If a butcher block has been used and abused, renew it by sanding off scratches and polishing it with butcher-block oil or walnut oil. Either is nontoxic and will moisturize the wood.

Butcher-block oil also works well for restoring wooden utensils such as rolling pins, salad bowls and wooden spoons.

When finishing children’s toys, use shellac. Because it's nontoxic, it’s one of the few finishes acceptable for use on children’s toys.