Wooden worktops

CathA

We have wooden worktops in the kitchen, 3 fixed as normal on top of the kitchen units, 1 on top of the island/kitchen trolley.
I oil them on a regular basis, generally speaking 2 at a time and we've had no problems.
However the island worktop has suddenly started feeling really sticky, as if it's been oiled and is not dry, IYSWIM. If you put, say a magazine or a plastic bag on it, it sticks to it and makes a sort of squelching noise when you take it off, like pulling a boot out of mud. (Not really describing this well, sorry! )
It hasn't been oiled for a while so it's not that. It's been cleaned with exactly the same stuff as I clean the others. The worktop I oiled at the same time isn't doing it.
I've scrubbed it with all different cleaners, washing up liquid, water, baby wipes and all sorts, which sometimes makes it better and later we're back to sticky! Any ideas? It's only done it over the last few weeks, and it's driving us mad!
Thank you.

rosie383

I don't have wooden worktops but a quick Google show quite a few people saying to try cleaning with white spirit.
Someone else had a similar problem and the carpenter varnished them with a matt water based varnish.
HTH.

MichaelCNichols

try mixing water, vinegar and washing up liquid in a bottle sprayer. spray it over your wooden worktop and wipe it off with a cloth. It works for us here at home.

GloriaDSharma

water and vinegar works for me too.

CathA

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I've found that washing up liquid washed over it makes it a bit better, so I'll try it with vinegar as well before I go onto the white spirit. Is it white vinegar or just ordinary? Thanks again.

rosie383

I know the consensus from the fount of knowledge (aka the OS forum!) is to use white vinegar. I think you can buy large bottles cheap from the Chinese supermarket.

CathA

rosie383 wrote: »

I know the consensus from the fount of knowledge (aka the OS forum!) is to use white vinegar. I think you can buy large bottles cheap from the Chinese supermarket.

I've got some white vinegar anyway so ill give it a go tomorrow and report back.

CathA

I tried the w/up liquid and vinegar solution; house smelt like a chip shop and it didn't make much difference.

I eventually tried the white spirit, but I was worried it might damage the worktop or leech the oil out of it. Surprisingly it did neither! I did it twice and it's much better now.

leveller2911

CathA wrote: »

I tried the w/up liquid and vinegar solution; house smelt like a chip shop and it didn't make much difference.

I eventually tried the white spirit, but I was worried it might damage the worktop or leech the oil out of it. Surprisingly it did neither! I did it twice and it's much better now.

No problem with using White spirit and you can always re-sand,re finish the worktops. Sometimes the problem can be people put too much oil on and what happens is the surface of the oil dries but underneath the oil stays fluid, hence sticky feel..........

Always best to do thin coats and allow to dry fully between coating. OSMO top oil is excellent and can be used over the top of Danish oil,Boiled linseed oil which is what most people used in the past..

Regards Leveller