When you’re around something for a while, whether it’s a smell, an environment, something you created or wrote, it’s easy to not appreciate or notice it any longer. Sometimes I’ll go back and read a post I wrote years ago, that I have completely forgotten about and it makes me laugh and I can see my blog in a fresh way. It’s a reminder. Oh yeah, this is why I like doing this every day.
I recently saw a piece someone finished in Miss Mustard Seed’s Hemp Oil, a product I have used, promoted, and sold for over six years now. The piece was an old wooden trunk and it was so beautiful and rich. It almost glowed. Oh yeah, that is why I love hemp oil so much.
It’s not that I’ve stopped using, but I may have stopped appreciating it for how amazing and versatile and simple it is. It made me remember all of the things I’ve done with Hemp Oil over the years and, in case you’ve also lost appreciation for it or you’ve never been introduced to our “liquid gold”, well, let me tell you why you need Hemp Oil in your life and answer a few frequently asked questions…
It’s natural and food-safe…
I am a paint enthusiast and that includes finishes and, I can tell you, there are not many finishes out there that are natural and food safe. Hemp oil is, though. You can use it on cutting boards and cooking utensils and butcher block countertops. You can use it indoors and around your kids and your pets. One woman sent me an e-mail sharing that her dog, who eats everything, drank an entire Solo cup full of our hemp oil. While, I wouldn’t suggest allowing that intentionally, the dog was completely fine.
It’s not stinky or sticky or fume-y or difficult to clean up spilled. It’s okay if it touches your skin or splatters in your hair. In short, it’s a product you can feel good about having and using in your home.
Hemp Oil restores tired, dried-out wood…
Like magic. Like a boss. Like that is its job.
I would say that almost every time I wipe Hemp Oil onto an old, dried-out piece of wood, I audibly “Oooo” over it. It works best on pieces that have an old finish that has mostly worn off, but it can be used over pieces with an intact finish that looks dry or has water damage.
Hemp Oil easily finishes painted surfaces, bringing out the richness of the paint color
This is why we initially added it to the line. It’s an easy-to-apply alternative to a wax finish. I love how it brings out the richness of colors, especially the darker, more saturated ones, like Typewriter, Tricycle, and Outback Petticoat. It adds a finish that’s not matte, but it’s not shiny, either. It looks soft and natural for an old piece of furniture.
Hemp Oil can clean-up, hydrate, and polish leather
I use Hemp Oil regularly on my leather boots to keep the hydrated and looking nice. The leather always looks darker when it’s first applied, but it returns to the natural color once it’s dry. It could really be used on any kind of natural leather from shoes to purses to sofas to saddles.
Hemp Oil brings back the luster in old metal and cast iron
I have bought so many old metal and cast iron pieces over the years and we would always give them a rub with some hemp oil to clean them up and bring back the luster and shine. It works every single time. Like a charm.
You can use it on old garden tools, cast iron pans, metal furniture hardware, typewriters, fans, and the list can go on.
A few answers to FAQ’s about Hemp Oil…
How do I apply it?
You can apply it with a natural bristle brush or a lint-free cloth. I prefer using a microfiber cloth. Make sure you wipe off the excess oil that isn’t absorbed into the surface. It will just sit on top and get sticky and tacky.
How long does it take to dry?
It is dry almost immediately after application and removing the excess oil. It might leach out oil for a few days, though, so oil can wipe off on fabric and paper during that time. The oil will be fully cured after 30 days.
How is it different from Hemp Oil from a health food store?
Those hemp oils are processed for maximum nutrition whereas ours is processed to be used for wood finishing. While they are both natural hemp oil, they are different enough that you wouldn’t want to use ours for health/food purposes or another brand for wood finishing.
How often does it have to be reapplied?
It depends on the piece as well as the humidity of your climate. If you live in an arid place, you might need to apply it more often (a couple of times a year) and if your region is more humid, it might only need reapplication every decade. I keep a small bottle on hand in the cabinet with my cleaners, so I can touch up any pieces as they need it.
Can I apply a new finish over Hemp Oil?
Yes, you can apply wax directly over Hemp Oil. In fact, using the two together provides great durability and a beautiful finish. (You can only put wax over Hemp Oil, though, not the other way around.) If you want to put a poly finish, like Tough Coat, over Hemp Oil or apply paint over it, I would suggest letting it cure for 30 days and then give it a light sanding prior. If you apply a new finish over the oil when it’s still oily, the new finish may not adhere properly.
Can I use Hemp Oil to finish my wood floors?
It depends on the wood floor. It seems to do best on old, soft wood floors, like heart pine. It doesn’t seem to provide enough of a seal on harder wood floors, like oak. With any finish applied to a floor, I would suggest applying it to a small area to see if you like it.
While I love Milk Paint and all of the other finishes and products in our line, this is the one I wouldn’t ever want to be without.
