"It gives a protective top layer to the wood surface against foods and liquids and helps keep the water out and the oil in," she says. She adds, "Stand the board on its edge until completely dry, then store flat after it's dry." The biggest misconception about wooden boards is that they are hard to clean and maintain. Martha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. All Rights Reserved. Not only are wooden cutting boards sanitary, they are far safer to use than plastic cutting boards (and are much easier on your knives). This will keep it safe and looking good for a long time. Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home! Using the lemon half, begin to scrub the stains with small circular motions. If you follow these tips, your board will last through years of use. Most people don’t know that wooden cutting boards shouldn’t be washed in a dishwasher. Keep a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and spritz your cutting board whenever it needs to be refreshed (a squeeze of lemon works well here too). However, caring for a board requires some steps that may not initially be intuitive. Most importantly, do not ignore your cutting board. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. Utilize the antibacterial properties of lemon juice to clean to a wood cutting board and lift stains with citric acid. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to run out to the store to get some fancy cleaner. How to Clean Mold on a Wooden Cutting Board With White Vinegar. Just sprinkle baking soda on the surface of the cutting board, then work it into the surface stains with a lemon (which also makes the board smell amazing, by the way) or a gentle sponge or wash cloth. Dishwashers are an absolute no-go when it comes to cutting boards- the prolonged exposure to the heat and swirling water will most likely cause the wood to warp, crack or split. Also known as sour salt and lemon salt, citric acid is a mild acid helpful for removing spots and hard water stains (Berthold-Bond, 1999). HOW TO CLEAN A WOOD CUTTING BOARD: DO’S AND DON’TS Do wash your cutting board by hand. A … Despite my affection for cutting boards, I’m definitely a slacker when it comes to cleaning. Take cleaning cutting boards a step further by submerging the cutting board in a solution of one tablespoon (15 ml) of household bleach to one gallon (3.8 liters) of hot water for five minutes and then rinse once more with soap and water. Instructions. "It must be oiled a minimum of every three to four weeks for the lifetime of the board," says Cook, "even if it is not in use." Just apply vinegar to a clean rag and scrub your wooden cutting board. And, as if that weren’t enough of a reason to only buy wooden cutting boards from now on, when taken care of properly, a wooden cutting board can actually last for 10, 15 or even more years. How To Clean a Wooden Cutting Board After every use, scrub the board using dish soap and very hot tap water. Hydrogen peroxide is a surefire bacteria-killer—just the ally you need to fight the proliferation of bacteria on your cutting board, especially after you cut chicken or other meat. Used in conjunction, cutting board oil and cream provide an effective combination of protective outer layer and sealed wood that is sanitary, easier to clean and won’t warp. Mold is a common problem for some cutting boards. To kill the germs on your cutting board, use a paper towel to wipe the board down with hydrogen peroxide. Though some people think that plastic cutting boards are cleaner and a better choice, studies have shown that wooden cutting boards actually may be your best bet, for cleanliness as well as kindness to your knives. Wooden cutting boards are also much better for your knives than marble or stone cutting boards, and yet they stand up to so much more abuse than plastic ones, which usually need to be thrown out or recycled and replaced fairly regularly, no matter how careful you are. Add some baking soda to the mix and resume scrubbing. "Do not cut on one spot of the cutting board constantly," says Cook. Cutting boards made of soft woods split more easily, and bacteria grow in the cuts a knife leaves behind. She writes for rd.com, helps lead the editorial relationship with our partners, manages our year-round interns, and keeps the hundreds of pieces of content our team produces every month organized. Let the substance sit for a couple minutes, and then rinse off the board with water. 2. