Board Care Guide
Your board left the shop ready to go.
Here's how to keep it that way.
Every H&H board is finished by hand before it ships. This guide tells you exactly what we did — and what to do next.
Before anything else
Step Zero — Unwrap and wipe.
Your board received a full mineral oil soak followed by a heavy coat of H&H board wax (our own mineral oil and beeswax blend) before it was packed. It may still be weeping a little wax or oil after its journey. The first thing to do after unwrapping is wipe it down with a clean dry cloth. That's it — it's ready to use.
How Your Board Was Finished
Every board gets the same two-step finish before leaving the shop.
Mineral oil soak. Food-grade mineral oil is applied generously to every surface and left to soak for at least 20 minutes, then wiped as dry as possible. This protects the wood from the inside out.
Board wax cure. A heavy coat of H&H board wax — mineral oil and beeswax — is applied and left to cure for 24 hours, then wiped down. This seals the grain and protects the surface from daily use.
What this means for you: your board is already well protected. You don't need to oil it right away. Just use it.
When to Rewax
Because your board leaves the shop with a heavy wax coat, skip the weekly oiling schedule. Think in uses — not weeks.
First rewax
After 5–10 uses
The wax wears fastest as the surface breaks in. A fresh coat early keeps the protection strong.
Ongoing
Every 20–30 uses
Once broken in, a regular rewax is all it needs. One product, one step.
The test
When it looks dry
Pale or dull wood is asking for wax. Trust your eyes over the calendar.
How to rewax: Apply a thin coat of board wax with a clean cloth, working it into the grain. Let it sit for 20–30 minutes. Wipe off any excess. Let dry overnight before heavy use. No separate mineral oil needed — the wax has it.
Cleaning
The wax finish protects the board well — but it still needs to be treated like wood, not ceramic.
Works well
- Warm water and a drop of dish soap
- Rinse quickly — don't linger
- Dry immediately with a clean towel
- Salt and lemon half for odors
- Stand upright to air dry fully
Never do this
- Dishwasher — this will ruin the board
- Soaking or submerging in water
- Leaving wet on a flat surface
- Bleach or harsh chemical cleaners
- Drying near direct heat or sunlight
Heavy washing strips the wax over time. After a thorough scrub, a light rewax keeps the protection intact.
If Something Goes Wrong
Surface scratches: Sand lightly with 220-grit sandpaper along the grain. Wipe clean, then rewax immediately. The scratch disappears and the board looks new.
Warping or cupping: Usually caused by one side getting wet while the other stays dry. Wax both sides, store flat, and give it time. Minor warping corrects itself.
Stains or odors: Scrub with coarse salt and half a lemon, rinse quickly, dry immediately. For persistent stains, sand the surface and rewax.
If something's really wrong — a crack, a split, a joint failure — reach out. A piece that left this shop is a piece we stand behind.
The Short Version
Wipe it when you unwrap it. Use it. Wash it quickly and dry it fast. Rewax after the first 5–10 uses, then every 20–30 uses or whenever it starts looking dry.
Don't put it in the dishwasher. A board that's used and cared for will outlast everything else in your kitchen.
Running low on wax?
H&H Board Wax
The same mineral oil and beeswax blend used in the shop. Order directly — just reach out and we'll get one to you.