The items of mine that sell the most at the wonderful Big Hill Books in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis, are a funny little thing: a device solving a problem no one has, which is how to hold your book open with your thumb! I call them Thumbelinastm and they are just as cute as can be.
For the spoons and spreaders, I finish them with a mix of mineral oil and beeswax.
I recommend not washing them! I just wipe mine off with a paper towel after I've used one. Butter, peanut butter, mayo, etc; all spreads with oil in them are a nice way of 'renewing' the finish.
If more cleaning oomph is needed, use just a little water; don't use soap if you can help it. And finally, if you do use soap and remove the oils and waxes, go right ahead and put on a little peanut butter and wipe it off again.
If an item has been sitting in water long enough to feel a little fuzzy, get some very fine sandpaper (400 or higher grit) and give it a quick rub with the paper and a quick rub with some oil.
On the puzzles and other non-food-related things I sometimes use paste wax and sometimes boiled linseed oil. They both give a nice finish with a soft sheen. These items don't need any care. If you've played with them so much as to wear off the finish, I recommend using paste wax or boiled linseed oil like I do, but mineral oil works in a pinch.