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. First, remember that it's essential to clean a cutting board after each use and that wooden cutting boards should be hand-washed. Get inspired to make your porch your new favorite living space with these ideas designed to add a refined look to any outdoor space. Whatever you do, … Once a month, soak a cloth with food-grade mineral oil and rub the oil into the cutting board, rubbing with the wood grain.Apply the oil liberally and allow it to soak into the wood for five to six hours before wiping off the excess with a clean towel. You can also use coarse salt to rub on the surface of the board after the initial rinse to clean off food debris. Wipe with a slightly damp paper towel, then immediately buff dry with a clean cloth. We recommend our users to update the browser. For a more natural route, you can also cut lemons in half and rub the board down with the sides of the … Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide Spray the board with undiluted vinegar and wipe it … So, let’s see what you should do. It's a very simple process: Wipe the board down with warm, soapy water and towel dry, says Mandy Cook of John Boos & Co., makers of heirloom-quality wooden cutting boards. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Prenter warns, though, that you have to rinse the board down with water before using it again. For additional protection, Cook recommends sealing the top of the wood surface with a product like Boos Block Board Cream ($9.99, bedbathandbeyond.com). For a butcher block cutting board or countertop, you never want to use furniture polish or any other household cleaner. Help them thrive even when the temperature drops. Place the board on another clean kitchen towel and let the oil soak in for a few hours or overnight. First, remember that it's essential to clean a cutting board after each use and that wooden cutting boards should be hand-washed. Wood boards are attractive, won’t dull your knives, and they do not easily contaminate or harbor harmful bacteria. Basically, a wooden cutting board is a simple thing, but a great thing. Learn how to minimize the spread of germs with an extra few seconds of scrubbing. Plastic boards last a year or two typically. If the board stays in storage for years without oiling, it will not emerge in the same shape. You can clean these ones much the same as other wood boards: warm water and soap followed by the bleach sanitizing solution, then air drying. As long as we’re talking about cutting boards and how to remove smells and stains from them, it may be good to quickly cover which type of cutting board to use in the first place. Target stains and odors with a few key tips. RELATED: How to Clean A Mattress the easy way. The first step is to sand it down. Do … Then, wipe down with warm, soapy water and dry. “It is effective as a cleaning agent because it is a mild alkali and can dissolve dirt and grease easily in water.” Watch out for these surprisingly dirty kitchen items that you need to clean right now. Cutting boards take a beating during the holiday cooking season. Our printable checklists will tell you what you should be doing every day, week, month, season—or every once in a while—to keep your home in ship-shape year round. How to restore a wooden cutting board: Sanding the cutting board. Follow this essential method after every use. 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You might be using your cutting board to chop up raw meat and fish so it can be a breeding ground for E. coli, Salmonella, or Staphylococcus. How to Clean Wooden Cutting Board Mold and Mildew. Caring for a wood cutting board is as important as using it since caring for it guarantees its longevity and utility. You can use one of these household cleaners that you probably already have in your cabinet. You might be using your cutting board to chop up raw meat and fish so it can be a breeding ground for, Vinegar contains acetic acid. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), ways you could be cleaning your kitchen wrong, surprisingly dirty kitchen items that you need to clean right now, how to clean other tricky household objects, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Wooden cutting boards and butcher blocks stay much cleaner and mold-free when they are given a regular coating of oil. Not only will it disinfect, but it will also eliminate any odors. You use it on a daily basis and expect your wooden cutting board to be there for you at the start of each meal prep, but how much thought do you give to cleaning and caring for your cutting board? Additionally, thicker quality wooden cutting boards made from hardwood can also be sanded with a fine grit sandpaper following the grain of the wood and then re-oiled to replenish and uncover a new work surface, says Cook. To remove odors from wooden cutting boards—all that garlic!—Cook recommends squeezing a lemon onto the board, rubbing in, and wiping down with a warm, soapy cloth. If you’re just slicing bread, you can simply wipe it off, but for moist, sticky, or pungent foods (which is most of them), you’ll need to wash and rinse it. At first, they look nice. If you pick a cutting board made of a harder wood, like maple, walnut, or cherry, it will resist being cracked or nicked. Rinse the board under … We have never had a problem with mildew, however that particular cutting board is very large and we only use it occasionally for large pieces of meat for parties. Make sure your cutting board (or spoon) is very clean and allow it to dry completely. Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. You can try bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or white vinegar. When a quick wipe won’t cut it, bust out this scrub to give the wood a deep clean… Recommended Products. Here's how to clean a cutting board and keep your food prep safe, from the pros at Consumer Reports. Food can collect in these spots. Wooden cutting boards are popular for many reasons. . This acid will disinfect the board and prevent against common food-related sicknesses like Salmonella and E.coli,” says Jack Prenter, founder of Chore Bliss, a residential cleaning company that serves Toronto and the surrounding areas. If you have a reversible board, use both sides so that they wear evenly." The combination of these two ingredients will create an oxidization process that will remove stains and (hopefully) any lingering smells left in your cutting board. Step 1: Clean. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to spread a thin, even layer of the mineral oil all over the wood (front, back, and sides) until it is completely covered. [1] X Research source “Baking soda is … To keep a classic wood cutting board in good shape, here’s how you should clean and care for it. If your cutting board smells after you chop onions, crush garlic, cut raw and cooked meat and chicken, or prepare fish, get rid of the odor by rubbing it all over with the cut side of half a lemon. When thinking about sanding a wooden cutting board, I thought I should use a medium grit (#100) sandpaper first. Now that you know how to clean a wooden cutting board, check out how to clean other tricky household objects. One pan, pot, skillet, or Instant Pot is all you need to for these no-fuss family dinners, including salmon, pasta, pot roast, chili, and so much more. Use a cloth to wipe down the cutting board with vinegar. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. Also, you won’t get many scrapes even after many uses. It's important that you immediately dry off your board with a dry dish towel. If the odor is mild to moderate, fill up a spray bottle with vinegar and give your board a generous spritzing. Alberto Navarrete, General Manager of Frisco Maids recommends salt as a great solution for how to clean a wooden cutting board because it is a good abrasive that will remove all of the stains and gunk. Oiling. Choose a cutting board made of hard wood. You can also rub kosher salt into the board with a … Combine with abrasive coarse salt for some serious stain-lifting power! Once I had all the existing finish off the top, sides, and feet, I then used a fine grit (#220) sandpaper to smooth it down further. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016 where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. After you’ve cleaned your wooden cutting board with hot water and soap, rub it down with a damp cloth dipped in salt. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. “Baking soda is a safe natural product, non-toxic, unlike many other cleaners,” says Lily Cameron, a cleaning professional and supervisor at Fantastic Services. After you are done using your wood cutting board, rinse off any food debris before it’s able to dry or stick to the surface. Keep your wooden cutting board cleaner by occasionally scrubbing it with a paste made from baking soda and water. Clean the Wooden Cutting Board. Then rinse off and dry. “Vinegar contains acetic acid. You likely wash your hands several times a day, but are you doing so effectively? It's also important to store the board indoors where it's climate-controlled. If your board has any sour or mold-like smell, you can also put a cup of baking powder onto the board and pour a cup of white vinegar over the board. Courtesy of Benjamin Moore. Sprinkle kosher salt (because of its larger crystals) on the board and squeeze lemon juice on top of it. Cleaning Wood Cutting Boards With Vinegar. Sure, you shouldn’t put them in the dishwasher, but cleaning a wood cutting board isn’t hard at all. Never clean a wooden cutting board in the dishwasher or soak it in water. Routine maintenance is required. It also aids in antimicrobial properties. If the odor is borderline toxic, you can fill up a sink or bin with white vinegar and dunk your entire board. What might seem a convenient way to clean cutting boards, is actually a surefire way to encounter disaster. Rinse and let dry. Scrub your wooden cutting board vigorously with your preferred dish soap and hot water. Keep your wooden cutting board cleaner by occasionally scrubbing it with a paste made from baking soda and water. If you already know how to clean a wooden cutting board, you know that vinegar is a great place to start. Cleaning your wooden cutting board with warm water and standard dish soap is an acceptable way of washing it, but you’ll want to use these other cleaning agents to ensure that it’s sanitized as well. However, being wooden makes them a bit different to clean. CuttingBoard.com recommends only the use of food grade substances for use on our cutting board, as it will be in contact with food. After each use, a