If your bowl has a lacquered finish, it is NOT food safe. It should only require dusting periodically. A damp cloth with a spot of mild detergent can be used to clean the piece if necessary. Wipe and then gently dry with a soft absorbent cloth. We DON’T recommend the use of furniture polish on lacquered finishes.  

If the wood looks dry or dull it can be re-oiled to re-nourish and confer protection. A fresh coat of oil will also enliven the grain, making it ‘pop’ to show off the beauty of the piece. Oil will also darken the appearance so bear this in mind. Refreshing the oil coating is not essential but will benefit the product and prolong the life of the item. 

Application of oil or oil wax mix is a simple process. You can use any one of the following:

• Tung oil

• Danish oil

• Mineral oil

• Walnut oil

• Refined Coconut oil

• Combined oil/wax

For application method follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the oil/wax. It will normally involve wiping oil on, leaving it for a time before wiping off the excess, then a possible second application and a further wipe. 

All wood intended for use with food, such as salad bowls, fruit bowls and kitchen utensils, will have a food-safe finish, either Tung oil, Danish oil, or mineral oil. Once applied, the oils are left to completely dry or ‘cure’, a duration that varies depending on the oil used and the surrounding conditions. Once dry, the oils confer a degree of water resistance to your pieces, but they SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS WATERPROOF.

Day-to-day items used with food, such as salad and fruit bowls and kitchen utensils, should be cleaned with a minimal amount of warm water and mild detergent, then towel dried and finally left to fully air-dry before putting away.

We do not advise soaking any of the products or allowing moisture to contact them for longer than necessary. Wood fibres will swell if soaked, causing premature breakdown of the protective finish. Warping, distortion or cracking of the products may also occur. Additionally, your wooden items SHOULD NOT BE cleaned in the dishwasher, put in the fridge, microwave or oven.

Washing and use will eventually lead to the deterioration of the finish. To maintain protection and prolong the life of the pieces, we’d advise periodic re-oiling (after approximately 5-7 washes), see Re-Oiling.

If you feel the product needs disinfecting, for example if fruit has spoiled in a fruit bowl, this can be done in one of two ways, using white vinegar:

• Mix 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water, apply with a cloth and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing then washing with minimal warm water and mild detergent. Towel dry and leave to completely air-dry. 
• Alternatively make up a 50:50 mix of white vinegar & water in a spray bottle, spray on, rinse and then wash as above. 

We’d recommend re-oiling your piece after disinfecting.

The product used should be food safe and your choice should take food allergies into account. To re-seal your food safe pieces, they can be re-oiled with:

• Food safe mineral oil

• Tung oil

• Walnut oil (allergies permitting)

• Coconut oil (allergies permitting) 

• Combined food safe wax oil

For application method follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the oil/wax.

Do NOT use cooking oil as it will turn rancid.