Are Timber Workbenches Hygienic? Question of the Week 15.11.14

‘Are Timber Workbenches Hygienic?’

Our latest ‘Question of the Week’ comes from Joanna in London, who likes the idea of timber workbenches in her kitchen, but would like to know how hygienic they are.

QUESTION:

“I’m considering ordering some solid timber workbenches from you, but want to know how hygienic they are when compared to other types of worktops?”

ANSWER:

Hi Joanna,

We are glad you are considering our solid timber workbenches, they really are the best choice for any kitchen design, whether you’re planning something modern, or altogether more traditional.

Hygiene is of course a key consideration in any kitchen – as well as wanting it to look nice, it’s always a top concern to have a worktop which is hygienic, and fortunately the timber fibres in a wooden worktop are naturally very hygienic.

All the woods used for our worktop contain natural antibacterial bodies. Some species of wood we offer, such as our iroko worktops, are rich in natural oils which enhance their hygienic properties, whilst others such as our bamboo worktops are very watertight, which helps stop bacteria colonising on the surface.

An important consideration in the overall hygiene of a wood worktop is both the initial oiling, and regular treatment thereafter. For the first six weeks, you’ll want to oil the worktop regularly to build up a protective layer, and then every three months after this. We recommend using Rustins Danish Oil as it is easy to use and will give a consistent, resilient finish.

As well as oiling the worktop, we recommend using a disinfectant that kills the bacteria that builds up during food preparation, whilst being kind to the wood itself. We recommend a solution consisting of 2 cups of water to half a cup of white vinegar, with the addition of a tablespoon of washing up liquid. Use the solution in a spray bottle and apply a light misting all over your worktop. Afterwards, wipe off with a damp cloth, and then again thoroughly with a dry cloth. Our full Nutshell Guide titled How to Clean Wooden Worktops can give you even more details on our recommended cleaning routine.

So to answer your question in short, a well maintained and regularly cleaned wooden worktop can be a very hygienic surface indeed. For further information on oiling your worktop, we suggest reading our Oiling Worktops Nutshell Guide, whilst our Kitchen Worktops and Food Preparation guide has further information on the products we recommend.

If you have any other queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch again.

All the best,

Ben @ Worktop Express