When you buy a kitchen with beautifully chunky wooden worktops, the upkeep is unlikely to be a big priority. You’re redesigning your home and they look great, but they do also take a bit of looking after.

Over time, wooden worktops can fade and become marked, so it’s important to treat them every so often.

ADVERTISEMENT

How can I tell if my kitchen worktop needs re-oiling?

Most experts will tell you to re-oil worktops every three to four months, but to know for sure, Toolstation recommend dripping water onto the worktop surface. If the water forms a bead, it doesn’t need re-oiling, but if it sits flat on the surface, your worktop needs some TLC.

How to oil a wooden kitchen worktop in three steps

Step 1: Sanding

Use sandpaper (start with a courser grade sandpaper, then go over it with a finer grade, for example, 120 grit followed by 180, or 180 followed by 240 – available from all hardware stores) to smooth over all of your wooden worktops. If the worktops are in bad condition, you may need to use an electric sander or card scraper, but these will require a bit more knowledge and skill, so you might prefer to call in the professionals.

Sanding is a bit tedious and it will take a while, but on the plus side, it will lift off any stains or marks that are starting to set in. Focus on any discolouration around the sink area, as this can be harder to get rid of.

Make sure you clean off all the dust thoroughly once you’ve finished.

Step 2: Oiling

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Natalie (@our_faversham_home)

 

Once you’ve done your prep, all you need to do is apply your oil. There are lots on the market, but try Rustin’s Worktop Oil – a water-borne blend of natural plant oils, suitable for all types of timber, quick-drying and water-resistant.

No products found.

To start, pour a little oil onto the worktop and, using a lint-free cloth, spread it over the surface until you have a very thin and even layer. You need to repeat this until you’ve covered the worktop, then apply another coat.

After applying, be careful not to leave any of the oil on the surface, as it could show up white and stand proud.

After the first coat, leave the oil to dry for a few hours (potentially more, depending on your brand of oil – always read the instructions) and then re-apply up to eight coats. Adding several thin coats is more effective than one thick layer, which can dry sticky or shiny.

Step 3: The re-test

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Emma Cox (@colyer.cox.abode)

 

Once dried, try dripping water on the surface again, and if the water doesn’t form a bead, repeat the oiling process.

3 of the best worktop savers

Now you’ve got gorgeously pristine worktops again, always use a heat protector or chopping board to keep it looking good.

Joseph pot stand
(PA)

1. Joseph Joseph Stretch Silicone Pot Stan

No products found.

Round wooden chopping board, £14,99, Homesense
(Homesense/PA)

2. Round wooden chopping board, £14,99, Homesense 

Beech Chopping Block, £21.99, Lakeland
(Lakeland/PA)

3. Beech Chopping Block, £21.99, Lakeland

Best-selling kitchen worktop oil

Stuck for inspiration? Check out our list of best-selling Amazon products!

No products found.

You may be interested in…

This article may include affiliate links to products and services where we may receive a small fee to support the running of this site if you make a purchase or is a sponsored article from one of our select editorial partners providing valuable advice and information to our readers.

ADVERTISEMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.