How To Care For Your New...

Our laser-engraved wood boards are food-safe. 

Most of our customers do not use engraved boards as kitchen tools. Instead, they are used as a display or serving piece. But, just as anything else used regularly, you will see the effects of use. Sharp serving utensils and knives WILL CAUSE COSMETIC DAMAGE. If you want to use an embellished board but protect the embellishment, you can turn the board over and use the back side.  We apply food-safe mineral oil to our embellished finished products. It is recommended that you use food-grade mineral oil, beeswax, or a blend to help protect your board.  Follow the instructions provided on the product you choose.  Some manufacturers also suggest it is acceptable to use vegetable oil, soybean oil, or olive oil. It is best to avoid storing your board in humid or hot places.  This could result in reducing the hardness of the wood.

These recommendations reduce the possibility of your board warping or cracking.  

Helpful cleaning tips.

Hand wash

Always hand-wash your wood cutting board. Never put a wooden board in the dishwasher or submerge it in a sink full of water, as it will warp and/or crack. Use a mild soap and a soft sponge or cloth.   Abrasives WILL cause cosmetic damage to the embellishment.  

After cleaning, allow your board to air dry.  Avoid using electrical appliances to blow-dry the board.  Avoid direct exposure to the sun.

For boards utilized as cutting/carving boards, and protecting an embellished surface is not a concern, you can also:

• Use Kosher salt and lemon or distilled white vinegar. This is used to deodorize your board if it’s stinky.
• Baking soda: This may remove tough stains from your board.

 Engraved coasters are decorated with laser engraving. To maintain them, avoid abrasives, harsh cleaners, and bleach products. Solid wood and slate coasters are durable and easy to care for, usually requiring only warm water for cleaning. A mild dish soap and soft cloth can be used if needed. Wood coasters with bark edges should be handled carefully, as the bark is fragile and can break if dropped or exposed to excess moisture. Use a dry or slightly damp nonabrasive cloth for cleaning. Cork coasters can be cleaned with warm water, mild dish soap, and a nonabrasive cloth. While cork is durable, it may not last as long as other materials. 

Laser-engraved leather and leather-like patches are not conducive to laundering.  Garments with attached patches should be gently hand-washed and air-dried if laundering is essential.  However, there is no guarantee that even this gentle washing will not damage the patch.

Polymer / Coated Slate Pieces / Stained and Painted Pieces

Some of our engraved slate products are coated prior to engraving.  This provides a more distinct embellishment.  This coating renders the item NOT FOOD SAFE.  This coating provides a gloss finish and will generally be found on our slate coasters, address slates, and other slates intended for outdoor use.  

Certain wood stains are not food safe.  If you request a piece to be stained it may render the piece not safe for food.  Additionally, if you request the engraving to be darkened, the stains and paints used will render the piece unsafe for food.

PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND IF YOU DECIDE TO ALTER YOUR PIECE LATER

Food Safe Slate Pieces

Charcuterie Boards and other boards intended for food service are not coated with any product.  These items are food safe.  It is recommended that you do not use anything other than a mild soap and non abrasive cloth or sponge to clean these pieces.  These pieces can chip or break, so we recommend care when handling them.  Food safe chalk can also be used on these pieces.  

The laser engraved embellishment on tumblers is generally very durable and should last the lifetime of the tumbler if cared for properly.  It is always recommended that tumblers be handwashed.   

Below you will find specific information about stainless steel tumblers and the best use and care recommendations.

Steel Tumblers - Can last a very long time if cared for properly

YOUR DOUBLE WALL STEEL TUMBLER

IS NOT DISHWASHER OR MICROWAVE SAFE

YOUR TUMBLER IS NOT DISHWASHER SAFE -  Why?

Quick and Simple Answer -

1.  THE TUMBLER CONSTRUCTION -  The manufacturing process of nearly all two layer vacuum sealed tumblers includes heat.  The final process of "decorating" your tumbler uses heat as well.  Prolonged exposure to heat such as a dishwasher can damage the vacuum seal between the layers by making very small cracks in the welding which allows are to enter the vacuum space and ruining the insulation technology.

2. THE DECORATIVE EXTERIOR - The process of adhering the decorative exterior uses a process that uses very high heat to cause a specialized ink in a process called dye sublimation to go from a solid to a vapor and adhere to exterior of the tumbler.  While this process provides for a very durable and often elaborate in detail exterior, the prolonged exposure to excessive heat can cause the process to reverse so over time it can cause fading to your tumbler.

More Detailed Answer -

Most good quality steel tumblers are produced using at least two layers of stainless steel with a vacuum air pocket between the two layers to help create insulation.  Dishwashers and in particular commercial dishwashers use prolonged exposure to high temperature heat to clean.  That prolonged exposure to heat can be detrimental to the fusing process of the two layers of a tumbler.  The fusing process is typically completed by welding the inner and outer layers together leaving vacant space between the two layers through welding.  A small hole is left on the outer shell bottom so during the duration of a vacuum process nearly all the air is removed between the layers and the hole is then sealed by a weld. Placing the tumbler in a dishwasher can cause damage to that process, causing the vacuum seal (weld) to crack and ruining the insulation (vacuum technology).  Other reports also discuss the possibility that the heat can also warp the steel enough to cause the top to not fit properly allowing it to leak.  Most tops are made of plastic that can also be damaged by prolonged exposure to the heat of a dishwasher.

Though nothing discussed above is an absolute certainty, what probably is a certainty is you expect the money you spent for an insulated tumbler to be money well spent and if the tumbler doesn't perform well or looks bad, you probably won't be happy.

How To Clean - Use non acidic and non abrasive cleaners.  Generally warm water and mild soap is all you need.  Use a soft cloth or sponge.  Do not use abrasive style sponges.  They can scratch the finished surface or the tumbler. Do not soak your tumbler.  If needed, fill the inside of the tumbler with warm water and dish soap and allow to sit. Do not use hot water to clean the plastic tops.  This can cause them to warp. Most of our tumbler packages include a straw and straw cleaning brush.  It is highly recommended that you clean your straw very frequently with a straw cleaning brush.  Your straw can be cleaned in your dishwasher after using the brush.

There are several style tops depending upon the tumbler package you have.  However, all tops should be hand washed and the dishwasher should be avoided.  The dishwasher can damage the washers or screw threads and can cause the tumbler to leak.

NOT MICROWAVE SAFE- None of the steel tumblers that we sell (or know of) are microwave safe.  This can cause damage to both the tumbler and the microwave.

Customize Surface- These surfaces can last a long time looking great.  However, proper cleaning and careful use will definitely be a deciding factor.  Yes, the surface can be damaged by dropping it or contact with a coarse or abrasive surface. As with anything you appreciate, proper and careful use will help keep your tumbler is good shape.

TUMBLER TOPS - The tops of your tumbler are made of plastic and ARE NOT INDESTRUCTIBLE. Dropping your top can cause it to crack or break.  If you do break your top you can contact us to purchase a replacement top for most tumblers. Some tumblers do not have replacement tops available.  Please keep in mind, if your tumbler begins to leak it may not be your top, especially if you decide to use the dishwasher to clean your tumbler.  The use of the dishwasher may have warped your tumbler and a new top will not stop the leaking.