Care and Maintenance Guide
Breadboards & Cutting Boards
Store away from sunlight, children, pets, and heat sources.
Do not use or place your board on or near a heat source of any kind.
You can use warm (not hot) water to rinse off your board. If this is insufficient, additionally apply a mild soap.
Do NOT place in a dishwasher or use any other sort of automated washing machinery for true wooden products.
It is important to note that soaps will quickly remove any applied finish, so after washing with soap (or if wood appears to be soaking in water), the board should be allowed to dry, and then have finish reapplied - such as cutting board oil, or wood butter.
Even if you do not frequently use your board, it will still dry out over time. We recommend replying cutting board oil at least once every 6 months. If you prefer wood butter, you should reapply at least once every 9 months.
If you have a physical engraving (appears 3D, and cut valleys into the wood), there is potential for food particles to get stuck within the valleys of the engraving. You should ensure after each use of the item, that the engraving is clear from any debris.
If you have a laser engraving (appears burned), there is a risk of scrubbing off some of the darker portions of laser burned wood with vigorous scrubbing. You should take care to use more gentle action when cleaning the engraved area. We primarily recommend our cutting board oil for laser engravings. While the rest of the product can be treated with wood butter, it is best to avoid getting wood butter near the laser engraving as it can quickly fill small details and make the engraving look poor.
Because of the grain orientation of these pieces, they hold up significantly longer in a heavy use kitchen, and cause significantly less wear to cutlery. This said, their grain orientation also makes them more prone to absorb water, and liquids from foods such as greases, oils, etc.
We recommend increasing how often you apply finishes if you do not frequently use the cutting board or butcher block. If you are a commercial kitchen washing your butcher block daily, you should continue to apply finish after each wash as you would with any other cutting board from Kineo Mountain Woodsmithing.
Charcuterie Boards
Store away from sunlight, children, pets, and heat sources.
Do not use or place your board on or near a heat source of any kind.
You can use warm (not hot) water to rinse off your board. If this is insufficient, additionally apply a mild soap.
Do NOT place in a dishwasher or use any other sort of automated washing machinery for true wooden products.
It is important to note that soaps will quickly remove any applied finish, so after washing with soap (or if wood appears to be soaking in water), the board should be allowed to dry, and then have finish reapplied - such as cutting board oil, or wood butter.
Even if you do not frequently use your board, it will still dry out over time. We recommend replying cutting board oil at least once every 6 months. If you prefer wood butter, you should reapply at least once every 9 months.
If you have a physical engraving (appears 3D, and cut valleys into the wood), there is potential for food particles to get stuck within the valleys of the engraving. You should ensure after each use of the item, that the engraving is clear from any debris.
If you have a laser engraving (appears burned), there is a risk of scrubbing off some of the darker portions of laser burned wood with vigorous scrubbing. You should take care to use more gentle action when cleaning the engraved area. We primarily recommend our cutting board oil for laser engravings. While the rest of the product can be treated with wood butter, it is best to avoid getting wood butter near the laser engraving as it can quickly fill small details and make the engraving look poor.
Many of our charcuterie boards have a resin layer protecting the wood, and providing a smooth surface. While the resin we use is completely food safe, you should never cut on your charcuterie board as it will quickly mar the resin layer, and broken off pieces of resin could create a choking hazard for children.
Furniture
Some of our furniture is finished using a penetrating oil, while other pieces are finished using a hardwax oil. Only by special request do we finish furniture using a stain or paint.
Please differ to the lower categories for the one that is right for you. If you are unsure what your furniture is finished with, please reach out to us.
This includes tung oils, linseed oils, and other finishes based off them. The documentation and original email chain for your custom order should include details on what was used.
To clean, please use a damp rag to wipe the surface. There is a risk of forming rings from glasses and plates, so we recommend a placemat or coaster.
To repair these, simply sand down the spot until the damage is no longer visible, ensuring the sanding goes up to a high enough grit the surface is uniformly smooth - then reapply the matching oil.
These oils are known to be exothermic when curing, and have been known to spontaneously combust when placed into confined spaces such as trash cans. Take this warning seriously. We recommend leaving soiled rags laid out on the floor until they have cured, at which point they no longer carry any risk.
As of 2023 the hardwax oil we primarily use is Rubio Monocoat. Please refer to the original email chain for your order, or the original documents in order to determine which color of Rubio was used.
