Caring for your spoon

Cleaning
Hand wash in warm water with a sponge or soft brush if necessary; rinse well once clean. Avoid using scouring pads, both plastic and metal, as they will roughen up the surface. Do not leave the spoon soaking for long periods of time and wipe it dry rather than leaving it to dry on its own. Apply oil (ensure it is food safe!) or spoon-wax when the wood is beginning to dry out.

Wax or oil
Wax finishes are good if you use your spoon for dry ingredients, such as seeds or tea. These spoons can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and then dried immediately; the wax finish will last well, but will eventually need topping up. If you are using your spoon for cooking or eating and need to wash it regularly, wax is fine for the handle but use oil on the part of the spoon that comes in contact with food. The process for both finishes is the same; apply a generous amount, enough so that it just stops soaking in, leave for a few hours to complete absorption then wipe excess off with a clean cloth. When choosing oil, avoid anything that will go off quickly (so not olive oil) and ensure that the oil is food safe - oil used for cooking is generally OK, but nut oils must not be used if you cook for someone with an allergy. Some people use the mineral oil you can buy in a pharmacy, but I prefer mine to be natural and plant-based. Use cloths to apply oil, not paper towel, and wash them straight after use in warm water to avoid any risk of spontaneous combustion.

Really? Yes! Look it up.

Spoon wax recipe
Spoon wax can be bought, but it is easy to make using a 1:1 (by weight) mixture of vegetable cooking oil and beeswax. Put the wax into the oil and heat gently, stirring until it has dissolved. Pour into small jars (easier to use!) and allow to cool. Do a test with your chosen ingredients: if it is too solid when set, reheat and add more oil.