How To Treat Wooden Worktops
Last Updated on May 11, 2021
If your worktops have seen better days and are starting to look stained, chipped, splintered or in need of a little TLC, why not think about restoring them back to their former glory?
Whether your worktops are oak, black oak, walnut or beech, treating them in the right way could not only give your space a new lease of life but also save you a ton of money.
So, how can you get started?
Join us as we run through some of the most effective ways to treat a wide range of wooden worktops, highlighting just how easy it can be to get them back to looking their best.
Make Sure To Sand First
Nothing beats the natural beauty of a wooden worktop – a material which not only radiates quality but is also incredibly satisfying to the touch. So, why wouldn’t you want to keep it in the best condition possible?
However, before you dive right in and give your worktop the TLC you think it needs – stop.
One of the biggest mistakes many people make is forgetting to sand the worktop surface beforehand. This should ideally be carried out with an electric sander to remove any existing varnish and expose the wood underneath.
Top tip: While sanding, make sure to particularly focus on any stains, scorch marks or rotted areas.
Apply The Right Oil
Once you have sanded your worktop down, you’ll then need to head down to your local DIY store to pick up a pot of either linseed, osmo, teak, olive or Danish oil, as well as a lint-free cloth (i.e. microfibre).
The process is fairly straightforward from here: pour a little bit of oil directly onto the sanded worktop then, using the cloth, spread it evenly across the surface.
This, in turn, should leave your worktop with a very thin layer of oil right the way across its surface.
Keep On Oiling
You can never over-oil a wooden worktop so, once your first coat has been left to dry, repeat the process over and over until you’re happy the entire surface has been coated.
Generally speaking, the first layer should only take a few hours to dry. However, any extra layers you add will take a while longer, since they’ll need to soak into the layers underneath it.
Adding the oil in this layer-by-layer approach is by far the best way to treat your worktop though, and will work far more effectively than simply adding one thick coat and leaving it at that.
Maintain Them Regularly
It’s all well and good having nice, newly-restored wooden worktops but it’ll all be for nothing if you fail to maintain them effectively.
As such, listed below are a few of the best ways to keep your worktops looking fresher for longer:
- Re-oil your worktops once every three months.
- Protect them from heat using trivets or glass surfaces.
- Always use a chopping board if possible.
- Keep areas around the sink dry.
For further hints and tips on how to renew, replenish or re-install your wooden worktops, simply contact our friendly team here at the House of Worktops at your earliest convenience – we’d be more than happy to help.