Some of our Rubio Monocoat pieces have been finished with an additional layer of high carbon ceramic coating. Most brands should not interfere with each other, or leave any visible difference.
Rubio Monocoat, and ceramic coatings can be cleaned using a damp rag. We recommend using coasters and placements, even though Rubio Monocoat and ceramic coatings are less susceptible to forming rings.
To repair Rubio Monocoat: Rubio Monocoat can be spot repaired without issue. It does not require the entire piece sanded for repair. You should sand down the affected area until the abnormality is not visible, with a fadeout towards the rest of the furniture piece. Matching Rubio Monocoat should be applied following the directions. It is important to note that ceramic coating can repel Rubio Monocoat, so you should ensure that it has been removed for a good distance past your repair site.
To repair a ceramic coating, simply reapply your preferred coating following the directions. Multiple coatings are often better than a single coat.
NOTE* Rubio Monocoat contains flammable oils. It is important to note that any rag soaked with this may spontaneously combust without adequate ventilation. This is well documented so not dismiss this warning. We recommend any soiled rags are placed spread out on the floor. Once the rag is dry/cured, it no longer has any danger of combustion. This is because the curing process is exothermic (It generates heat) - so don't put wet rags in a trash can.
If you requested a stain in your custom order, you can find that stain by pulling up the original email chain.
To clean stained wood, use a damp rag. Stained wood has a high chance of developing rings from plates and glasses, so a coaster or placemat should always be used.
To repair stained wood, the entire piece of furniture should be sanded down to bare wood, and then have stain reapplied uniformly.
If you special requested a paint in your custom order, you should be able to find that info by pulling up the original email chain.
In order to clean painted surfaces, use a damp towel. There is a high risk for rings to form from plates and glasses - so placemats and coasters should always be used.
In order to repair painted surfaces, the entire piece must be sanded down to bare wood, and then paint reapplied completely.
One common source of damage to furniture is water damage, such as rings formed from placing drinks on wood. While some of the finish techniques, especially ceramic coatings, help prevent these rings - there is an easier way.
Coasters have long been the number one way to prevent rings from forming, alongside placemats or trivets or some variety for hot dishes.
Serving Trays
Store away from sunlight, children, pets, and heat sources.
Do not use or place your board on or near a heat source of any kind.
You can use warm (not hot) water to rinse off your board. If this is insufficient, additionally apply a mild soap.
Do NOT place in a dishwasher or use any other sort of automated washing machinery for true wooden products.
It is important to note that soaps will quickly remove any applied finish, so after washing with soap (or if wood appears to be soaking in water), the board should be allowed to dry, and then have finish reapplied - such as cutting board oil, or wood butter.
Because your serving tray has many cavities, it is extremely important to both ensure that no debris is lodged anywhere, as well as to ensure that all corners are properly coated in a finish.
Even if you do not frequently use your board, it will still dry out over time. We recommend replying cutting board oil at least once every 6 months. If you prefer wood butter, you should reapply at least once every 9 months.
If you have a physical engraving (appears 3D, and cut valleys into the wood), there is potential for food particles to get stuck within the valleys of the engraving. You should ensure after each use of the item, that the engraving is clear from any debris.
If you have a laser engraving (appears burned), there is a risk of scrubbing off some of the darker portions of laser burned wood with vigorous scrubbing. You should take care to use more gentle action when cleaning the engraved area. We primarily recommend our cutting board oil for laser engravings. While the rest of the product can be treated with wood butter, it is best to avoid getting wood butter near the laser engraving as it can quickly fill small details and make the engraving look poor.
Trivets
Store away from sunlight, children, pets, and heat sources.
Do not use or place your trivet on or near a heat source of any kind. You should only place hot objects (pots, pans) on the trivet. - not place your trivet on a stove, or in an oven, or any other heat source.
Objects should not be excessively hot to where they would burn the wood (such as if the metal has turned 'red hot').
Due to the channels, cleaning can be difficult. Most often, you'll only need to wipe down the top and bottom with a damp rag. If this is insufficient, make sure you use only warm water and mild soap. Do not use a dishwasher of any type.
After washing with soap, the soap has stripped away many of the protective oils, and our cutting board oil should be reapplied liberally to the trivet(s).
If the trivet appears dry, make sure you apply our cutting board oil. Oils like these are paramount to keeping your trivet in excellent condition for years to come.
