Can I put my engraved slate or wood piece in the dishwasher?

No. The dishwasher is the single biggest enemy of engraved pieces. Slate can split along its natural layers, wood will warp and crack, and the vacuum seal in stainless drinkware can fail. Hand wash with warm, mild soapy water and dry immediately.

How do I clean laser-engraved slate coasters?

Hand wash slate with warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap, then dry immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth. Slate is porous, so wipe spills quickly and avoid soaking, acidic cleaners (vinegar, lemon, bleach), and abrasives.

How often should I oil an engraved wood cutting board?

Re-oil every 2 to 4 weeks with food-grade mineral oil, or any time the wood looks pale and dry. End-grain boards need oil more often than edge-grain. For extra protection, rub on a mineral-oil-and-beeswax board butter about once a month. Never use cooking oils, which go rancid.

Will the engraving on my stainless steel tumbler fade or wash off?

No. The laser cuts through the powder coat into the steel underneath, so the engraving is permanent and cannot wash off, fade, or peel. Only the finish around it ages, so hand wash and avoid abrasives to keep the design sharp for years.

How to care for it

Keep
it burning

Three materials, a few minutes a year. Everything we make is built to last, but slate, wood and stainless each want different care. Here's the short version.

01 · Stone

Slate.

Slate coasters, slate cheese boards, hand-hewn engraved signs.

Hand wash with warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. A soft cloth or sponge is all you need.

Dry immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth. Slate is porous, so water spots set in if you let it air-dry.

Wipe spills the second they happen. Coffee, wine, tomato and oil can stain unsealed slate.

Store dry. A cool kitchen cabinet is perfect. Humidity invites mildew.

Don't

Dishwasher. The jet pressure can split slate's natural layers.

Soak it. Slate absorbs water and can mark over time.

Acidic cleaners (vinegar, lemon, bleach). They etch and lighten the stone.

Abrasives (steel wool, scouring pads, anything rough enough to scratch).

◆ Pro tip

To bring back the deep black, rub a tiny amount of food-safe mineral oil onto the surface with a soft cloth, but stay off the engraving. Oil darkens slate beautifully, which means it muddies the lighter engraved design. Work around it. Once or twice a year is plenty.

02 · Lumber

Wood.

Wood coasters, cutting boards, wavy American flags, serving boards, signs.

Hand wash with hot soapy water and a sponge. Rinse thoroughly.

Dry immediately, then stand it upright (not flat) so all sides dry evenly.

Re-oil every 2 to 4 weeks with food-grade mineral oil, or any time the wood looks pale and thirsty. End-grain boards drink more than edge-grain.

For extra protection: rub on a mineral-oil-and-beeswax blend ("board butter") once a month. We use a 4:1 oil-to-wax mix.

Don't

Dishwasher. Heat and water will warp and crack any wood board, no exceptions.

Submerge or soak. A quick wash is fine; a long bath isn't.

Cooking oils (olive, vegetable, canola). They go rancid and the wood will smell.

Direct sun for days on end. UV gradually lightens the engraved burn.

◆ Pro tip

Stubborn stain or smell? Coarse salt and half a lemon. Scrub, rinse, dry, then oil immediately. The salt lifts, the citric acid neutralizes, and the oil restores. Works on cutting boards every time.

03 · Metal

Stainless.

Tumblers, mugs, flasks, stainless bottle openers. Vacuum-insulated drinkware.

Hand wash. Most tumblers are technically dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing extends the life of the vacuum seal, and that's where insulation comes from.

Use warm soapy water and a soft sponge. Rinse all soap residue (it changes the taste).

Dry the outside immediately. Store with the lid off, since air circulation keeps the inside fresh.

Coffee stain inside? Make a paste with baking soda and a few drops of water, scrub gently, rinse. Done.

Don't

Microwave. The double wall is metal, top to bottom.

Freezer. Liquids expanding inside the vacuum seal can break it.

Soak. Long submersion pulls moisture between the walls.

Abrasive cleaners or steel wool. They scratch the brushed finish around the engraving.

◆ Pro tip

The engraving itself is permanent. The laser cuts through the powder coat into the steel underneath, so it can't wash off, fade, or peel. The only thing that ages is the finish around it. Treat the surface gently and the design stays sharp for years.

If you remember nothing else

Four
habits

Wipe fast

The faster you handle a spill, the longer the piece lasts. This goes for all three materials. Acids (citrus, tomato, vinegar, wine) are the worst offenders.

Hand wash

The dishwasher is the single biggest enemy of every engraved piece we make. Slate splits, wood warps, vacuum seals fail. Two minutes at the sink saves the whole thing.

Oil when dry

Wood will turn pale and gray when it needs oil. Slate dulls when it needs conditioning. Both want food-grade mineral oil, never cooking oil. Five minutes, twice a year.

Dry uncapped

After washing a tumbler, set the lid aside and let it air-dry fully before closing. Sealed-in moisture is where vacuum seals fail and odors start.

Something not right?

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Every piece we make leaves here with our name on it. If it doesn't look right, hold up the way it should, or arrives damaged — reach out. We'll make it right.

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