# Which oil/treatment is best for my new, wood, dining table? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-oil-treatment-is-best-for-my-new-wood-dining-table/206883 "2003-10-11T19:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-oil-treatment-is-best-for-my-new-wood-dining-table/206883/1 "2003-10-11T19:06:37Z")
Hello- We bought a new kitchen/dining room table from the good folk at IKEA. It is in the **Bjorna** line (go look at [www.ikea.com](http://www.ikea.com) and search, my connection is too slow) and the top looks like a 2m X 1m cutting board (it has the individual dark and light pieces of wood glued togather). It says that it is oil treated, but I don’t trust it. We dropped a piece of apple-streudel on it and there is a faint stain. I think I need to oil it or add some type of protectorant. I was thinking of using plain olive oil or maybe a sunflower seed oil. (I don’t mind darkening the color of the wood, there is a corner office unit near it that is stained dark brown.) I’ve used them on my cutting board which lookes the same as my table top, so…why not? But I want this table to last for many years; it was a major investment for us. You can try and suggest brand names, but I don’t know if I can get the specific one over here. They do have a Home Depot-type warehouse store called Hornbach, so…I also don’t have access to any major tools or space; this has to be done in my kitchen with a plastic sheet underneath. I’d like to avoid sanding if possible, but that’s not always possible, I know. Sponge? Normal brush? Old sock? Thanks- -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-oil-treatment-is-best-for-my-new-wood-dining-table/206883/2 "2003-10-11T23:44:39Z")
I treat all my wood furniture with lemon oil, about once a month. For more permanent protrection , I would use either a spray clear acrylic, or a brush on clear finnish. But both the spray and the brush on require plenty of ventilation. I’ve tried usin olive oil on a cutting board, but it doesn’t seem to be oily enough. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-oil-treatment-is-best-for-my-new-wood-dining-table/206883/3 "2003-10-12T00:10:06Z")
The best thing for a cutting board-type surface is plain mineral oil. It’s completely non-toxic, and it won’t go rancid, either. You can find it in most drug stores (it’s also used as an intestinal lubricant - don’t ask). Rub it in, let it soak for a while, then wipe off the excess. If the cutting board is new and untreated, it’ll absorb a lot of the oil, so you might have to repeat the treatment. I had cutting board countertops in a kitchen for years, and hitting them with mineral oil every few months kept them healthy and happy. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-oil-treatment-is-best-for-my-new-wood-dining-table/206883/4 "2003-10-12T10:30:45Z")
Cool, I’ll look for the mineral oil. I don’t think I’ve even seen lemon oil here. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-oil-treatment-is-best-for-my-new-wood-dining-table/206883/5 "2003-10-12T11:54:23Z")
Why don’t you use a[Salad Bowl Finish](http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/SaladBowl.html) , it would be more durable than oil. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-oil-treatment-is-best-for-my-new-wood-dining-table/206883/6 "2003-10-12T15:38:57Z")
I’d just visit a local hardware store & ask them what to use. They always have people there to assist you. If you could bring them the table that would be great too. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-oil-treatment-is-best-for-my-new-wood-dining-table/206883/7 "2003-10-12T16:27:54Z")
IKEA sez to use their Behandla wood oil. Unfortunately, they don’t say what’s in it. So I’d agree with mineral oil.