How to Sterilize an Antique Butcher Block Table

Butcher block tables can last for years in an active butcher shop or restaurant. Antique butcher block tables have a rich patina and wear marks that makes them extremely attractive for your kitchen. But what about sanitizing and using an antique butcher block?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Kitchen safe soap
• stiff bristle brush
• wire brush
• Kitchen safe bleach
• Linseed oil
• Possibly need: wood plane, rotory sander.

1. Just out of the kitchen:
   If the butcher block has just came out of a butcher shop or restaurant, do what they do. One method used in some restaurants is to use a metal wire brush with bleach. Clean the butcher block table several times over. Don't use too much water, you don't want to soak the wood, just clean it. Once clean, seal the table cutting surface with linseed oil (not polyurethane). After using it just wipe it clean with a little bleach water for disinfecting and odor control.

2. 

   Old dirty, don't know where it came from butcher blocks:
   First clean the entire butcher block with plenty of "hot" soapy water and a stiff bristle brush. Look for discoloration, rot and let dry. Does it smell rancid? Clean it again. Do not soak the butcher block and let water stand on it though. You want to clean it but not soak the wood. The hot soapy water should free up some of the grease and fat in the wood.
   If after cleaning it does not have a rancid smell, you might go ahead and clean the cutting surface with bleach and a metal wire brush. If you are satisfied to the look and feel of the surface area, and have no odor, you can reseal the butcher block table with linseed oil. Your butcher block table should be ready to use.

3. Nasty, cleaned it as above and it still is yucky butcher block table:
   Let the butcher block totally dry for at least 24 hours. If the surface is still unattractive you can either plane, if it is side grain or sand (with an orbital sander) if it is end grain wood. Take down at least an inch of wood. Unfortunately this will remove the patina, knives and cleaver marks and make the top look new. Clean with a tack cloth when done and reseal with linseed oil.
   If one inch of planing or sanding does not fix the problem, you may need to have the top cut in half and made into a table with a new top or discard it.

4. Using your butcher block:
   These tables were meant to be used. Just wipe them clean with a soapy cleaning rag or sponge, or a rag dipped in weak bleach solution. Treat them like a big cutting board, that is what they are! When the wood looses its consistent color, reseal with linseed oil. It will be like new. Enjoy your "new" antique butcher block table.

Tips & Warnings

• clean with bleach or kitchen safe cleaners only
• seal with linseed oil
• start with basic cleaning and go to more severe sanding or planing only if necessary
• an unleveled cutting surface is just a sign of use and part of the charm of old chopping blocks, don't level the top unless necessary due to sanitation, or you lessen the antique value of piece.
• do not saturate the butcher block with water
• do not seal the cutting surface with polyurethane
• rotting or insect infestation may make the table unusable as a butcher block but repaired it may still make functional and attractive kitchen or side table.

[drewsl]

on 9/23/2008 I have a butcher block that a purchased 15-20 yrs ago at auction that came from a local butcher shop. It is almost identical to the one pictured in this article. I would like to sell it but really have no idea what it is worth. Any general estimates out there ?

[Ann057]

on 8/19/2008 Thanks for the tips! I have an old and lg. sized butcher block we took out of a barn,,,heavy and solid!
We could not even sand the hard-top surface, whatsoever, so I merely cleaned it up with the soapy water to remove a gummy residue, and then used cooking oil on the surfaces. Next time, I will use bleach and try the linseed oil, which is recommended.
Looks great.