Taking Care of Your Woodenware

Wooden bowls are a great addition to the kitchen. Cleansing and sanitizing these bowls helps control the amount of bacteria that can grow on the wood. Despite popular belief, the porous surface of wood actually deprives the bacteria of the warmth and moisture needed to survive and bacteria actually die on the surface within seconds.

Cleansing

Hand washing these bowls is the best way to cleanse them. Never soak them in water for too long. Use warm water and mild soap to wash the surface. This will cleanse the exterior without subjecting the wood to elements that will destroy the material. Never put them in the dishwasher or in the microwave oven.

Sanitizing

Sanitizing wooden bowls helps to control bacteria growth. White vinegar works wonders for sanitizing bowls. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 5 parts water, wet the bowl thoroughly and allow the solution to do its job for several minutes. Rinse the bowl with warm water and let it air dry.

Seasoning

Seasoning wooden bowls is an important aspect of keeping them in optimal condition. When you first purchase a wooden bowl, season it every day for a week, once a week for the next three weeks, then every month afterward. When it appears to have a faded or dull finish, it needs seasoning. Purchase bowlmineral oil at the pharmacy or grocery store. This oil is inexpensive and will not go rancid as other cooking oils will. The bowl should be dried out thoroughly first. Soak the bowl liberally with the mineral oil, let it soak in for 5 minutes to several hours. Just wipe off the oil and use the bowl as usual.

Damage Repair

If your wooden bowl feels fuzzy to the touch, the grains of the wood are raised and need to be sanded. Grab some 400 to 600 grit sandpaper and rub the damaged area lightly until smoothed out. Wash out the bowl and dry as usual. A brown-paper bag will even work in place of the sandpaper if you do not have any handy. If your bowl gets a dent, you should soak the bowl overnight (the only time that you should soak the bowl in water) before you smooth out the area with sandpaper. Progress with different grits slowly, 80, 100, 120, etc. until the area is smoothed out. Wash and dry as usual after the area is fixed. Don't forget to season it after sanding.