If you haven’t tried our Hemp Oil, you can find a local retailer near you HERE, an online retailer HERE, or you can buy it from Amazon HERE.
I love it! It made my clogs look brand new…
Would love to see a photo of the old wooden trunk that inspired this hemp oil post!
It was posted on the MMS Milk Paint Facebook page last week, so you can hop over there to see it.
Love MMS Hemp Oil and I buy it in the big bottles. I’ve used it in a spray bottle also and it does great! It really enriches the milk paint colors beautifully!
I had stripped this gate leg table of its finish, it was all crazed, it soaked up repeated applications for a few days, I finally put a wax finish over it, I wanted a sheen, it looks beautiful! Going to try it on my butcher block island.
I love using this on wood and I have never tried it on paint. Something new to try. I bought some for the top of a kitchen table and I am glad I read this post as I now see I must wait 30 days after applying this to apply the Tough Coat to the table top.
I really love this product! I revived my old farmhouse’s wood front door, east-facing…it was an aesthetic experience…
Is it safe if we use hemp oil on items we use in cooking such as the wooden utensils, cast iron skillet, and cutting boards?
Yes, it is food safe and you can use it on cooking utensils and cutting boards. I would suggest letting them cure (30 days) before use, though. I haven’t had this with hemp oil, but I’ve used other wooden spoons that have “flavored” the food I’m stirring!
I love using Hemp Oil, it has revived some old pieces of furniture and it is a great finish for some things I have painted with MMS Milk Paint. I am wondering why the bottles I bought a few years ago are a clear amber and ones I buy now are dark colored?
I actually wrote about this on the milk paint blog. Like olive oil, hemp oil is made from different batches of crops and different presses. Think of the clearer hemp oil bottles as “light” and the dark ones as “extra virgin”. They work the same, though, and will not discolor the paint or finish.
We had one crop a few years ago that was an alarming shade of green! It took some getting used to. 🙂
I used your hemp oil furniture finish on a table painted in chalk paint.
I put one coat on and it’s now two weeks and the surface is still tacky.
I read from the Fusion Hemp Oil product that they remove the amino acids from their hemp oil which allows the finish to cure completely. Does your product have the amino acids removed?
Regardless, my project is stuck. I’ve tried sanding the finish off and have made some progress but it’s still mostly tacky.
Should I keep sanding? Apply a solvent? Coat with polyurethane?
Appreciate some help with this.
This sounds like just what I need for my double front doors. We had them stripped and re-stained several years ago, but I’m starting to see areas where the sealer is wearing off. Would I be able to apply this to the doors without sanding first? Then, would I need to reseal, wax or will the hemp oil be enough? If I were to wax, would I be able to reapply hemp oil without sanding years later? The doors are covered by a 10 ft porch the length of the front of the house, so they never see full sun.
I generally don’t suggest it for outside, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to rub it onto the areas where the finish has worn to see how it works. You can alway apply a poly finish over it down the road and it might help your doors look nicer until then.
I propbablysaw my first post on hemp oil on your blog from years ago, I love it we use it to finish old antique sewing machines….the metal. We take the old machine make a wood box to hold it. Hemp brings a nice luster on the old patina and makes the new wood box nice too
Wanted to get some from amazon but said it was unavailable.
It sold out! More is on the way, though, and should be in stock by the end of the week.
Thanks so much for all this information, i have wondered but didn’t know all the details. I went to Amazon and they say they are out of the product.
It sold out! More is on the way, though, and should be in stock by the end of the week.
Link says it’s unavailable on Amazon.
It sold out! More is on the way, though, and should be in stock by the end of the week.
I’ve used your hemp oil…great product!!!
I love your Hemp oil!! I to have used it on breadboards, furniture painted and not painted. Recently used it on a really old fold out table that came from a sewing factory, I didn’t want to paint it but wanted to bring out the richness in the wood. It’s beautiful now. You can see it on my Instagram @hollyhillsplace
What a fun feed! Your table turned out great and I love all of your plaid picnic baskets and thermoses. 🙂
Perfect timing. I have three pieces of furniture I don’t intend to paint but the wood is dry. Thank you for the information!
Hello Marion,
I can see how this would be great for wood but….I was wondering on old metal fans and typewriters how does it pan out long term. I have a fan like the “before” one pictured. Would it feel greasey? Would it look greasey? I also have a lot of chippy paint (that I love) on mine, would it come off? Also, would it make metal objects “dust magnets” .
I have used hemp oil on many metal pieces that I’ve had for years and they still look great. One key is to wipe off all of the excess hemp oil, since it can’t soak into metal. If you left it sitting there, it might be tacky. If the piece is greasy, you might want to clean it with a grease-cutting soap first.
Oh my gosh! I’m in love with hemp oil now!
Cindy
Amazon says currently unavailable and not sure if it will be restocked ??
