Countertops, Tables, and Natural Wood Furniture: Care and Maintenance

The care and maintenance of natural wood countertops, tables, and other pieces of furniture is crucial to the lifespan of your one of a kind furniture. If taken care of correctly, your furniture will last decades. In this guide, we’re going to cover Ecopoxy resin, Waterlox finishes, and Osmo finishes. These are the most commonly used products on the majority of our tables. If you have a product produced by Built By Ben Woodworking, at least one of these products will have been used.

Waterlox Finish

Waterlox Finish is the first product that we’re going to dive into. Luckily, a table finished with Waterlox is relatively easy to clean and care for. The main information that you need to know is what not to use. Cleaning your countertop or tabletop is as simple as using a soft damp rag to wipe down the surface. If you’re dealing with an especially difficult mess that calls for a heavier cleaner, Waterlox has you covered. The best product (and most trusted) is the Waterlox Original Cleaner Concentrate. Here are a couple of tips to help get you started if you decide to go this route:

• For General Cleaning: Dilute 1-2 ounces of concentrate per gallon of warm water.
• For Heavy Duty Cleaning: Dilute 2-4 ounces of concentrate per gallon of warm water.

The best part about the cleaner concentrate is that it will not leave a soapy haze, actually enhances the look and beauty of the finish, and will not damage the gloss or film of finishes. Additional cleaning options include:

• A solution with a mixture of 1 – 2 oz. of white vinegar to 2 gallons of warm water
• Non-abrasive diluted household cleaner (we do not recommend products that contain bleach or ammonia)

Now, it’s time to discuss what you absolutely shouldn’t use to clean anything with a Waterlox finish. It’s best practice to avoid using any rough material to clean countertops and tabletops. There’s a much higher chance of scratching the surface. Avoid leaving any pools of water on the furniture, this could leave water stains on the surface. Any products containing wax or acrylics should be avoided as well.

When it comes to maintenance for Waterlox finishes, there’s a simple step-by-step guide that we recommend you follow for best results.

• Wash the surface with a neutral cleaner
• Rinse with water
• If there’s dirt on the surface you can’t remove by cleaning, lightly sand with 320 grit sandpaper
• Wipe on an additional coat of finish
• Let dry for 48-96 hours

After that, you should be good to go!

Osmo Finish

If you’re not familiar with Osmo, you’re probably wondering what it is! Osmo products are made from vegetable oils that penetrate into the wood. These renewable oils help keep the wood healthy and prevent it from drying out and becoming brittle.

As with similar finishes, a soft damp rag should be all you’ll need to clean up basic spills and any dust and dirt accumulation. When it comes to heavy-duty messes, the team at Osmo are the experts! Their line of cleaners is really your best option when it comes to caring for your products. They offer a spray cleaner, a liquid wax cleaner, and an intensive cleaner. You can find all of those products here. When it comes to caring for your natural wood furniture, it’s best to trust the experts.

EcoPoxy

If you’re familiar with the river tables or hexagon tables from Built By Ben Woodworking, you’ll know that we’re huge fans of Ecopoxy. There are a few general maintenance tips to keep in mind when you’re caring for your tables that use ecopoxy. First and foremost, don’t use any abrasive materials to clean. You’ll end up scratching or dulling the surface if you’re not careful. If you’re cleaning with soap, use a very mild, non-abrasive detergent to ensure you don’t ruin the shine of the table or countertop. If you use soap too often, you could cloud the finish.

Custom Live Edge River Table – Built By Ben

We reached out to Ecopoxy to get some more clarity on extending the life of tables and countertops that use ecopoxy. Aaron got back to us and said,

There’s not a whole lot of care required for epoxy table tops, just get a hold of a good headlight polishing compound and buffing wheel to refinish it when you start noticing scratches. that takes out most of the scratches and restores the original mirror finish!

For any more questions about care or maintenance about natural wood countertops, tables, or any other furniture, feel free to contact us!