How To Refresh Butcher Block Countertop: Step By Step Process Of Restoring A Butcher Block Countertop

Step By Step Process Of Restoring A Butcher Block Countertop

When it comes to making your kitchen look attractive & amazing, then butcher block countertop is one of the best options to add to the kitchen area. However, butcher block countertops need a great deal of maintenance in order to make it last longer. So to maintain & restore the original beauty of your butcher block, you simply need to go through the step by step process mentioned below carefully & achieve the desired result:

Step 1: Bleach Mildew Stains

Start the process by simply mixing a teaspoon of powdered oxygen bleach with a cup of hot water unless & until it gets disintegrated completely. Make sure to wear a nitrile glove, rinse an inflexible, nylon-bristle scrub brush into the solution, and then rub the wood for a few minutes. Again rinse as needed in order to keep the surface wet. The blend will foam marginally, then subside. After that, you need to wait at least 10 minutes for the bleach to work, then cleanse rigorously with a sponge and cool water. As a result, the wood will soften as it dries, but if it has still stains available, blend up a new batch of bleach and then repeat the scrubbing process.

Step 2: Sand Burn Marks, Knife Cuts

For the sanding process, you can use coarse, 60-grit sandpaper or sanding sponge in order to scrape the stained wood, however, don’t try to remove it completely, as sanding too much in a single spot will create a dip. It is absolutely fine
to sand across the grain in the first instance, but make sure your final strokes should definitely follow the grain.

Step 3: Dissolve Wine Stains

Apply fresh 3 percent hydrogen peroxide into a bowl. With the help of a cotton swab, dab the peroxide only on the stain, it can soften unstained wood. Give the solution some time to sit, before starting to wipe with the help of a damp microfiber cloth. Repeat the process until the stain vanishes wholly, or nearly so. Then finally make it dry.

Step 4: Sand

As soon as the countertop gets completely dry and the imperfections are predominantly gone, sand the complete surface. You can start with 100-grit paper, which should remove any remaining marks, then finally go with 150-grit sandpaper. The exceptional tool for this purpose is a 6-inch random-orbit sander, lead the way in slow, overlapping passes going with the wood grain.

Step 5: Fill Cracks

Soften the freezing wax in a small saucepan, then with utmost care pour the liquid into any cracks or separations. When the wax has consolidated but is still soft, scuff off the excess with a 5-in-1 tool.

Step 6: Seal

Apply a wax-and-oil finish, such as Butcher Block Conditioner, onto the surface of the wood and brush it back and forth with the help of a lint-free cloth. Wait for at least 20 minutes, before starting to buff with a clean cotton cloth. In order to sustain the countertop’s stain resistance, again apply wax-and-oil finish whenever the wood looks dry.

Step 7: Safe Finishes

The perfect finishes for butcher block include the food-safe oils and waxes, due to the reason that they are easy to wipe on, and, mostly, there is no wait for them in order to cure. Mineral oil is very cheap and easily available, but it lacks in durability as it didn't last long. The mixture of beeswax and mineral oil, such as Howard's Butcher Block Conditioner, has an adorable scent, a bit of shine, and better water repellency as compared to mineral oil alone. Make sure to keep away from finishes like varnish and polyurethane, due to the reason that their hard films are very difficult to refinish when they chip, peel, or get scratched.