Your island bamboo cutting-board countertop needs regular maintenance to prevent staining and warping. Before installation it should have been coated on both sides with tung oil, mineral oil or sealed with polyurethane or varnish. Tung oil is the finish of choice, with regular maintenance with mineral oil. Once your bamboo island cutting board is installed, follow these tips to maintain that beautiful finish.
Use a Cutting Board
Use a separate cutting board on top of your bamboo countertop to prevent deep cuts and bacterial contamination. A separate cutting board is easier to wash thoroughly and sanitize to prevent bacterial contamination. Chopping directly on your bamboo island countertop will scar the surface and allow bacteria to grow in the cuts.
Rub with Mineral Oil
Maintain the surface of your bamboo cutting board by rubbing it regularly with food-grade mineral oil. You can purchase special oils for this, but mineral oil is cheap and is recommended by most bamboo countertop makers. The mineral oil should be applied daily for the first week on a new countertop, then once a week during the first month, and then once a month or whenever the surface appears dry and dull. Coat all sides, top and bottom of the bamboo island surface evenly with food-grade mineral oil. Mineral oil will prevent the bamboo from absorbing too much moisture and warping or delaminating.
Prevent Standing Water
Allowing water to stand on your bamboo cutting-board surface is not recommended. Sponge it off with soapy water to clean it. Disinfect it, if needed, with diluted bleach water. Dry it off immediately, and keep it dry when not in use. The mineral-oil finish will repel water, but it will not prevent water from soaking into the surface if it is left wet for a long period of time. Excess moisture will cause the surface to warp.
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