How to Maintain Wood Worktops in Oak Kitchens
It is without doubt that wooden worktops are one of the most fitting kitchen surfaces for oak kitchens, as they not only complement the look and feel of solid wood kitchen cabinets, but are also aesthetically unique and sustainable (if purchased from a trusted supplier like Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets).
To keep wooden kitchen worktops looking their best, we recommend maintaining them frequently after installation, and at regular intervals throughout their life. Read the following top tips for worktop maintenance to help keep your kitchen surfaces in top condition:
- We recommend regularly oiling worktops using Rustins Danish Oil. At least 3 – 4 coats on the top and bottom surfaces (and as many as 6 coats on the end grain) should be applied at the point of installation to help build up a protective layer. Rustins Oil goes a long way, especially if you allow sufficient drying time between coats.
- Rub oil into the surface using a clean lint-free cloth and leave it to soak in for approximately 30 minutes. After this, wipe away any excess oil and leave the worktop to dry overnight (6-8 hours minimum). The more layers you apply during these early stages, the better protected your worktop will be.
- Your newly-installed worktop will be particularly vulnerably during the first few weeks, so do take extra care to ensure that no liquids are left to sit on the surface for an extended period of time, as this may cause your worktop to get stained or even to split.
- To maintain the protective layer, we suggest oiling worktops once a week for the first 6 – 8 weeks, and then every 12 weeks thereafter. You can easily test your worktop’s protective layer by applying a tiny amount of water to the surface; if it beads into a droplet then the surface has sufficient protection. If it does not form a droplet, or the surface has started to lose its satin sheen, then we recommend cleaning and re-oiling the worktop immediately.
- To keep your worktops clean, we advise simply using soap with warm water. Wipe the surface down with a lint-free cloth, whilst paying extra attention to stained or dirty areas; next wipe down the worktop with a clean, dry cloth. Do not use harmful multi-purpose cleaning products, as they can bleach and discolour the worktop.
- Make sure that no hot, wet or dirty items come into direct contact with your worktops, as they may stain or damage the surface. If you would like an area to rest hot pots and pans, we recommend purchasing one of our worktop hotrod sets which sit in routed recesses on the timber worktop’s surface.
- Consider purchasing one of our Worktop Aftercare Kits to help maintain worktops efficiently. This kit includes 4 foam brushes (for the application of oil) and 5 de-nibbing pads (for removing rough patches or minor damage), and is available for just £10.
At Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets, we take great care to ensure that all the worktops we provide are of the highest quality possible, and so it is important to us to provide clear maintenance guidelines to ensure your worktop lasts for many years.
If you would like to read more information on oiling your worktops, we suggest reading our Oiling Wood Worktops information guide. Further details on our range of installation accessories can be found in our Guide to Worktop Installation Accessories.
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September 8, 2017 @ 10:30 am
[…] Full instructions for maintaining your worktop can be found in our recent information guide. […]