I recently bought a house that came with butcher block counters, and honestly, I totally hate them. The previous owner didn't prep or oil them at all, so they're super dry and rough. Oiling them feels like a huge hassle since it only keeps them waterproof for a couple of days. My family is always on the go, and I can't afford for the kitchen to be out of commission while waiting for the oil to dry. Plus, I feel like I can't clean them properly since bleach and other cleaners meant for non-porous surfaces are out of the question. Is there any way to permanently seal these counters, maybe with a food-safe lacquer? Or is tiling over them a viable option?
2 Answers
You can definitely seal your butcher block counters with a food-safe polyurethane. It’ll help with the maintenance and make cleaning a breeze compared to oiling.
Tile counters? Honestly, they can be a pain too. Instead of that, why not save up for some quartz? I’ve heard IKEA has good prices on quartz, so maybe check that out while using some plastic cutting boards in the meantime.
I really wouldn't recommend using plastic cutting boards though. They're a hassle to keep clean too!