Homemade Wood Balm

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Give your wooden cutting boards, utensils, and butcher blocks the TLC they deserve! This Homemade Wood Balm is an easy 2-ingredient recipe that conditions and waterproofs your wooden tools. It’s made with natural, sustainable ingredients and no mineral oil!

Homemade wood balm with a rag, wooden utensils, and a wooden cutting board.

Some of the best things in life take a little extra time and effort!

That includes wooden kitchen tools. I absolutely love my big wooden cutting board and wood spoons and spatulas. They require a bit more maintenance than plastic or metal, but they are so worth it.

When I started using wood and bamboo in my kitchen, I looked for a wood butter to help condition and protect my new tools.

You’d be surprised how difficult it is to find without mineral oil! And what I could find was quite expensive.

I always prefer homemade anyway, so I decided to make my own!

This wood balm is easy to make, easy to use, and it’s 100% natural. If you have wood in your kitchen that needs some care, give it a try!

What is Wood Balm?
Why You’ll Love It
Ingredients
How to Make Homemade Wood Balm
How to Use Homemade Wood Balm
Expert Tips
Tips for Maintaining Wooden Boards and Utensils
Recipe FAQs
Related Recipes
Homemade Wood Balm Recipe

What is Wood Balm?

Wood balm, also called wood butter or board butter, is made to condition and protect your wooden utensils, bowls, cutting boards, and butcher blocks. It’s made with oil, which penetrates the wood and protects it from cracks and warping, and wax, which gives it a water- and food-resistant coating.

Using a wood balm is an important part of maintaining wooden kitchen tools so they can last for years. Without regular conditioning, wood is prone to drying out and cracking, warping from water exposure, and absorbing food, odors, and bacteria.

Why You’ll Love It

Preserve your kitchen tools: Wooden spoons, cutting boards, and bowls require a little extra care, but they are so worth it! Using this homemade wood butter regularly will keep your kitchen tools in great shape and extend their lifespan a lot.
Save money: If you’re looking for a mineral-oil-free wood balm, it can be a little expensive. Making your own is much more affordable, and you may already have the ingredients on hand!
Eco-friendly: This homemade wood balm is made with biodegradable, sustainable ingredients only. It’s also a plastic-free alternative to liquid wood oil (which is perfect for your plastic-free utensils and cutting boards!).

Ingredients

Coconut Oil

I chose coconut oil for my wood balm because it’s food-safe, nontoxic, and affordable, and I find that it works best for this recipe.

A lot of recipes call for mineral oil, which I prefer to avoid because it’s petroleum-based. Coconut oil works just as well, and it’s all-natural!

Another option is walnut oil. I have seen people have great success with walnut oil, but some may have allergic reactions, so I have not tried it with that yet. If you try it, do let me know how it goes!

Beeswax

Beeswax gives the wood a sort of waterproof coating that helps protect it more than oil alone can. You can use white beeswax or yellow beeswax; the choice is yours.

If you want a vegan wood balm or simply want to avoid beeswax, carnauba wax is said to be the best alternative.

This recipe doesn’t take much wax, but don’t worry if you have a lot left over! You can use it to make a homemade balm for your skin, like DIY tallow balm or homemade tinted lip balm. Once you’ve made wood balm, you’ll have the process down!

Tools + Supplies

Digital scale: I prefer to weigh the ingredients rather than measure them by volume. This is more accurate, and it saves a few dishes!
Small storage tin: Make sure whatever container you use is heat-resistant so it doesn’t break when you pour the hot ingredients in. I use small metal tins that I keep on hand for homemade balms and salves (like my homemade dandelion salve).

How to Make Homemade Wood Balm

Step 1. Melt coconut oil and beeswax in a small saucepan over low heat.

Stirring melted ingredients in a double boiler.

Step 2. Once melted, stir well.

Pouring melted wood balm into a metal tin.

Step 3. Remove from the heat and carefully transfer it to your storage container. Make sure the container is rated for high heat.

Step 4. Allow it to cool completely before securing the lid.

How to Use Homemade Wood Balm

Holding a rag with a glob of wood balm on it.

Step 1. Use only on completely dry wood. Using a clean cloth, scoop a small portion of the balm and use a circular motion to work it into the wood.

Rubbing wood balm into a wooden spoon with a cloth.

Step 2. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then wipe off any excess with a clean cloth. Allow the utensils/materials to sit for 24 hours before using.

Rubbing wood balm into a wooden cutting board with a soft cloth.

Expert Tips

To clean your materials: Once the saucepan and spoon cool enough to handle, wipe them as clean as you can with a paper towel. Do not pour any wax down your drains.
I always recommend beeswax pellets, not a block, when you’ll be melting it down. Even when cut into smaller pieces, the beeswax blocks take a very long time to melt. If you want to use a block, I recommend shredding it with a cheese grater.
If your wooden cutting board needs a deep clean before oiling it, scrub it with coarse salt and half a lemon, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse. Follow up with a white vinegar rinse to remove odors and bacteria. Allow the cutting board to dry completely before applying wood balm.

Tips for Maintaining Wooden Boards and Utensils

Never soak your wood in water, and avoid submerging it as much as possible. Wash with warm water and a mild soap, or simply wipe lightly used cutting boards clean with a damp cloth.
Dry your wooden tools right after washing, or stand them upright in a drying rack to prevent moisture build-up.
For a brand new, untreated board or utensils, oil them once every day with fractionated coconut oil for the first week, or until the oil is no longer quickly absorbed.
Keep up with your conditioning routine and use a wax-based wood balm, like this one! The wax helps lock in moisture and protect the wood from outside water.

Recipe FAQs

How often should I use wood butter?

This depends on how often you use your wooden utensils/bowls/boards and your washing routine, but a good rule of thumb is about once a month. The wood needs to be oiled when it is looking dry, dull, or lighter in color.

Is homemade wood balm food-safe?

Yes, it is! Both coconut oil and beeswax are safe for use around food, so you don’t have to worry about any residue on the wood touching your food.

My wood balm is too firm to work with. What do I do?

The wood balm is on the firmer side, especially in cooler temperatures. You will need to scoop a portion out with the tips of your fingers and a cloth. If it’s too firm even for that, you can re-melt it and add a bit more coconut oil for a softer texture.

Related Recipes

If you tried this Homemade Wood Balm or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

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