How to Clean Wooden Cutting Boards

Your wooden cutting board is exposed raw meat, fruits, veggies and more regularly. These foods can leave behind germs and residue that can have serious impacts on your health.

To avoid cross-contamination, your cutting board should be cleaned before using it for a new food type. While you need to clean it thoroughly, you don’t want to damage it. So, how do you clean a wooden cutting board?

Importance of Cleaning a Wooden Cutting Board

When you use your wooden cutting board to slice, dice, cut and chop, small grooves are made in the surface. Bacteria like E. coli, salmonella and others can find a home in these grooves and breed.

Simply rinsing the cutting board is not enough to remove the germs. When you use the cutting board again, the bacteria and germs get on those foods. This cross-contamination can lead to nausea, vomiting, fever, headaches, muscle aches and more. In serious cases, kidney failure can develop.

Daily Cleaning Routine

Wooden cutting boards should only be cleaned by hand. The washing machine can waterlog the board and cause warping. Warping and cracks result in more places for germs to hide.

• For daily cleaning, rinse off the food remnants. Don’t allow the cutting board to sit in water as this could cause irreparable damage.
• Run the board under hot water.
• Apply a few drops of liquid dish soap.
• Use a dish scrubber to thoroughly scrub all sides of the board.
• Use warm water to rinse the cutting board.
• Towel-dry the cutting board. Then, let it air dry completely before returning it to its place.

Deep Cleaning Methods

Deep cleaning your cutting can be done with baking soda and lemon juice. Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are also good options. To clean it with baking soda and lemon juice, sprinkle baking soda across the entire cutting board. Slice a lemon in half, and use the open side to scrub the board.

Both vinegar and hydrogen peroxide have disinfecting properties. To clean the cutting board with vinegar, spritz distilled white vinegar on it. Then, scrub it with a dish scrubber.

To clean with hydrogen peroxide, cover the board with hydrogen peroxide. Let the liquid work its magic for several minutes before rinsing it off.

Disinfecting Cutting Boards

A cutting boards should be disinfected after using it to cut raw meat. Follow the routine cleaning steps mentioned above. Then, fill your clean sink with a gallon of water and a tablespoon of bleach.

Place the board in the water for a couple of minutes. Drain the sink, and rinse the cutting board thoroughly until the bleach odor is gone. Then, dry the cutting board and return it to its place.

Removing Stains and Odors

To remove stains and odors from a wooden cutting board, start by sprinkling coarse salt or baking soda over the surface.

Cut a lemon in half and use it to scrub the board, squeezing out the juice as you go. This helps lift stains and neutralize odors. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with warm water and dry immediately to prevent warping.

Oiling and Conditioning the Board

Your cutting board can take a beating with regular use and cleaning. Oiling and conditioning it regularly will help you get more life out of it and keep it looking great. The oil or wax used will also protect the wood against stains.

Simply choose beeswax or a food-grade mineral oil. Apply the product to all sides of the board, rubbing it in thoroughly. After several minutes, use a towel to gently wipe away excess wax or oil.

FAQs

What’s the best way to clean a wooden cutting board?

While there are store-bought cleaning products designed for wooden cutting boards, some of these contain chemicals that you understandably don’t want your food exposed to. It’s best to use dish soap and hot water for everyday cleaning.

What to Avoid When Cleaning a Wooden Cutting Board

You should never soak a clean cutting board in water. The exception is if you are disinfecting it with diluted bleach. In this case, the board should not soak for more than three minutes. In addition, don’t place your wooden cutting board in the dishwasher.

When to Replace Your Cutting Board

You can get more life out of your cutting board by sanding small knicks periodically. However, when the grooves are deep and hard to clean, it’s time to replace it.

Your cutting board is only one of many important areas of the home that need to be cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis. At Cleanzen, we strive to take the hassle out of cleaning your house through our professional services. Book deep cleaning services in Boston today.