Splitting, checking, and warping is always a risk when any wood is exposed to heat sources regardless of how the wood has been treated. The most important way to reduce this risk is to ensure the wood is always properly treated with an oil such as our cutting board board oil.
If you have a physical engraving (appears 3D, and cut valleys into the wood), there is potential for food particles to get stuck within the valleys of the engraving. You should ensure after each use of the item, that the entire product, including the engraving is clear from any debris.
If you have a laser engraving (appears burned), there is a risk of scrubbing off some of the darker portions of laser burned wood with vigorous scrubbing. You should take care to use more gentle action when cleaning the engraved area. We primarily recommend our cutting board oil for laser engravings. While the rest of the product can be treated with wood butter, it is best to avoid getting wood butter near the laser engraving as it can quickly fill small details and make the engraving look poor.
Cutting Board Oil & Wood Butter
You do not need to purchase our cutting board oil or wood butter. We offer it as a convenience to our customers. It is important that you purchase a wood finish from someone to keep the product(s) you've purchased from us in excellent condition.
We frequently include these care items for free with many orders because of how important they are.
EDC and Catchall Trays
Our trays are finished using a polymerizing furniture grade oil. While this finish is rated as food safe and approved for food contact, we recommend against using it with food, as it will likely require cleaning that will strip away the finish and leave the wood unprotected from warping, mildew and rot.
When not in use, and frankly while in use as well, you should ensure that the tray is in a dry environment where it is unlikely to be stained by chemicals, exposed to water, etc. For example, it'd be unadvisable to use the tray in a sauna, steam room, shower room, bathroom that regularly steams up from long hot showers, etc.
Should your tray require cleaning, we recommend first to use a dry duster or rag, if the goal is to remove dust. If there is something more serious than dust, first try a rag wet with water only. If this is insufficient, you may have to use soap or mild detergent, and in this scenario you should apply a fresh coat of finish to the product. Please reach out to us in this scenario and we will be happy to direct you to a merchant for a similar wood finish, or we can supply the wood finish to you if more convenient.
Jewelry Books and General Cases
Our cases and jewelry books are finished using a polymerizing furniture grade oil. While this finish is rated as food safe and approved for food contact, we recommend against having it come in contact with any food, as it will likely require cleaning that will strip away the finish and leave the wood unprotected from warping, mildew and rot.
When not in use, and frankly while in use as well, you should ensure that the tray is in a dry environment where it is unlikely to be stained by chemicals, exposed to water, etc. For example, it'd be unadvisable to use the tray in a sauna, steam room, shower room, bathroom that regularly steams up from long hot showers, etc.
It is recommended to always store Jewelry Books in the orientation they are opened for display. Storing them on their side, or flat can result in jewelry shifting and becoming tangled up with other jewelry pieces.
Watch Valet Cases may generally be stored in any orientation unless noted otherwise in product documentation or their product page.
Should your case require cleaning, we recommend first to use a dry duster or rag, if the goal is to remove dust. If there is something more serious than dust, first try a rag wet with water only. If this is insufficient, you may have to use soap or mild detergent, and in this scenario you should apply a fresh coat of finish to the product. Please reach out to us in this scenario and we will be happy to direct you to a merchant for a similar wood finish, or we can supply the wood finish to you if more convenient.
If the felt used inside the case requires cleaning, attempt using a damp rag at most. Do not use soap or any cleaning agent on the felt without first reaching out to us.
Specifically for Jewelry Books, and Watch Valet Cases, we recommend cleaning the watch pillow with a damp rag at most. Please ensure the pillow is left out to dry outside of the case before putting it back into use. If this is insufficient to clean the watch pillow, please reach out to us as we do have additional means to potentially clean these pillows. Should the pillow be unrecoverable, we can also supply a replacement pillow.
Artwork
Unless otherwise noted, our artwork is primarily made from laser cut hardwoods that are left raw to show their natural appearance.
For this reason, we recommend against displaying the art in any high humidity environment, such as bathrooms, or near a stove - as boiling water produces very high humidity.
We recommend the use of properly installed wall anchors for all wall art.
Some artwork is potentially fragile, and should not be placed under objects when stored. Artwork should be kept in a well protected box when not in use.
We recommend cleaning dust or debris using a brush or duster. We recommend against use of water, damp towels, or any cleaning solutions.
If absolutely necessary, a damp towel may be used to clean tough spots, though please keep in mind that the moisture may cause the surface of the artwork to become rough.