FAQs
How do I clean my wooden bowls and plates?
1. Grab a soft washcloth or a soft sponge and put a few drops of mild dish soap on it. Soak the cloth or sponge with hot water and wipe the bowl down thoroughly inside and outside. In the process, don’t submerge or soak the bowl in the water.
- Wooden bowls absorb water easily, which is why you shouldn’t soak or submerge them. It’s important, for the same reason, that you never put wooden bowls in the dishwasher.
- Don’t use a scrubbing pad or steel wool unless your bowl has a tough buildup. Soft cloths and sponges are enough for basic cleaning.
2. Rinse the bowl with hot water
3. Dry the wooden bowl with a clean towel
4. Set the bowl in a drying rack to finish drying
How do I treat stains on my wooden bowl?
Every so often, your wooden bowls can use a deeper clean than soap and water. Pour some coarse (large grain) salt into the bowl. Cut a lemon in half, and rub the juicy pulp over the surface of the bowl. Briefly wash with hot water and mild dish soap after scrubbing.
- Lemon juice is commonly used as a disinfectant and the salt provides a slight abrasion to the bowl’s surface. A lime can be used, also, and regular table salt will have a similar effect.
- Scrub the outside of the bowl, too.
How can I disinfect my wooden bowl?
Mix three tablespoons (44.4 ml) of white vinegar into one cup (240 ml) of hot water. Dip a washcloth into the mixture and rub the entire surface of the bowls with the solution. Let the vinegar sit for five minutes, then follow the standard washing procedure afterward.
- Depending on how often you use the bowls, disinfect them after every five uses or so.
What can I do if my wooden bowls have developed stuck-on residue?
If you have been using your bowls for years, they may develop stuck-on residue. Take fine-grit sandpaper and gently rub it with the grain of the wood. This will remove a thin layer of buildup. Sand a little bit out from the bad spot to blend it in with the rest of the bowl.[7]
- You only need to sand the area that has a lot of buildup, not the entire bowl, but if the entire bowl has buildup, it’s okay to lightly sand the whole thing.
- Remember, you only want to buff away the extra, non-wood layer that has developed. Don’t apply so much pressure that you start taking off wood.
How can I maintain my wooden plates so they don’t look old?
1. Wooden bowls can become dry and may eventually crack, so it is important to treat them with oil sometimes. When you’re looking for oil at the store, make sure it is labeled as food grade. You may also find mineral oil that specifically says it is for cutting boards, butcher blocks, or wooden dishware. You can also use beeswax.
2. Take a clean, dry paper towel and pour a small circle of mineral oil onto it. Wipe the bowl completely, inside and outside, with the mineral oil. Apply the oil in some kind of pattern to make sure you don’t mis any spots.
- Don’t be afraid of putting too much oil on the bowl. If it seems like the first application soaked into the bowl, put a second, or even third, coat onto it.
- Depending on how much you use your bowls. Treat them with mineral oil every couple of months or at least two times a year.
3. Set the bowl on a clean spot on the counter or table and leave it overnight (you can put a waxed paper underneath in case you are afraid it stains the surface). The oil will soak partially into the wood, moisturizing it and coating the surface. If you are in a hurry, try to let the oil sit for at least 30 minutes.
- Allowing the mineral oil to sit for a short time will still help the bowls last, but not as well as letting the oil soak in for longer.
4. After the bowl has sat and soaked in most of the oil, take another dry paper towel and wipe the entire surface of the bowl. There will be some oil that doesn’t soak into the wood, and it is best to remove this excess. Discard the paper towel afterward.