil elsewhere.

Because wood is porous, butcher block countertops can hold onto a lot more germs than other surfaces—though countertops are always dirtier than we’d like to admit. To combat dirt, grime and germs, make sure you clean the counter after every use with mild soap and water or vinegar (psst…

The only countertop that can actually be used as a cutting surface, butcher–block won’t dull your knives like stone or concrete counters. The soft surface also makes for a quieter kitchen. And for those who are a bit clumsier, dishes are less likely to shatter when dropped on wood versus stone.

Step Three: Sealing the Butcher Block with Epoxy

Before applying the final skim coat of clear epoxy to the butcher block you should use 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean off remaining oil or debris left on the surface. Once the surface is clean, you are ready for your skim coat.

Polyurethane for butcher block countertops.

Polyurethane is a liquid coating that dries into a plastic film and is excellent for sealing the countertop, but then there’s a layer of plastic between you and your pretty new wood.

The wonderful thing about butcher block is it can be sanded down and made new over and over and over again and it’s a pretty painless process, too.

Refinishing Butcher Block

First, use a coarse-grit sandpaper to rub out the stain, then switch to a finer git so that you can smooth things out. After sanding, apply food-safe mineral oil or raw linseed oil. Evenly rub the oil into the wood and wipe off any excess.

For natural plant oils or mineral oil, spread an even coating of oil over every part of the butcher block. Let the oil soak in for as long as possible, an hour or more, and then wipe off the excess. Allow the butcher block to continue absorbing the oil overnight, then apply a second coat.

The go-to choice for finishing butcher block countertops is Waterlox because it provides incredible durability and easy maintenance in highly used areas.