How to Restore a Wooden Bowl
Antique wooden dough bowls, salad bowls and cutting boards can last a lifetime if properly cared for. Learn how to refinish vintage wooden bowls to make them food-safe, and how to keep them properly maintained.
We found this wood bowl at a thrift store for just $1. The wood was stained, scratched and missing all of its original finish. See how we brought it back to life for just a few dollars and a little elbow grease. The process is really easy and pain-free — just 3 steps! Here's how you do it:
1. Sand the Surface
Thoroughly smooth the wood and remove any scratches or surface stains with sandpaper. Start with a coarse grit then work your way up to medium grit then finish with a fine-grit sandpaper. (The lower the number on the sandpaper, the courser the grit). Remove all sawdust and residue with a tack cloth or slightly damp rag.
2. Apply Mineral Oil
Liberally coat the bowl with food-grade mineral oil, really rubbing the oil into the parched wood.
Cutting Board Oil rejuvenates dry wood, including cutting boards, butcher blocks, countertops, wooden bowls and utensils.
3. Apply Second Coat if Necessary
Wait a few hours for the wood to fully absorb the oil then enjoy your like-new bowl. Seriously, that's it! This project takes a little elbow grease but the results are well worth the effort.
Here's a side-by-side comparison that demonstrates how much richer the wood is with just a little TLC:
Best of all, you can keep your "new" old bowl looking great with another coat of mineral oil anytime the wood looks a little dry; sanding is only necessary again if your bowl becomes scratched or stained.
Refinished Wood Bowl With Fruit
Photo by: H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
