The Vintage Wooden Kitchenware You'd Be Thrilled To Find At The Thrift Store

There are plenty of home items you should never thrift, but there is one bit of vintage wooden kitchenware you'd be thrilled to find at the thrift store: teak. Buying premium teak kitchenware brand new can be quite expensive. So, it really is thrilling to find teak things second-hand, where they have the potential to be much cheaper. Teak is known to be a strong and durable wood, and also has plenty of natural resistance to liquids. So, it's an ideal material to have around in the kitchen, regardless of its age. You should always keep your eye out for things like teak cutting boards, serving utensils and cooking spoons, and even bowls when you're out thrift shopping.

To make sure the item you've spotted at the thrift store really is teak, you should become familiar with its appearance ahead of time. The majority of teak kitchenware is made from the teak (Tectona grandis) tree. It has a warm, honey-like appearance when new. However, as it ages, teak also starts to look a bit gray in spots. In vintage pieces, the coloring is also more likely to be a bit darker. If you've clocked something that looks like teak, pick it up to check its weight as a next step. Teak is a very dense wood, so when you are holding something made from it, it will feel quite solid. Anything that feels spongy or light is likely another type of wood, and less thrilling to find. 

The first thing to do when you get your vintage teak kitchenware home is to thoroughly clean it. It's been sitting on the shelf for who knows how long, and also had plenty of years in others' homes before making it to yours. Taking the time to sanitize old dirty dishes is essential. To properly clean teak, use mild dish soap and warm (not scalding!) water. Never leave the wood to soak in the sink as it can absorb too much water, which can ruin it. Then, pat it dry immediately after you've cleaned it, so you don't risk it warping. You can use a dish sponge to scrub teak, but harsh things like steel wool or a Scrub Daddy can damage it. Never run wooden kitchenware through the dishwasher, vintage or not. It gets too hot inside and it can ruin the shape and durability of the pieces. 

Newer teak tends to have a very unique smell, kind of like leather. However, if your vintage wooden kitchenware smells a little bit funky, even after you've cleaned it, or it has large imperfections that can impact use, just use it as decoration and not for food preparation. There are many uses for teak wood outside the kitchen, like styling a bowl as a chic storage option for your entryway table. You could also use a cutting board as a base for knick-knack displays in the living room, or as a platform for coffee table books.