Wood Care Guidelines

Following routine use and care guidelines for your decorative/gallery and/or functional wooden art piece will ensure its wonder and enjoyment for many generations. All items are finished with food-safe surfaces (fully cured and dried) ranging from walnut oil, varnish, natural wax, etc. and may be used with virtually any food. Finishes for each piece are identified within their descriptions.

BASIC CLEANING & CARE for your decorative/gallery and/or functional wooden art pieces:

Functional wooden art pieces 

• Should be hand washed with mild soapy water after every use, rinsed, and dried immediately
• Never immerse/leave to soak in standing water or cleaning solution
• Never wash in dishwasher
• Never use in microwave, oven or stove

Decorative/Gallery wooden art pieces (e.g. bowls with natural bark edges, holes/crevices, voids/hollow areas, intrusions, etc.) 

• May require a little more attention for handling and careIf utilizing Decorative/Gallery wooden art pieces for food, we recommend dry foods and avoiding foods that would collect in the crevices.
• Carefully wipe with a damp or wrung out wet cloth ensuring careful attention to the natural edgesItems with natural edges are finished to preserve the natural bark adherence. However, if roughly handled or dropped, a piece of the natural edge/bark may fall off. If this occurs, you may simply glue the piece back into its location.
• Never immerse the bowl in water
• Blow out (force air through) crevices periodically to remove dust and debris buildup
  

A beautiful patina or luster will appear as the bowl ages. Occasionally, wood art pieces may start to look dry and/or dull. This is a natural process and simply needs a quick reconditioning. Click here to link to our quick reconditioning video via our Instagram account.

Never use olive oil, vegetable oil or other cooking/kitchen products, as these types of oils could turn rancid.

• Walnut oil finishes: Liberally apply walnut oil; allow to soak in for five minutes; rub off excess oil with a dry cloth/paper towel and allow to dry. If necessary, you may repeat after 24 hours.
• Wax finishes: If item is being used for food and appears dry, use a butcher block conditioner, as directed on product. If item is for decorative/gallery purposes, use a furniture wax (e.g. Briwax), as directed on product.
• Varnish finishes: For most varnish finishes, using furniture wax as directed will bring back its luster. If this is unsuccessful, we recommend having your piece professionally refinished.

Avoid and/or limit sunlight exposure with all decorative/gallery or functional wooden art pieces. Prolonged UV light exposure is the primary cause for color changes in all woods. Natural color/pigment changes do occur over time, inclusive of, but not limited to:

• The vivid reddish hues of Boxelder may fade into duller reddish/pinks to brownish tones
• Mahogany takes on a very deep rich tone after years of proper treatment
• Many species of Oak will take on a very moderate color change that slightly deepens and enriches its colors
• The brightness of Mulberry transitions into warm browns
• The deep, rich colors of Carob intensify