Furniture

Care of furniture depends on the finish used. For all furniture, however, keeping it out of the sun, keeping it clean, and never putting anything wet on it will help preserve its fine finish.

If the piece of furniture has been finished with an oil rub, then an occasional, gentle rub-down with a soft cloth and some Formby’s oil will keep it looking great. It’s easy for old furniture, in particular, to dry out – a little oil applied on a regular basis will keep it looking wonderful and preserve the wood for a long time. If it needs to be cleaned a bit more, say from kids spilling soft drinks all over it, Murphy’s Oil Soap will work well without harming the wood.

Other furniture might have been finished using lacquer or a similar hard finish. For those, just gently dusting with a soft cloth (microfiber cloths work well) is sufficient to keep it clean and looking its best. For a harder cleaning, using a gentle cleaner (NOT Ajax!) is advised.

When I create a piece of furniture for a customer, I’ll tell you the best way to keep it looking great, based on the materials and the wood used. I make things to last, so I’m happy to help you enjoy them for years to come.

Kitchen Products

For cutting boards, cheese boards, rolling pins, and bowls, a food-safe finish is always used. Wood items can be hand-washed just like you hand-wash other kitchen utensils and pans, but NEVER EVER put any of them in a dishwasher (shudder)! When you wash them with soap and water, dry them off immediately. Every so often (less often as a piece gets more use, as it begins to absorb oil and stays moist for longer), you will want to treat them with butcher block oil or a similar product. Below is one product I use – I get it at Home Depot. Just make sure whatever you use is food-safe. We’ve used our cutting boards and bowls every day for years, and they still look great. With a little care, yours can, too!