Teach Soap

I soap on an Ikea butcher block island. Its getting stained by oils, colourants etc. I know I should cover it with butcher paper, but I havent

Any suggestions on getting the stains out. I am trying to avoid sanding it down, as I dont want the mess and would have to take it apart to get it upstairs (its in the basement).

Thanks in advance.

http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff4 ... nt=272.jpg

Do you do any maintenance on the wood at all? i.e. oiling it? If the wood is super dry it will probably have absorbed quite a bit of oil / stains / etc. and fairly deep down I'm thinking. But the stains do add to the character

I found this link with lots of advice on maintaining and cleaning butcher blocks:
http://www.thebutcherblocktop.com/bublca.html

Karri

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I soap therefore I am.

Margo, I do not know how to clean the wood surface but just wanted to let you know I am in awe of your work space! That would be my dream area. And I thought I had alot of fragrances, yours??? I could spend hours down there smelling them and trying combos. Since I have to work in my kitchen I cover my surface with a plastic and then with an old flannel sheet.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Thanks Karri, I have neglected the butcher block for too long, and think its beyond cleaning, unless I sand it down. Wish i had taken care of it when it was new.

Bubbles2, I started out in my kitchen too. Then moved to the garage, then onto the basement in my home. Now I am in a commerical space, as we teach classes in the workshop too. Its fully equiped with a sprinkle system, fire pulls, security cameras etc. We like to have a variety of frangrances for our students to choice from.

I will try and post some pics later today, of the store if you would like to see it. I am terrible on the computer and camera illiterate, so the quality wont be great.

i second bubbles2 - how kewl is that space?!?!

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~Shell

Margo, I am with envy...LOL (I don't even have a garage I can convert.)

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Thanks! This has been a work in progress, its taken me a few years to get here.

ljm1180, do you have a yard? I always had this idea of converting a garden shed into a soaping workshop. Wont happen for me now, but I could live vicariously through another soapmaker.

I'm really not the greatest soapmaker (I have a lot of help), but I'm not bad at doing things on a budget and find selling soaps easy and rewarding. If I can help anyone just ask.

Here are some CP soaps in the store front: http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff4 ... nt=003.jpg

Tonight I'm making Hibiscus Flower & White Tea/Ginger Soap scented with BrambleBerry White Tea & Ginger, cant wait.

Nice display. Alot of continuity in the shapes, signs and layout. That seems to give it a peaceful, organized feeling. Do you not wrap your soaps? If not do you just include a tag with purchase? Thanks for sharing... maybe someday I will have a minature of your space.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Margo I am afraid that your butcher block is past help unless you sand and refinish. But really, this is not the best surface for working with the lye and oils. It is not sufficiently sanitary. I know you are in Canada, but I am sure you have some form of our Manufacturing Practice Guidelines (MPG), [here] set by the Food and Drug Administration. They make specifications on the process of creating cosmetics. I know a person who was turned down for a large store (wholesale) account a while ago because the pictures of her work space did not show that she had nonporous counters for her work space (she had wood), in line with the MPG. Similarly, an old friend went to open her business and failed inspection because she did not meet all the standards, one of them being the correct type of counters and a sink/water source. So she had to sell only until she could get her work room up to standards and then she was able to offer classes and make her own product there.
Anyway, I am digressing. Sorry for that. I dont think you can save your butcher block without some serious work. And if you did refinish it, I think I would talk to the guys at the local wood shop about maybe putting coats of polyurethane on it, to save it from future harm. I would also check and see what counter tops were acceptable work space there, and maybe try to get the butcher block covered with whatever would make it acceptable. But in any event, maybe the polyurethane would at least keep things from soaking into the wood.

Much luck, cuz it sure is beautiful!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Bubbles2, we wrap the soaps at the cash with pre cut paper and label them accordingly. We have it down to a science and use this printer, http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/ind ... sktop.html

Thanks Lavender Lady, we do meet all standard for production. And the counter tops, work stations are disinfected many times a day with a bleach solution. In the meantime I am going to cover it with butchers paper, until I can get a piece of stainless steel to cover.

All the advice is much appreciated!!!

Margo, I didnt mean to imply that you werent being clean. I just meant that your lovely butcher block is taking a beating. I love butcher block and it is so pretty. I hope you can find a way to save/protect it!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

So I just wanted to say I have total soap shop envy. I actually have the same butcher block and we long ago sprayed a couple/few of layers of polyurethane on it which helped for awhile. After a few years of wear and tear i am noticing that stains are not coming up as easily, but it's been a good little piece of furniture.

I think covering it with a piece of SS is your best option.

erin

What a great space!!!

I am also in awww of that workspace. My wonderful hubby says that if he trips over one more thing in the kitchen he's going to convert his shed into my space! I keep moving things to where he could trip on them easily!!! LOL. I might just get to have a shed/workspace soon!