We used food grade mineral oil on ours

Anonymous wrote:Safest bet for DIY in a space like a laundry room is probably a polyurethane.

This. Oil based polyurethane is best for those areas. Yes it will smell for about a week.
You could go with a water based one for less smell.

I wouldn’t. If you get stains, just sand it out.

Safest bet for DIY in a space like a laundry room is probably a polyurethane.

Watco butcher block oil and finish. Just be sure to get the right color or clear.

We just moved into a house where we have a few pieces of unfinished wood counter, in a laundry area and in the eat-in bar area. Neither of these are high-use areas (like a kitchen counter) but we want do some type of finish or sealant since they will be areas with potential spills. What is the best way that's also not going to release horrible chemicals for weeks after?