Caring for your piece

Solid wood looks after itself for the most part. Keep it out of standing water and away from heat, and give it a little attention now and then, and it will outlast most things in the house.

Not sure which finish yours has? Hardwax oil feels like bare wood and has little or no shine; polyurethane feels smooth and slightly slick, like a coating. Or write to us with your order number and we will tell you.

Cutting and serving boards

Wash by hand with warm water and a little dish soap, then rinse and dry it straight away with a towel.
Never put it in the dishwasher, and never leave it soaking in the sink. The heat and water swell the wood unevenly, and that is what warps and splits boards.
Dry it standing on its edge so air reaches both faces, rather than flat on the counter.
Oil it when it looks dry, or when water stops beading on the surface: wipe on a thin coat of food-safe mineral oil or board butter, leave it overnight, and buff off the excess. With everyday use that is about once a month.
Knife marks and stains are part of a working board. To freshen one up, scrub with coarse salt and half a lemon, rinse, dry and oil. Deeper marks can be sanded out lightly with fine sandpaper (220 grit), then oiled.
Clean it promptly after raw meat or fish, and keep a separate board for those if you can.

Pieces finished in hardwax oil

Hardwax oil soaks into the grain rather than sitting on top, so it wears gently and can be repaired where it is worn instead of being stripped.

Dust with a soft, dry cloth. For marks, use a cloth barely damp with water and a drop of mild soap, then dry it.
Wipe up spills, especially water, wine and anything oily, before they have time to soak in.
When a spot starts to look dull or dry, a thin coat of a hardwax oil maintenance or refresher product brings it back. On a cutting or serving board, use food-safe mineral oil or board butter instead, as above.

Pieces finished in polyurethane

Polyurethane is a hard, clear film on the surface. It shrugs off water and wear better than oil, and needs almost nothing.

Dust with a soft, dry cloth, or wipe with a damp cloth and dry it.
Skip household sprays, ammonia, furniture polish and anything abrasive. They can cloud or scratch the film.
Do not cut on it. A knife scores the film, and a scratched film lets moisture under it.
Coasters: wipe them dry now and then rather than letting water sit in the carving.

Signs, wall pieces and carved detail

Dust the carving with a soft, dry paintbrush or a soft toothbrush. A cloth will not reach into the letters or a relief.
Keep it out of strong direct sun. Sunlight changes the color of wood over time, darkening some woods and lightening others, and does so unevenly where part of a piece is shaded.
Keep it away from heat and steam: not right above a radiator, wood stove or fireplace, or next to a shower. Fast changes in heat and humidity are what crack solid wood.
Our pieces are finished for indoor use. If you would like a sign for a porch or outdoors, tell us when you order so it can be made for it.

What is normal for solid wood

It moves with the seasons. Wood takes up and gives off moisture, so a board can swell slightly in a humid summer and shrink in a dry, heated winter. A little seasonal movement is normal.
Its color changes. Cherry darkens noticeably over its first months; walnut tends to lighten a little. That is the wood, not the finish wearing.
No two boards are alike. Grain, color and small natural marks are part of solid wood.

If something goes wrong

A crack, a split glue line, or a finish that is lifting is not normal. Email hello@flxwoodworks.com with photos and your order number (it starts with FLX-). If it is a defect, it is covered as set out in returns and refunds; if it is wear, we will tell you how to put it right, or refinish it for you.

Last updated November 2026.