Care Guides

Macro of a turned wooden rolling pin handle dusted with flour, grain visible in warm light.

Oiling a wooden handle

Why beech takes mineral oil well, how often to do it, and the furry-grain signal that tells you a handle is due.

Oiling a wooden handle

Why beech takes mineral oil well, how often to do it, and the furry-grain signal that tells you a handle is due.

A single hand-thrown glazed stoneware mug standing on a bare wooden table.

Keeping stoneware from staining

Lifting tea and coffee stains with baking soda, what crazing in the glaze means, and why boiling water never goes into a cold mug.

Keeping stoneware from staining

Lifting tea and coffee stains with baking soda, what crazing in the glaze means, and why boiling water never goes into a cold mug.

A well-seasoned black cast iron skillet on a worn wooden table.

Why the dark spots on steel are seasoning

How to tell seasoning from rust on carbon steel, how to build it up, and how to bring back a pan that has genuinely rusted.

Why the dark spots on steel are seasoning

How to tell seasoning from rust on carbon steel, how to build it up, and how to bring back a pan that has genuinely rusted.

Close view of undyed washed flax linen, showing the open weave and soft folds.

Washing real linen

Why linen creases on purpose, the cool-wash routine that keeps it soft, and how to lift wine, grease and candle wax.

Washing real linen

Why linen creases on purpose, the cool-wash routine that keeps it soft, and how to lift wine, grease and candle wax.

Antique brass door knobs and pulls in warm light, some bright, some gone dull with tarnish.

How to polish brass in ten minutes

Tarnish on brass is oxidation, not damage. The lemon-and-salt method, the polish method, and when to leave a patina alone.

How to polish brass in ten minutes

Tarnish on brass is oxidation, not damage. The lemon-and-salt method, the polish method, and when to leave a patina alone.