Wood Use & Care

For general daily cleaning, we recommend wiping clean with a damp cloth (just water is fine, or use mild soap or a natural cleaner), ideally followed by a dry cloth to remove excess moisture.

Moisture poses the biggest threat to real wood furniture. Always keep your table dry and wipe up any spills promptly (especially pooling liquids)!

Protect your furniture against heat and moisture by using coasters, trivets and hot pads. These go a long way in protecting solid wood furniture.

Do not use any cleaning products with harsh chemicals or abrasive qualities. Mild, natural soaps are best.

Avoid direct contact with sharp or rough objects. Use felt pads and placemats to help prevent scratches.

Use

Lamon Luther cutting boards, serving boards, chopping blocks, and breadboards are finished with eco-friendly mineral oil. This leaves the surface food-safe, but still porous. 

Cutting boards and chopping blocks are meant to be cut on. Whereas serving boards and breadboards should be used to serve and display food (not for cutting on). 

Never fully soak or submerge any of our cutting or serving boards in water or the dishwasher. Doing so could result in warping or splitting.

General Care & Cleaning

After handwashing your Lamon Luther board with water and mild, natural soap, rinse your board, and pat it dry with a clean cloth or towel. Stand up to dry; do not lay flat.

We recommend applying a food-safe mineral oil every few weeks to keep your board properly hydrated. Apply oil in the direction of the grain using a soft, dry cloth or rag. Allow the oil to soak in for several hours and wipe off any excess oil with a clean paper towel.

Remove stains or odors with coarse salt and lemon juice. Sprinkle the salt liberally over your board and use a halved lemon to rub the salt into the board.

Let sit for 3 minutes, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. Wipe off excess moisture with a paper towel, stand on end, and allow to air dry.

Durability

A quality-made piece of wood furniture can last lifetimes. Solid wood is stronger than most building materials. It can look beautiful and even new with proper maintenance and care over the years. Hence the term, “heirloom-quality furniture” – because it can be treated as such, passed down from one generation to another. This is why some antique furniture pieces are still useable and valued very high. You won’t find this with veneers, vinyl or any faux wood.

Uniqueness

Many furniture collections and mass-produced pieces are made to look a certain way. There are often thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of the same exact piece out there. With solid wood furniture, no two pieces are alike. Each and every wooden board is unique by grain pattern and tone, and handcrafted with heart and soul. As solid wood furniture is used and enjoyed over the years, it will show signs of a life well-lived. Like curing a pan for better taste. And, if you do choose to refinish it, you can get it looking brand new, even in a different stain or finish. Real wood furniture offers versatility and uniqueness you will not find with faux or mass-produced furniture.

Eco-Friendliness

Many man-made building materials and faux products can contain formaldehyde, which is considered a “probable human carcinogen.” Wood does not pose this risk. Because it lasts such a long time, it doesn’t get thrown away or sent to landfills. Even if a piece has lived its life as a furniture item, it can usually be recycled or remade into something else. With the exception of endangered species and non-sustainable or illegal harvesting, wood is generally harvested from sustainable forests. This ensures harvested material will be regrown in its unique environment for the same purpose. This protects against deforestation and keeps local forests and habitats intact.

Humidity & Temperature

Real wood responds to changes in temperature and humidity. It is made of fibers, similar to tiny pores, that cause the wood to swell in high humidity and shrink in low humidity. As wood expands and contracts, this can eventually cause the wood to warp or bow. Real wood furniture performs the best in a stable, normal indoor temperature range (60-80 degrees fahrenheit) and humidity level (30-50%). Always keep wood furniture in a controlled environment and avoid storing it in non-controlled areas where temperature and humidity can change drastically (attics, garages, storage units, etc.).

Sunlight & Heat

Avoid placing solid wood furniture in direct sunlight. Sunlight bleaches wood and degrades the finish, so it’s best to keep it away from wood furniture altogether. And never put indoor furniture outdoors, unless it’s built as an outdoor piece. If your furniture piece is in a room with a fireplace, radiator or heater, make sure they aren’t too close to each other. Heat sources can also have a negative effect on real wood.

Nicks & Scratches

No matter the finish or wood type, solid wood furniture can be easily scratched or nicked. Some woods are harder than others (and some finishes are more protective than others), but wood is still a natural material that can dent, scratch, and chip. Even cleaning with rough or abrasive materials can leave a mark. If your furniture item gets a small scratch or nick, all you need is some color to mask it. If it’s a relatively small scratch, you can use a marker, crayon, or shoe polish to help hide it. Home improvement stores also sell small stain and wood filler pens that are perfect for minor nicks and scratches. Whatever you use, make sure you choose a color that matches the finish and always apply the color/material in the direction of the scratch.

Drink Rings & Water Stains

First, always try to use coasters or pads on solid wood furniture. Sweat and moisture from a cold drinking glass (or heat from a hot beverage) can be absorbed into the finish and leave a white, milky-colored ring on your tabletop. If you notice a white ring, try using a hair dryer on the affected area to dry out the moisture that has penetrated the surface. If that doesn’t fix it, you can try rubbing car wax or petroleum jelly on the area, then wiping it away with a damp cloth. Moisture from drink rings should be addressed right away, as the longer it penetrates the surface and finish, the harder it is to remove.