ChefCharlie's Profile

There are several products on the market that work on wood. I use Wooden Wonders Beeswax Butcher Block Conditioner on all my wood surfaces, especially those that come in contact with food. I spent a ton of time researching these products and have found the pricing and quailty make it the best pick over competing brands.

I prefer the WOODEN WONDERS product over mineral oil because mineral oil alone does not provide as much protection and is really messy.

You have to be really careful with beeswax because not all beeswax is clean. Filtered beeswax has had most of the imperfections removed, and to do it yourself is extremely labor intense and you have to be careful because the wax and oils are highly flamable. If you buy filtered wax, it's very expensive. You want wax that is fresh from the hive, not the stuff that has been building up on the frames. So--is it cheaper to make your own? I think buying it premade is the safer and less risky way to go.

Regarding bee allergies? People who have bee allergies are normally allergic to bee stings. I have never heard of anybody being allergic to beeswax.

Some people have nut allergies... so Walnut oil might be more suspect. For this reason I avoid using walnut oils on my boards.

I am not afraid to put the Wooden Wonders product on my cupboards that have been treated with Urethane... It's no different than using pledge.

Regarding flooring.... that's another story. The key with wooden flooring and all woods is maintaining proper humidity in your home. A simple humidifier that is run during the winter months when the furnace is running will do wonders towards insuring your flooring and all wood in the house keeps from shrinking too much. Plus maiting good humidy levels in your home is good for your own skin and keeps you healithier during the winter.

Best of luck to all. ChefCharlie