How to Care for Olive Wood

Olive wood is a popular choice for kitchen instruments, salad and other bowls, as well as chopping blocks. The wood is easy to care for and its dense grain can make it last for generations. Most olive wood products are handmade, and matching sets must be made from the same block of wood due to the variations in color and grain within the wood. As a result, products made from olive wood are more expensive than similar items made from softer wood. A well-cared for piece of olive wood has a luster and color unmatched by any other wood, making olive wood an investment well worth the money.

Things You'll Need

• Olive wood
• Mild dish-washing soap
• Warm water
• Soft, lint-free towel
• Olive, sunflower or peanut oil
• Paper towel

Instructions

Caring for olive wood

1. Clean olive wood products in warm water using a mild dish-washing soap.

2. Dry thoroughly immediately after cleaning with a soft lint-free towel

3. Rub your olive wood product with olive, peanut or sunflower oil once a month. Dip a paper towel into the oil and gently rub, using a circular motion, over the surface of the wood. Work the oil into the sides, top and bottom of the olive wood.

4. Wipe off excess oil with a soft lint-free cloth or a clean paper towel.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use your olive wood objects every day, rub oil onto the surface once a week rather than once a month. Using oil keeps olive wood from drying out and splitting. If your olive wood has dried out and cracks are forming, you can submerge it in olive oil for an hour or so. Remove excess oil with paper towels or lint-free cloths. Your olive wood will darken slightly every time you rub it with oil.

• Never soak olive wood in water. Always run water onto or dip your olive wood into water then quickly remove. Do not use peanut oil if anyone in your family has peanut allergies.

Resources

• Toscana olivewood products