Caring For Your Treasures

50 gram & 200 gram jars available in our Etsy Shop

Clapham's Beeswax
Our first recommendation is to use the Clapham's Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish available in our Etsy Shop in a 50g jar.  Roger & Ann of Clapham's Beeswax Products have been making the very finest natural & edible wood finish since 1984, a recipe handed down to them by Roger's Mother.  We have proudly been finishing all of our natural wood baby rattles, spirit shakers & boxes with Clapham's since 1999.  Apply the finish thinly with your hand.  Leave overnight, then wipe off and buff to a shine.  You can wax your treasures as often as you like, but preferrably a few times a year.  Wood loves to be oiled :-)


DIY
If you would like to make your very own products, the following bloggers have some wonderful natural recipes they have created.  

Everyday Roots - 3 Homemade Wood Polish & Sealant Recipes
Overthrow Martha - Simple Homemade Wood Furniture Polish
The Blender Girl - Homemade Wood Furniture Polish

Nooks & Crannies
Most of our woodworking has little nooks & crannies.  To keep these pieces clean & healthy splurge on an inexpensive 1/2" paint brush from the home improvement aisle of your locally owned hardware store.  Brush the oil or finish into those little nooks & crannies.  It's gratifying AND you'll be amazed at the difference this makes! 

Baby Rattles
Although wood has its own antimicrobial properties, it is a good idea to occasionally clean your baby's rattle. Soak a clean, soft cloth with vinegar water or soapy water, wring out the cloth and wipe the wood.  Let the wood dry thoroughly (overnight) then reapply the Clapham's Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish, Burt's Bees Chapstick, or if baby is actively teething go ahead and use olive oil or coconut oil (these oils can go rancid on wood if left indefinitely, but are fine if they are going to be sucked out of the wood on a regular basis :-)

The 3M Sandblaster sanding sponge (320 grit) is one of our favorite products.  The wax or oil builds up on the sponge and makes quick work of buffing our wood teething rattles.  They can also be found in the home improvement aisle of your locally owned hardware store.

Permanently Sealing Your Urn
To permanently seal your box, remove the lid and run a narrow, continuous bead of wood glue around the top rim of the box.  Replace the lid.  Using a damp cloth remove any excess glue.  Leave undisturbed for 12 hours.