This is one of the most important things when purchasing a board from Gauntt Design Company! I’ve created these pieces to last you and your family decades and even though I pour my heart, passion, and time into everything I create, you’ll need to properly maintain a long life.

 

If you’ve ever owned or had to care for a cast iron skillet then you’ll know exactly what I mean. The good thing is that you don’t need to be as careful with wood BUT, if you’d don’t properly care for your board then bad things can happen. So just to make things easier, I’ve made you a quick reference guide of Do’s & Don’ts when it comes to proper maintenance. This will also include some tips and tricks for pre-dressing a board to help avoid staining.

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Avoid Staining

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• Unless your board is finished with an epoxy, polyurethane or anything that’s considered a sealant then you’ll want to avoid placing certain things directly on your board. 

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​​Examples consist of (but aren’t limited to):

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1. Berries or Dark-colored fruit juices: such as cranberry, blueberry and grape juices are liable to leave stains

2. Balsamic vinegar: It makes for a tasty dressing, but the deep pigmentation in balsamic vinegar creates an opportunity for a lighter colored board to become discolored or stained

3. Red Wine: I know this one might sound a little out of place, but I’m putting it in this list because accidents happen! The hope is that red wine would never be put on a lighter wood but if it does, then feel free to reach out to me and we can see about fixing it because there’ll be very little you can do you get the stain out. But wash it as soon as possible and then consider sanding it down.

4. Beetroot: Again, this might sound out of place, but it’s for your own good that you don’t place this directly onto your boards. Beetroots are well known for staining almost anything it touches.

 

• Almost ALL stains can be avoided!

  • Place items on parchment or wax paper.

  • Watch for any dripping or run off

  • If you’re feeling creative, add a small dish, piece of glass or stone

 

 

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DO

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1. It’s OK to use a dish soap on your board after messy foods are involved in the dressing of it. Same concepts go for when you’ve had meats, etc. placed directly on a board.

2. Oil or condition your board regularly, especially if there’s frequent use. This will keep it looking beautiful and protect the wood from moisture. Moisture can cause warping in the board.

3. Hand dry thoroughly after rinsing. Don’t just set it out on a dish rack- use a towel to dry off any excess water.

4. You’ll want to use a food-grade mineral oil, hemp oil, flaxseed oil to protect your board and keep it looking beautiful! Gauntt Design Company has it’s own brand of Board Conditioner made here in Mission Kansas! Go to our website page to explore the benefits of ours compared to others!

5. You can also use a food-grade wax if you’re wanting a little extra protection in addition to oil. Our GDC Board Conditioner has a small trace of coconut and beeswax in it and can help with these healing properties.

6. Use kosher salt and halved lemons or vinegar and baking soda to get rid of smells and bacteria. Keep it sanitized and smelling clean for the best long term board life.

7. Last but certainly not least, use some sandpaper if your board is starting to feel a little rough. A very fine grade (320 or above grit) is all you need to touch it up- then give it a good oiling with GDC conditioner to keep it smooth!

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DON’T

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1. Don’t use the dishwasher to clean your boards!

2. Don’t use abrasive scrubbers like steel wool. Instead, use plastic scrapers, gentle dish soap and hot water for stubborn, caked on bits of food

3. Don’t soak your board in water. While rinsing and washing your board is fine, letting it soak for any period of time will definitely cause warping!

4. Don’t use olive or vegetable oils. These can cause your board to develop an unpleasant smell over time. This smell could eventually lead to negatively affect the foods you’re serving!

5. Don’t store it in a closed space. First, I design and build my boards to be shown off! Besides that, air flow will help your board stay dry and keep it from building up unwanted moisture that can cause warping and breaking.