Hello – can I use it on teak dining table, about 50 years old?
Hi Marion,
I’m the gal whose beagle drank the hemp oil I was using on antique drop leaf table! Put the solo cup on the ground and walked away-owner error not the dogs fault! Luna says hi! Love. Love, this product! Also use it on my antique kitchen tin collection! Best, Nancy
Hi Marian, well I love hemp oil and have been out forever – so you just reminded ME that I need some – and of course I was all set to get mine from Amazon from your link. But they’re out. : – (
I will try the other alternative source, but Amazon is always my first go-to. Hope they get more soon – a shame cuz you just posted that link, too. Lost opportunity.
Anyway, thank you for your fabulous inspiration, talent and products.
Would hemp oil work on a purse made from nubuck leather? A new purse that I would like to protect from dirt and water. I enjoy your blog!
I love your hemp oil!!! I just stripped our lovely heirloom table and cannot bear to cover up the gorgeous wood with a stain or paint. Do you think the hemp oil is protection enough for the wood on a table we use every day? I am 100% fine with a patina and some changes to the wood over time, but don’t want to ruin this table!
Thanks!
I really enjoyed your article on Hemp Oil. I’d never paid much attention to it before. We have a lot of old pieces we have received from our parents and grandparents. I decided to order some from Amazon (my favorite place to shop) and when you enter Hemp Oil it comes up that it is out of stock and they don’t know when it will be available. Do you plan to restock it there? I hope so. Thanks for your help.
Is it OK to apply the hemp oil indoors? Does it have fumes or an odor?
I used it a few weeks ago on a dresser and it doesn’t smell very good, was wondering was the smell was in my house, does that ever go away Marion.
I’m in love with hemp oil now!
I love this product. A little goes a long way too! It’s the best thing for old furniture. Hemp oil to furniture is like water to us.
Jumping in to add my love to the hemp oil party! I bought this product last year after you featured it on one of your posts. I primarily bought it to finish off a piece I’d painted in your Boxwood milk paint, it deepened the color just a bit (as desired ) and gave it a lovely finish. I have since used it on vintage leather purses, an old train case that I purchased at Lucketts, and to restore some vintage paper cutters that I bought at a flea market. It is invaluable! I need to reorder more, lol. This post reminded me of that.
A question, is it good for new wood. I will be using some walnut we had processed from our property to build a few things and am trying to determine how to “finish” it, without staining. Or waxing? What would you suggest? And THANK YOU. I love your blog (and have for years) and appreciate all that you do and are. 🙂
Yes! You can definitely use it on new wood.
I just placed an order for a bottle of your hemp oil, and can’t wait to try it!
Awesome! You’ll love it!
Can I use your hemp oil on a 2-story entry wood-paneled wall in my mid-century modern townhome? The wood is stained ~teak, but has no other finish. It’s approximately 50 years old and a design friend suggested that I oil it for a gleaming glow (not matte, not shiny, just naturally lustrous) because it looked quite dry.
Thank you!
Can I paint with milk paint over the help oil? If so how long should I wait for it to dry?
Did you clean the fan first before applying the hemp oil? If so, what did you use?
yes, we wiped it with a damp paper towel.
Is there a chance that the hemp oil could oxidize and cause the wood to turn black? I’ve read articles warning about this with other oils.
Hi Marian,
Can I use hemp oil over acrylic paint? I’ll be using fusion mineral paint on my dining chairs. I love the way your hemp oil richens the color of milk paint, but will it also adhere/sink in to an acrylic paint that supposedly has a built in top coat?
Good morning Marian,
We recently received several antique pieces from our family. A mid-century leather and wood couch and chair were stored in a basement. The basement was damp from time to time and I’m wondering if I should try to clean the leather and wood before applying Hemp Oil? They are in great condition, a bit smelly, but worth any effort I need to apply. I’m just not sure what to clean them with? If I use a micro fiber rag with the Hemp Oil, will that do the cleaning as I apply it? If not, what products do you use to clean wood and also leather? Thanks for your assist.
I absolutely LOVE following your blog. You are an inspiration!!! and sometime it would be great to hear how in the world you organize your life so that you can get soooo many things done. I’m thinking you don’t sleep much 😉
Does hemp oil yellow over time like tung oil?
Was just wondering if this can be used on wooden kitchen counters. Thanks❣️
I have a question about the Hemp Oil. I have a bottle that I purchased last year. I inadvertently left it in my garage over the winter. I live in KY and it has not been a bad winter. Do you think the oil is still good or do I need to pitch it and buy a new bottle?
Oh yeah, it’ll still be fine to use. It’s unlikely that it froze in your garage and, even if it did, I don’t think that would be a problem.
I just purchased your hemp oil and the smell is terrible! Smells very fishy. Will this go away? What can I do to help with the smell.
Thank you