Written by Lynn & Liana Designs
You've invested in a piece you love. Maybe it's a cheese board that anchors every gathering, a fruit bowl that lives on your kitchen counter, or a set of spreaders that make your table feel complete. The good news is that with just a little care, your resin and wood pieces will stay as stunning as the day they arrived — and in many cases, even more beautiful as they settle into your home.
Here's everything you need to know.
Cleaning Your Resin-Accented Pieces
The golden rule is simple: hand wash only, always.
Dishwashers are the number one enemy of both resin and wood. The combination of high heat, harsh detergents, and prolonged moisture exposure can cause wood to warp, crack, or split — and over time, it dulls the glossy finish on resin that makes it so striking. Even "dishwasher safe" wood products tend to degrade much faster in the machine. It's just not worth it.
Instead, wash your pieces by hand with warm (not hot) water and a small amount of mild dish soap. Use a soft cloth or sponge — never a scouring pad or anything abrasive, which can scratch the resin surface. Rinse thoroughly and dry immediately with a clean towel rather than leaving it to air dry in a puddle of water.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. That's really all it needs.
What to Avoid
A few things that can shorten the life of your pieces if you're not careful:
Prolonged soaking. Never leave a wood and/or resin piece sitting in water or submerged in a sink. Even a few minutes of soaking can start to work moisture into the wood grain.
Extreme heat. Don't place your board directly on a hot stovetop, in an oven, or under a heat lamp. Resin has a threshold for heat, and while it holds up beautifully in normal use, sustained high temperatures can affect the surface over time. It also goes without saying — these are serving pieces, not cutting surfaces. Always slice on a separate cutting board before transferring to your Lynn & Liana piece.
Harsh chemicals. Bleach, heavy-duty kitchen cleaners, and anything abrasive should be kept away from both the wood and the resin. A little mild dish soap is genuinely all you need.
Direct sunlight for extended periods. If your piece lives in a spot that gets hours of direct sun daily, it's worth moving it occasionally. Prolonged UV exposure can gradually shift the color of both wood and resin over time.
Caring for the Wood
Acacia wood is naturally dense and durable — it's one of the reasons we use it. But like all wood, it benefits from occasional conditioning, especially if it's used regularly or lives in a dry environment.
Every few months (or whenever the wood starts to look a little dry or dull), apply a food-safe board oil and work it into the wood with a clean cloth in the direction of the grain. Let it absorb for 20–30 minutes, then wipe away any excess.
This simple step keeps the wood from drying out and cracking, deepens the natural grain color, and gives the whole piece a refreshed, rich appearance. It takes five minutes and makes a noticeable difference.
What to use: We make our own Cutting Board Oil specifically formulated for Lynn & Liana pieces — 100% food-safe, free of toxins and synthetics, and heavy-duty enough that it only needs a single coat to leave your board with a silky smooth, moisturized finish. It's the easiest way to make sure you're using exactly the right product. Just avoid olive oil, vegetable oil, or any cooking oil — these can go rancid inside the wood over time and create an unpleasant smell.
Caring for the Resin
The resin on Lynn & Liana pieces is sealed and cured to a hard, glossy finish — it's durable and designed for real everyday use. In normal use, it doesn't require much beyond the cleaning steps above.
If you notice the resin surface looking a little less glossy over time, a very small amount of food-safe mineral oil buffed lightly over the resin and then wiped clean can help restore some of that shine. Some people also use a tiny drop of baby oil on a soft cloth for the same effect.
What the resin doesn't need: polishes, waxes, or any product not designed for food-contact surfaces.
Storage
When your piece isn't in use, store it somewhere it can breathe — not sealed in plastic wrap or a sealed container where moisture can build up. A dry shelf or cabinet is ideal, or back in its beautiful black box! If you're stacking boards, place a thin cloth or tea towel between them to prevent scratching.
The Short Version
If you want to boil it all down to the essentials:
- Hand wash with mild soap and warm water, dry immediately
- Oil the wood every few months with a food-safe board oil — we recommend our own Cutting Board Oil
- Keep away from the dishwasher, prolonged soaking, and extreme heat
- Store somewhere dry
That's genuinely it. These pieces are made to be used and loved — not kept behind glass. With a little basic care, they'll be part of your home and your gatherings for years to come.
Have questions about caring for a specific Lynn & Liana piece? Reach out to us anytime — we're always happy to help. And if you're just discovering us, browse our full handcrafted collection at lynnliana.com.