wooden cutting board should be cleaned with warm water, dish soap, and a soft sponge. Wooden boards will dry out and crack if they are not oiled as recommended. And remember to oil all sides of a cutting board. The bleach will work to kill any harmful bacteria that may be lingering on your wooden cutting board. A wooden cutting board is definitely the way to go, but as with many kitchen standards it requires maintenance. All can be made in 45 minutes or less. Just apply vinegar to a clean rag and scrub your wooden cutting board. Quality wooden boards should last for a long time, especially if you care for them properly. Be sure to remove any food particles as you wash, paying particular attention to any grooves or scrapes in your board. In her free time, she likes exploring the seacoast of Maine where she lives and works remotely full time and snuggling up on the couch with her corgi, Eggo, to watch HGTV or The Office. Credit: It's a very simple process: Wipe the board down with warm, soapy water and towel dry, says Mandy Cook of John Boos & Co., makers of heirloom-quality wooden cutting boards. Mineral oil ($1.99, target.com) is often used to oil a wooden cutting board. Depending on the state of your board, you may need to soak the board in vinegar for a few minutes to be sure to really disinfect it. "If only one side is oiled, the board may cup," says Cook. Wash your cutting board with water (soap is fine too), including the underside and edges, removing anything that’s stuck to it with a lint-free rag. To remove mold, you have a few options. Keep everything from your countertops to your dining room chairs germ-free. Watch out for these ways you could be cleaning your kitchen wrong. Rinse the board and dry it with a towel. "Rub the salt and water mixture into the board with a damp cloth until the stain disappears." "Pour kosher salt on the stain and add a small amount of water," says Cook. It’s important to know how to clean a wooden cutting board because it can be covered in harmful bacteria and develop a gross smell. Scrub in small circles, and be careful not to saturate the wood. This acid will disinfect the board and prevent against common food-related sicknesses like Salmonella and E.coli,” says Jack Prenter, founder of. Explore the best 2021 bedroom paint colors, according to paint experts. Whatever you do, do not let water or juices of any kind set on a board for extended period of time. She adds, "Stand the board on its edge until completely dry, then store flat after it's dry." To clean your cutting board, scrub it with a few drops of dish soap on a sponge and some hot water. When you need a comforting meal but don't have a lot of time, whip up one of these fast pasta recipes. Related: Why You Should Never Put Kitchen Knives in the Dishwasher. We have a wooden cutting board that my husbands cousin made in shop class in high school (long time ago). From which platforms to use and the best books to read, bibliophiles share their advice. A few things you can do to extend their lifespan? Prenter says that the citric acid in lemons is far too weak to actually sanitize your cutting board, but it will help to remove any lingering smells. It's not something you did wrong; the wood just absorbed some water, and storage made optimal mold growing conditions. Instead, clean the surface with a brush dipped in a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach diluted in 2 quarts (2 liters) water. Start by carving out a designated work area in your space. Check out these easy ways to clean your kitchen fast. If you prefer to use a chemical-free product, mix one part white vinegar to four parts water ( hydrogen peroxide can also work if you don’t have vinegar on hand) and soak your cutting board in the solution for a few minutes. Use a stiff cleaning brush or sponge and soap to scour the wood to help loosen any stubborn food debris. Morgan is an Associate Editor at Reader’s Digest. Quality cutting boards can be an investment, so you want to care for yours so that they last. Sure, flowers are nice, but homemade food gifts are the sweetest tokens of affection—especially when they're heart-shaped. Just keep these ones out of the dishwasher. Boos developed a special food-grade oil, their Mystery Oil ($9.99, bedbathandbeyond.com) that penetrates deeply into the grain of the wood to help protect and moisturize the wood fibers. a residential cleaning company that serves Toronto and the surrounding areas. Navarrete suggests that you also mix the salt with vinegar or lemon to remove any odors from the board. If you’re … Be sure to clean any crevices where food and bacteria may hide. If you are left with a stubborn red mess after cutting strawberries (or other berries) on your wooden cutting board, there's a trick to removing the stains. Not only will it disinfect, but it will also eliminate any odors. "Utilize the entire cutting board surface so that the board wears evenly. "Cutting boards cannot be stored in outdoor kitchens where they are exposed to humidity and the elements," she says.