Product Care

Scroll down for the advice your looking for....... T&G Woodware Care - Wipe Clean Fabric

T&G Woodware care Advice
(chopping boards/pepper mills/cook book stands etc)

Hevea
(Braziliensis – wood from the rubber tree) this is a white tropical hardwood from the rubber tree, which is planted mainly for natural rubber production. The major rubber producing countries are Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand which together account for approximately 74% of the total plantation area.


Hevea is very ecologically sound. After 25-30 years, when the trees are approximately 15 inches in diameter, they are unable to produce sufficient latex for conversion by the rubber factory, so they are felled and replaced by young trees. There is the added value of a very useful and attractive timber, which is hard and stable, reducing the likelihood of warping. The beautiful finish and light grain looks great on salad bowls as well as boards. Hevea can be successfully colour stained for co-ordination and waxed or oiled to seal the wood enhancing its appearance and prolonging its “working life”.


Care & Use:All T&G Hevea products have been sealed with a non-toxic protective lacquer to enhance the appearance and to help prevent the absorption of water when washed. To clean simply wipe over the surface with a damp cloth or wash in warm soapy water, do not soak.


As with all Woodware, hevea and acacia can dry out with use, so an occasional wipe with T&G’s wood treatment oil or a mineral oil does much to restore the original natural appearance.

 
Acacia


Acacia is a durable hard wood from fast growing trees. The beautiful grain and varied colour gives products a warm rich colour which is ideal for decorative and everyday use products. The hard wood of Acacia is ideal for kitchenware products such as boards and bowls.


Acacia is a tree with roughly 1300 species around the world and is easily recognised by its umbrella shaped canopy. The scientific name for the species of Acacia T&G use is ""Samanea Saman Merr"" often known as the Rain Tree and in US and European circles as ""Monkey Pod"" . It is well appreciated with environmentalists because of the enormous amount of CO2 this tree can absorb - very useful when planted along roadsides.


This species, popular for its timber, can be found over much of South East Asia. It grows at a fast rate (0.75 to 1.5m annually)and it is also interplanted as a shade tree with other crops such as coffee or cocoa.


In Thailand, although it is cultivated in many areas, especially the North, East and Centre much planting is along roadsides for producing shade.


It can grow to around 25 metres high and the canopy will be wider than the height but in the last 15-20 years Acacia trees have been cut leaving the root so that the tree sprouts again as with our native Willow which we call ""Pollarding"" and T&G assume that is why this timber is also called ""Black Wattle"".


In some areas of Thailand villagers still plant new Acacia trees as thet are popular hosts to an insect called ""Laccifer Kerr"". This insect produces a scarlet, resinous secretion often used as food colouring and is similar to our ""Cochineal"". It is also applied to dyes and lacquers as a colourant and is often referred to as ""Shellac"".


There is also a certain amount of self-seeding but in certain provinces villagers are encouraged to plant Acacia trees from seeds supplied by officers of the Royal Forest Department of Thailand to increase the local resource.


The timber has been referred to as ""Black Wattle"" of from its appearance ""Black Walnut"". T&G consider Acacia a rich coloured wood with a wild grain. Very hard and most suitable for use in the home from cutting boards to chairs.


Care & Use: All T&G Acacia products have been sealed with a non-toxic protective lacquer to enhance the appearance and to help prevent the absorption of water when washed. To clean simply wipe over the surface with a damp cloth or wash in warm soapy water, do not soak.


As with all Woodware, hevea and acacia can dry out with use, so an occasional wipe with T&G’s wood treatment oil or a mineral oil does much to restore the original natural appearance.


Rustic Acacia


Every one of our new rustic acacia boards are completely unique. These beautiful rustic boards vary widely in their colour and appearance, making every one extra special and individual.


Our rustic acacia wooden boards/platters are ideal for preparing and serving food. On trend with todays fashion, casual lifestyle and individuality.


As with all Woodware, hevea and acacia can dry out with use, so an occasional wipe with T&G’s wood treatment oil or a mineral oil does much to restore the original natural appearance.
Care & Use: All T&G Rustic Acacia products have been oiled and do not have any non-toxic protective lacquer. To clean simply wipe over the surface with a damp cloth or wash in warm soapy water, do not soak.
 Beech


A beautiful warm wood, a northern temperate hardwood from a medium sized tree, averaging 30m high. Beech is a pale cream colour with a straight grain; it is fine textured with small spindle shaped markings. It adapts well to humidity and is ideally suited to the production of kitchen utensils such as spoons, spatulas, rolling pins and chopping boards. In Europe it is the most commonly used timber for the production of food preparation products and kitchen furniture. Nearly all T&G beechwood products are European FSC sourced.


Beechwood can be successfully colour stained for co-ordination and waxed or oiled to seal the wood enhancing it’s appearance and prolonging it’s “working life”.


Care & Use: To clean simply rinse under hot water using detergent and dry with clean paper towelling, as tea towels made from fabric are known to harbour germs. If a board has accidentally been soaked, the surface can be hardened again by scattering table salt thickly over the board and leaving it overnight to absorb all the moisture. Salt also has a slightly abrasive cleaning action if rubbed onto the board dry and will take away the smell of garlic and onion fairly successfully. Lemon juice can be effectively used to bleach out stains on chopping boards.


As with any wooden product a board should not be soaked in water for any length of time. If it is, it will swell and then warp once the drying process begins. A common problem resulting from modern busy lifestyles is to rinse or wash a chopping board and then leave it standing to dry. It is important to point out that if this method is adopted the board should never be allowed to stand upright on its jointed end, otherwise the draining water can be drawn up the grain by the capillary action softening the joints which will probably split and warp. The best way is to dry off excess water and rest it on its non-jointed side.


Both sides of the board can be used for food preparation. There is no cross-contamination between wooden boards so long as they are cleaned and dried properly.


A final tip to enhance the appearance and ensure longer life of a chopping board is to coat it frequently with T&G Wood Treatment Oil or mineral oil.

Wipe Clean Oil Cloth Fabric
This material is magical! It works very much like the traditional oil cloth material, it can be wiped clean and washed when necessary. Spillages and marks can be easily removed with a damp cloth. Its perfect for protecting tables, chairs and even making blinds. It really is a wonderful material that can be cut to size and adapted accordingly. Perfect for any country kitchen, bathroom or alfreco dining.


PS: its so easy to cut I have even used it to cover and co-ordinate light switches around the room, its that versitile!!


INFO:
Wipe Clean with a Damp Cloth.
Wash at 30oc.
Cool Iron on Reverse of Cloth.
Do Not Tumble Dry.
Available by the metre
Samples available please email kati@countrylivinginteriors.co.uk