How to Properly Clean a Wooden Cutting Board

Cutting board with lemons and limes
Photo by Elena Kloppenburg on Unsplash

A big wooden cutting board is an important part of every kitchen. We all have one or two and they tend to last forever, but many of us aren’t sure if we’re cleaning them properly. Wooden cutting boards shouldn’t go in the dishwasher as that will make them fall apart in a few washes, but how can you clean one and know that it’s clean enough?

What You Should Know

Wooden utensils may look resilient, but putting them in a dishwasher or soaking them in water for a long time is the fastest way to ruin them. If you have a favorite cutting board and you want it to last many years, you need a more gentle approach.

Using a regular kitchen sponge, warm water, and dish soap is enough for daily washing. It will remove the food residue, smells, and discoloration. You can deep clean the board occasionally and oil it to keep it fresh.

If you’ve cut something watery on it, make sure to wash the cutting board as soon as possible. Washing and drying it before it soaks up a lot of moisture is crucial and it will only take a few minutes of your time. Lean it against something to dry instead of placing it flat.