1

How do I take care of my cutting board or charcuterie board?

• ONLY hand wash with mild soaps and warm water. NEVER let water stand on the board or soak in a sink.

• After your board is dry, apply Mr. and Mrs. Woodshop’s handcrafted Board Butter to keep the good stuff (oil) in and the bad stuff (water and bacteria) out. Read more about this below in question #2.

• Do your best not to cut continuously in the same area.

2

How often do I need to re-moisturize my board? How do I know when I need to re-moisturize my board?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer since each home can vary in humidity due to regional differences, a host of other factors for each home, and how often you use your board. For instance, our family that lives in Utah has to re-moisturize more frequently than we do here in Georgia, or during the winter when we are running the heat and the house is drier, we will need to re-moisturize more often. At a minimum, or if you aren’t using your board frequently, the rule of thumb is to re-moisturize once a month. Another way that we like to approach these questions is to use what we refer to as the “eye test.” If your board is absorbing water when you wash it, then it is no longer in a hydrophobic state and it needs to be re-moisturized— wood wants to act like a sponge, but water is the enemy of wood. Think about your skin — if your skin is dull and dry a bit of lotion makes your skin look richer and healthier; your board is the same way. A board that is well-moisturized shows fewer knife marks and will stay more stable over time.

3

Board Butter, Wood Oil, and other oils….which do I use and what’s the difference?

Mr. & Mrs. Woodshop’s Board Butter and Wood Oil are two simple ingredients beeswax and food-grade mineral oil. The only difference is the ratios of the ingredients making each have its strengths for specific applications. Our Board Butter is best for routine maintenance. Our Wood Oil is more of a revitalizer that has deeper penetrating power. As for other oils, we only recommend using food-grade mineral oil. We never recommend any seed, fruit, or vegetable oils; these can turn rancid leaving the board with an unpleasant pungent smell and potentially ruining your board.

4

Is a wood-cutting board safe to use?

Absolutely! There have been numerous studies documenting the safety of wood cutting boards and chopping blocks and their resistance to bacteria growth. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin found that 99.9% of bacteria (E. Coli, Salmonella and Listeria) placed on wooden chopping boards died out completely within minutes. This is due to the wood fibers being able to “heal” themselves trapping the bacteria and killing off the bacteria. We take your safety a step further though. All of our boards receive 2 layers of additional protection by using a Food Grade Mineral Oil and Mr. and Mrs. Woodshop’s handcrafted Board Butter.

5

Can I cut on my charcuterie board?

Yes, you can cut safely on your charcuterie board, but we do not recommend it for heavy chopping or cutting. Our charcuterie boards are typically made utilizing the face grain of the wood, which is more prone to showing evidence of cutting. Light cutting with a cheese knife should be okay for the visual aesthetics of the board as long as the blade does not “dig” into the wood or has a dull blade. If your charcuterie board has epoxy, please read below.

6

Can I cut on epoxy?

Technically, yes. We always promise to use food-grade epoxies, so while yes you can cut on it, we do not recommend cutting on epoxy. Epoxy is a much harder material than wood, so you risk blunting your knife’s edge more quickly. Please, take this into consideration if you’re contemplating an epoxy-filled engraving on the center of the board since that is your primary chopping area. Mr. and Mrs. Woodshop is not responsible for any damage to your blades from improper use or from cutting on a non-recommended surface.

7

My cutting board is looking worn and has deep cuts in it; what can I do?

Send us a message! We are happy to discuss options for bringing your cutting board back to its original glory!

8

Are your items handmade or hand-crafted?

Yes and yes! Every wood product and our Board Butter are made by us.

9

Will my item look exactly like the picture?

No, and that’s the beauty of what we do! Wood is a unique material, and since not every tree looks the same, the grain and color will vary. However, your item will be in the same style as depicted.