Bamboo countertops may fancy you, but they are high maintenance. If you’re a sustainable living enthusiast, then the fact may not deter you. If you’re not a fan and bought the bamboo countertop for its aesthetics, you need to read this blog.
You have to protect your Bamboo countertop by maintaining it. Try regular sanding and finishing with sealants like tung oil and beeswax. Use a couple of coats of sealants you choose, and stroke them with a dry rag to wipe off excess oils. Let them dry for 24 hours. These are only the starters.
We’ve got a good deal of bamboo countertop maintenance tips to share with you.
Let’s dive right in.
How To Protect Your Bamboo Countertops?
Bamboo countertops are not hard to protect. With the right sealant and regular disinfecting cleaning, you’ll be able to protect your countertop against stains and moisture. You can use oils and finishing that are bamboo-suitable.
Among linseed and beeswax, there are a couple more options that we will discuss next.
Choosing the Right Products
Finishing is a major part of preparing the bamboo countertop for daily use. There are different oils and formulas that we can use to protect bamboo plywood.
Tung Oil
Tung oil is the most common finish for bamboo. The reason is the ease of application and durability tung oil offers. The Tung oil soaks in the bamboo pores and fills the cracks by locking the moisture.
You must protect the bamboo countertop from dust. Use the Tung oil to protect from alcohol stains, vegetables, and fruit acids. The countertop stays bright for a good time with a solid coating and a silky look.
Varnish
Varnish is yet another liquid coating material made of raisins, drying oil, and solvents. Varnish dries and becomes a hard film over the bamboo countertop like the Tung oil. This protects the countertop from stains and protects bamboo’s natural moisture by sealing its surface.
You’ll have to leave the countertop for a few hours or a day to let the varnish film dry by evaporating the solvent. Varnish is a natural, non-toxic finish that polymerizes when in contact with air.
Beeswax
Beeswax is different from other finishing liquids that we talked about earlier. Beeswax is a paste, and it’s applied over the finishing material that you’ve already used on the countertop. It’s food-safe material, so it’s not dangerous to use on surfaces where food comes in contact.
We have certain things outlined for you to remember before you decide to use beeswax.
●The beeswax only provided minimal protection to bamboo countertops. It can easily wear out in a short time.
●The beeswax paste is more suitable for carved objects.
●Beeswax use is restricted to indoor applications by manufacturers.
●Beeswax doesn’t work best on water-based solvents. If you’ve used oil-based solvent, then beeswax is a great option.
●A coat of beeswax every month is recommended by the experts.
The application of beeswax paste requires a wee bit of attention. You’ll have to rub the paste on the grainy surfaces while also following the manufacturer’s instructions given on the box.
Don’t Overdo the Application
When applying the finish or sealant, you have to be sure that you don’t use too much product. You’ll have to use your judgment skills and use only as many products as the size of the countertop.
Tips:
●You’ll need 250 ml if you have around something bigger than 40 sq. ft. The quantity to use and the right amount of math can be hard.
●For a less than eight sq. ft bamboo butcher block, applying three coats (50 ml oil) of the finishing liquid is ideal.
●You can take help from quantity calculators.
These are some ways that you can try to ensure that you use the appropriate amount of product to prevent wastage.
Sand the Bamboo Countertop
Sanding your bamboo countertops from time to time is a way to maintain their condition throughout the use period. But, sanding is a crucial step only when you’ve used the bamboo countertop for a good time. The newer bamboo countertops come ready to use, which means they are already sanded.
However, you can use sandpaper on the bamboo countertops that are already in use to remove stains, marks, or any other blemish on the surface. Grit 120, 150, and grit 180 are some options to consider for bamboo restoration for a smooth and sleek look.
Use The Right Way to Apply Finish
One of the ways to protect or maintain your bamboo countertop is to use the finishing products that we have discussed above. But, is that all? We fear not. Using the right tools to apply the products matters too.
Most people use brushes to apply the sealant. It’s not wrong, but we have better options like using a rag. Brushes work fine, but they are not as efficient. You’ll have to use a rag later to wipe out the excess oil, so why not use it from the get go?
Rags are also better with product consumption. They don’t absorb the product and give it back to the countertop. You can rub the oil into the bamboo countertop so it can suck the sealant in, and only rags can help here.
How many coats of sealant are Ideal?
3 coats of any oil or sealant are considered sufficient to protect the bamboo countertop. But, certain pure oils like pure vegetable oil take around 7 coats to form the protective film over the wood.
You must apply each coat when the previous coat of sealant has completely dried out. An average period is 24 hours to 36 hours. The more time you give to the countertop to dry, the better.
Sponge the Excess Oils
When you apply oils on the countertop using either of the tools we have talked about, you’ll see a bit of excess oil on the countertop. You must absorb it in the rag or wipe it off immediately. If you use pure vegetable oil like most people, let the oil sit for a while before you decide to wipe it off.
Ideally, you can wait for 12 to 15 minutes after you’ve applied the sealant on the countertop. The next step would be to hold up the rag or the sponge and wipe out the extra product.
Use Cleaners to Clean the Bamboo Countertop
You can also use cleaners with neutral pH for wood safety. Other cleaning products may not be as efficient and only worsen by attacking the sealants or oils you’ve used to protect the countertop.
Tip: Only use cleaners when the countertop is completely dry. You’ll have to leave the bamboo slab for 36 to 48 hours to let it dry.
Conclusion
Bamboo countertops are a great option for any household. They are sustainable and antimicrobial. Its a desirable match for a responsible parent living with kids. But, maintenance can be daunting.
To help you in the process, we have created this blog as a manual. You can follow it to protect your bamboo countertop on the go. If you have any questions, comment down and we will get back to you.
