How to Care for Wood Cutting Board

2nd Jul 2025

Maintaining your board is as simple as 1-2-3.

Thank you for your Treeboard purchase! Caring for your board is as easy as 1-2-3.

APPLY BOARD BALM (or another oil/wax to protect your board)

Your cutting board was treated with one coat of raw linseed oil and board balm days before it arrived. If the oil is absorbed deeply into the wood grain, you should try to treat all surfaces again before using; if excess oil or wax is present then it should be removed. For best results, apply with clean hands or a cloth and allow the board balm to sit for some time—at least half an hour or maybe overnight—before removing any excess if desired. Our exclusive board balm is organic, food grade, and edible, so excess amounts on the board aren't a problem. How often you need to reapply depends on your usage and cleaning regimen, but a board should be treated if it appears dull (i.e. not glossy), “dry,” or lighter-colored. Any excess wax can be wiped off.

KEEP AWAY FROM WATER AND MOISTURE SOURCES

Your cutting board's biggest enemy is water, and enough water will cause wood to swell unevenly, warping or cracking even a thick piece of wood. Water penetrates most easily through the end grain on either side of the board (the hard side where you can see growth rings), so don't forget to apply board balm here. Do not immerse boards in water, leave outdoors or expose to high humidity. Please give the board access to air circulation to permit thorough drying.

CLEAN WITH MINIMAL SOAP AND HOT WATER

If you've ever had a cast-iron skillet, high-carbon knife, oil-finished furniture or other surface that builds up a protective patina, you know it's best to wash those products quickly and no more than necessary. Depending on the type of food contact, cutting boards can often simply be wiped clean with a sponge, cloth or paper towel. Sometimes a quick rinse under cool or lukewarm water is enough, followed by drying. When a deeper cleaning is needed, please use no more detergent than required, as it dissolves the oils and waxes. Never place in an automatic dishwasher, and don’t use baking soda or similar chemicals. After a deep clean, boards should be allowed to dry thoroughly and may need more board balm (see step one).

NOTES ON RENOVATING YOUR BOARD:

To remove knife cuts, deep stains, or address other problems, you may sand your board with medium-grit, followed by fine-grit sandpaper. Sanding hard maple or oak by hand will take some effort, and you can use an electric sander to speed the process. Final touch-up should be done by hand, especially around the corners and edges. After sanding, please remove any dust and treat liberally with board balm or another oil/wax.

RAISED GRAIN:

We apply a little water to your board before its final sanding to “raise the grain,” a process that lifts the outer layer of the grain and usually creates some roughness. Although we have worked to smooth the raised grain away, under certain circumstances it can recur and is easily fixed by sanding with fine or medium-fine sandpaper, followed by cleaning away the dust and renewal of the finish with oil or board balm.

Please see the blog or frequently asked questions (FAQ) at Treeboard.com for more about wood care.

GARLIC & ONIONS

All wood is porous, and some strongly flavored foods can leave an aroma behind that some customers find objectionable. One option is to get a separate cutting board for garlic and onions.

BOARD BALM

Made only from organic linseed oil and carnauba wax, our board balm is a 100% natural product and may contain bubbles or other visibly heterogeneities. The scent is soft and reminiscent of artists’ traditional oil paints (which contain linseed oil). After about 18 months some batches of board balm can go off, hardening or developing another odor. For best results and longest shelf life, please cap tightly and keep in a cool place.

Please see our frequently asked questions (FAQ) page on Treeboard.com for more info on enjoying and caring for your wooden products.