Looking after wooden worktops

[RubySlippers]

I have a wooden work top, with my sink set into it

(was already in the house when we bought it)

am a little unsure of how to treat it - i always thought you couldn't get wood too wet

any tips for keeping it clean and looking nice

want to avoid it bowing/splintering as well

TIA

Interested in replies to this, too, as considering getting a solid oak worktop in our new kitchen...

lunchtime bump

does nobody have wooden worktops

or is this such a deathly boring topic, no-one can be bothered answering

i will reply, once I've calmed down following my DS' trip to A&E today...

Definitely don't let it get flooded with water, and oil it with worktop oil a couple of times a year (though I'm very lazy about doing that)

we used to have solid beech worktops which we'd oil every few months

we have wooden (oak) worktop - have only had it for about 6 months - so no long experience.

Generally don't leave wet standing on it for any length of time - it stains. And every 6 months or so oil it over night - can't off hand remember the oil but I am sure you will find it if you google. May still be a bit tacky in the morning but should be fine within 24 hours.

We have a beech one and very happy with it, DH oiled it when it went in 3 years ago and hasn't done it since, and has no long lasting marks or any mankiness around sink

My mum has this and I won't lie to you ruby it's a nightmare. She wipes it every time it gets wet and stands over me when I'm washing up gasping every time a drip goes on the surface.

It looks lovely but it's just not practical around a sink. The bits which do get wet are blackening and soft.

You can oil it or varnish it. Varnish ruins the nice look of it. Perhaps if you just oil it all the time, say every month, it might be OK. I have a wooden worktop, but not by the sink, in the kitchen. I scrub it down with a scrubbing brush then work linseed oil into it. I'm supposed to do it every six months but I have done it once since I got it four years ago.

Hi. I have wooden wortops -don't be frightned of them, they're great!

To care for them
Wire wool, fine grade, the length of wood you are doing to take off the first layer of oil. Then using a cloth pour oil on and work it in. You can't put too much on but do be careful when wire wooling not to go to mad.

Do this about once a month-6 weeks depending on your usage. Keep the area by the sink/wet areas well oiled and you should be fine. Check the seal of the taps and make sure they are sealed properly. Don't let any residue of water rest for long periods (wipe down after using don't leave patches of wet over night)

Muppetgirl that's much more positive than my mum's experience thank goodness!

We obviously have heavy useage or I am over zelous with the oiling!!

What oil do you use?

I use linseed and it's true what they say about it spontaeously combusting. I once put a soiled cloth on the radiator and it went up in smoke.

ok am calming down...

we put this in to new kitchen (but have now moved) and wouldn't do it again for reasons spidermama says.

oil every 6 months and sand down if really bad but this is lots of work.

for general maintenance and cleaning we used some stuff we got from tescos - can't remember what it's called but it's basically an oil spray which smells lovely (like almonds I think) for all kinds of wood. Might be called something like 'simple'...?

V good for daily oiling...

We have solid bamboo worktop and it is oiled several times a year. However it is badly marked already and only been in since august. But its mostly dent marks than water damage.
Although I would avoid putting anything heavily soiled as we have experienced a few water marks.
But as many have said oil usually does the trick.

Spidermama - I def agree re the tap area. We had ours replaced as it cracked within 2 months (on the draining board not tap area) but the tap area had black lines where the water was getting in. It turned out the fitter hadn't put any sealant on the worktop before fitting the taps so it went under and soaked in. Now they have sealed it properly we haven't had any problems.

Have just looked (I am sad I know) and we use Liberon Finishing Oil.

oh hurrah - you are wonderful!

to you all

Looks like it needs regular oiling then - will get some linseed

i have a drainer with a built in drip tray to protect it for now

MB - i saw your thread about your DS and i really hope all is well

My friend does the washing up and then leaves everything to dry on a tray...

Can someone help me here?
We have beech worktops and water from sink has gathered underneath a jar that sits next to it and there's now a jar-base sized watermark/ring thing under it. I've moved the jar but can I get rid of the stain?

You'll prob need to sand it off dt, then oil it.

Cheers CantSleep - do you know what grade sandpaper I should use - do I go in heavy-handed with the coarse stuff?

Also - does anyone know if there are oils you can use to stain the colour darker. Ours is beech and when we oiled it with danish oil (clear) it went an orange colour which we're not at all keen on.

Would love to go a more brown colour - any ideas?

Thanks again!

muppetgirl i will be doing the same thing with dishes drying on a tray. my workop is brand new and i am sooo anal about it! my sink doesn't have a draining board so a tray it is! but its a nice tray.