Oil finish differs from film-based finishes like urethane by penetrating the wood and forming a seal within the wood’s outer layer. The benefit is a natural look and feel, and decreased visibility of scratches. Depending on the frequency of use and, especially, the frequency of water exposure from cleaning, the finish might fade over the years. Periodcly re-oiling the table will bring back its luster and maintain its water and spill resistance. This needs to be done every 2 to 5 years depending on use. We recommend using Maintenance Oil from Rubio Monocoat (from the same company as the finish we use), which can be purchased from our online store or in person. The application takes a few minutes and is quite simple.