How to take care of your wooden trays?

Wooden trays and platters look classy and elegant, and like any other product made from the organic element, decays with time. Wood is porous and it absorbs moisture and water from the food. When the moisture wipes off, the wood becomes dry and rough as it raises the grain which make small crests and troughs on the surface. To keep them looking new, fresh and lasting longer, you will have to put a little effort. Use the following simple yet powerful tips to clean and maintain your wooden trays, spoons, platter, salad bowls, cutting boards, etc.

Oiling and Moisturizing

We should treat the organic wood as we treat our skin, and we all are aware of the importance of moisturizing it. Oiling your wooden platter every other week is the best practice to follow depending upon how often you use the platter. Oiling and providing enough moisturizing make the wooden surface more knife-friendly. Oiling the wooden surface frequently prevents it from cracking. Oiling also acts as a sanitizer for the wood. It makes it troublesome for the pathogens on the surface to survive. We should avoid use vegetable oil as it may leave stains and cause bad odour. Oils may also go rancid and may cause more harm than good to the wood. Applying a layer of food safe mineral oil serves the best purpose.

Cleaning it right

Vinegar is known to be a best natural cleanser. A solution of vinegar and water is recommended to get the best result. Prepare this solution by taking a bucket of hot water and add 1 cup of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of lime juice. Soak the uncleaned tray in this solution for 10 minutes. Pour a few drops of dishwasher and use a nylon scrub to gently scrub the surface. Wash it with clean water and remove the left water with a cotton cloth.

Dealing with stains and smell

To get rid of nasty stains and bad odour, squeeze a lemon and sprinkle the lemon juice across the surface of wooden tray. The ascorbic acid reacts with the bacteria and fats that cause stains and smell. For some stubborn stains, baking soda is the weapon. Apply some baking soda and rub it through out the surface of the wood with a nylon sponge soaked in hot water. Air-dry the tray to completely drain out the moisture.

Scrapping and Sanding

Knives may cause deep cuts on the chopping boards. These cuts give enough space to the odour causing bacteria to proliferate. Light scrapping and sanding can repair these cuts. Anything above 150 grit is recommended.

Replace

When the things go out of your hand, it is best to let them go. This is same for these wooden trays. If the surface starts to lose its grain and have even deeper cuts, replacing them with a new product is the only way. You can buy beautiful hand-made wooden tray from Artysta Gallery embellished with tribal arts like Warli and Dhokra.