Care & Cleaning

TimeWorn Signature products are built from real wood and designed to last for years with simple, proper care. Follow the guidelines below to protect your floating shelves, cutting boards, and serving boards while preserving the natural beauty and performance of the wood.

1. Floating Shelves

Everyday Cleaning

Our floating shelves are protected with a durable, commercial-grade acrylic polyurethane finish designed for everyday use. Routine cleaning requires very little maintenance.

  • Dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth.
  • For routine cleaning, use a soft microfiber cloth dampened with water or mild soapy water.
  • Wipe spills promptly.
  • Dry the surface after cleaning rather than allowing moisture to remain on the shelf.
  • Avoid abrasive pads, harsh cleaners, strong solvents, and silicone-based polishes.

Protecting the Finish

Although our acrylic polyurethane finish provides excellent protection, no wood finish is completely impervious to heat, moisture, or abrasion.

Use coasters, pads, or protective barriers beneath items that may remain wet, leak, scratch, or generate concentrated heat. Avoid dragging rough or abrasive objects across the surface.

Standing water and prolonged moisture should always be wiped away promptly.

Temperature & Humidity

All real wood naturally expands and contracts as humidity changes. Our premium quarter-sawn hardwood, construction methods, and finishing process are specifically chosen to greatly reduce seasonal wood movement, but no solid-wood product is completely immune to environmental changes.

TimeWorn Signature floating shelves are intended for indoor, climate-controlled environments. Avoid prolonged exposure to excessive humidity, extremely dry conditions, standing water, or rapid changes in temperature and humidity.

Bathrooms & Other Humid Areas

Our floating shelves can be used in normal indoor bathroom environments. The acrylic polyurethane finish provides excellent moisture protection, but shelves should not be installed where they will be repeatedly saturated or exposed to standing water.

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2. Cutting & Serving Boards

Every TimeWorn Signature cutting and serving board arrives ready to use. Each board is treated with food-safe Board Oil and then protected with two coats of our custom Board Wax.

The distinction between the two products is important:

Board Wax protects. Board Oil restores.

For normal maintenance, use Board Wax. Board Oil should only be necessary when the wood becomes noticeably dry or when restoring a board after sanding or refinishing.

Everyday Cleaning

  • Hand wash with lukewarm water, mild dish soap, and a soft sponge or cloth.
  • Clean both sides of the board so moisture exposure remains as even as practical.
  • Towel-dry immediately after washing.
  • Stand the board upright or on edge and allow air to circulate around both faces until completely dry.
  • Never soak or submerge your board.
  • Never place a wooden cutting board in the dishwasher.
  • Do not use bleach, harsh solvents, abrasive cleaners, or aggressive scrubbing pads.

Proper drying is just as important as proper washing. Leaving a wet board flat on a countertop can cause one side to dry differently than the other, increasing the likelihood of movement.

Board Wax: Routine Protection

Our custom Board Wax is your board's primary maintenance product. It renews the protective surface, helps repel water and everyday moisture, and keeps the wood looking its best.

When should I wax my board?

As a general guideline, apply Board Wax about every eight uses or whenever water stops beading on the surface.

How frequently your board needs wax will depend on how often it is used and washed. The condition of the wood is ultimately the best indicator.

How to Apply Board Wax

  1. Start with a clean, completely dry board.
  2. Using a disposable or lint-free cloth, apply a liberal, even coat of Board Wax.
  3. Rub the wax thoroughly into the wood.
  4. Allow it to penetrate for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Wipe away any excess.
  6. Allow the board to set for approximately 4–6 hours before use.

Board Oil: Restoration

Board Oil is not intended for routine maintenance. It is a restoration product used to replenish wood that has become noticeably dry or has been exposed through sanding or refinishing.

Use Board Oil when:

  • The wood remains noticeably dry even after normal care.
  • You have lightly sanded the board to remove scratches, stains, or wear.
  • You are performing a more complete restoration of an older board.

After the Board Oil has penetrated the wood, apply Board Wax to restore the board's protective surface.

Oil restores the wood. Wax protects it.

Scratches, Knife Marks & Stains

Knife marks and light surface scratches are normal signs of a well-used wooden cutting board. Because TimeWorn Signature boards are made from solid hardwood, many signs of wear can be restored rather than making the board disposable.

Minor scratches, knife marks, and stains can often be improved through light sanding followed by Board Oil and Board Wax.

Deep cuts, cracks, severe stains, or significant warping may require professional restoration.

What to Avoid

To protect your board and extend its life:

  • Never put it in the dishwasher.
  • Never soak or submerge it in water.
  • Never leave it wet or allow it to sit in standing water.
  • Never use bleach, harsh cleaners, or abrasive cleaning products.
  • Never use olive, vegetable, canola, corn, or other cooking oils. These oils can oxidize and become rancid.
  • Do not use the board as a trivet for hot pots or pans. Concentrated heat can scorch the wood, damage the protective wax, and cause uneven drying or movement.
  • Do not store the board until it is completely dry.

Built to Be Used

TimeWorn Signature cutting and serving boards aren't intended to stay pristine on a shelf. They're built to chop, carve, prepare, serve, and become part of your kitchen.

With simple cleaning, routine waxing, and occasional restoration when necessary, solid hardwood can be renewed again and again, allowing your board to develop character while continuing to perform for years.

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