Seven Friends in Bowls & Colourful House

Absolutely nothing! These are natural markings, and if you scroll down a little, you can see some unique examples.

We love wood because it is a natural material so it always has various markings that show up in our products, making each one unique.
Grimm’s toys are always one a kind, carrying unique marks made by nature. Wood grain has changing structures and colours which serve as proof of its natural origins. The unique variations are proof of quality, not defects. Discover the markings that make your Grimm’s toy Simply Unique!

Every piece of wood has its own appearance, its own character and its own vitality. Its natural characteristics, and unique markings are therefore always to be considered. For example, dark spots on the rainbow are caused by mineral deposits. This means that if the tree had grown further, a branch would have developed at this point.

Black stripes are also something completely natural. This is the so-called pith tube or "heart of the tree". It differs from the surrounding wood by the darker colour and structure. When working on the wood, it can become completely or partially visible. This feature is part of the natural appearance of the wood. Therefore, these are not defects for us, but quality features of a natural product and as such are desired and welcome by us. We love this uniqueness of wood!

An outstanding and unique characteristic of all our building blocks is the velvety surface which arises because we use colour glaze that penetrates into the wood, leaving a matte finish rather than a glossy one.

The individual pieces are dipped by hand into the stain and we intentionally do not put a final protective coating on it to preserve the positive characteristics of the wood. Our way of making blocks guarantees that they stack more easily with greater play possibilities. Children feel and experience the wood fibres and structure while playing. 

1. It may sporadically happen with new products that initially some excess colour pigments will get released which results in colour transfer. We recommend wiping the transferred surface with a wet, lint-free cloth to remove colour pigments. 

2. Our colours are non-toxic, water based stains that are absolutely harmless and tested in-depth for colour fastness in contact with saliva.  This test uses a liquid comparable to standard human saliva.  However, some people’s saliva do vary from the “standard”, so some colour may transfer under those conditions, but the stains are harmless.

Please know that you are holding a natural product in your hands which was enriched with loving care in manual work and colour technique.  To enjoy playing with the blocks for a long time to come, please review our care label.

All colours and oils we use are certified in accordance with the EN 71 and CPSIA/ASTM 963 standards.
They are therefore recommended for use on children’s toys and harmless to the health of your child or baby.

We do not need additives for wood, therefore it is ideal for teething rings, rattles and grasping toys for our small children. Its surface binds humidity because it is open and rough. On this dry surface bacteria cannot grow – they die. In addition, some types of wood have special properties which have germicidal effects.

We oil our nature wood products with a mix of different nature oils. The stronger smell is typical for natural linseed oil which is completely harmless, and it will decrease over time.

For care simply use soapy water with a damp cloth for cleaning. Dry immediately. Please do not submerge in water and do not use disinfectant or hot water.