I have wood countertops. They are unsealed. I used to be able to keep them clean by just wiping them down with a soapy wash cloth or vinegar/water, but lately that isn't enough. No matter what I use or how much I scrub, the cloth comes away brown and dingy.
How do I get my wood countertops clean? Obviously I want to use something that is safe for food. Also, how do I seal them?
Thanks for the advice Mommas! I ended up combing some of the advice. First I wiped the counters down. Then I wiped them with a ragged soaked with vinegar and sprinkled baking soda over that to kind of deep clean them. I scrubbed and wiped until the cloth came away clean. Then I let the counters air dry over night and sealed them with mineral oil. I have pretty counters that are easy to clean again. Thanks for the help!
C.:
I believe there is a way to seal them - I personally don't know how. I would contact your local Home Depot or Lowe's and ask them - they usually have "how to" classes.
I know you can't "polish" them..but you should be able to use bleach (the hardest disinfectant) or hydrogen pyroxide - and use a different cloth - like terry to clean - ensure you rinse it out after each swipe so you aren't transferring the gunk.....
GOOD LUCK!!!
I don't have a good answer for cleaning them, but I seal my butcher block top with a mixture of plain parafin wax and tung or mineral oil. I melt the parafin (carefully) in the microwave and mix half and half with the oil. I rub this into the wood with a soft clean cloth or paper towel. This leaves a beautiful finish that is completely safe for food. I redo it about once a year. This is easy to do and protects the wood well.
First of all I would sanitize them with bleach water. I would think that just as wood cutting boards are considered unsafe, especially with raw meat, a wood countertop would be just as unsafe. I would also think they may be growing mold and mildew, it's too hard to keep them dry.
I would cover them with formica or granite, whatever is your choice. No matter what you use to seal them that sealer will chip and wear off, I'd cover them.
Wood has a natural antibacterial quality to it. Wipe it down and when dry, seal with mineral oil.
My brother says if you have wood countertops you can sand them down from time to time. Maybe ask the people at Home Depot or someplace like that next time you are there.
Hi,
we have IKEA's butcher block countertop. I am pretty happy with that. It is recommended to use special oil for that (sold in IKEA) - mostly I think to protect it from getting dry. I don't know what kind of countertop do you have - is it possible to sandpaper it from time to time?
If you would like to sanitize your countertop I would recommend to use something like peroxide. Bleach is not very good for health.
I use mineral oil on my butcher block to seal it and make it look pretty. You have to reapply over time, but it is food safe.
