Wooden cutting boards need to be kept clean as a measure of food safety.

Warning

Never wash a woodencutting board in the dishwasher.

The high heat and extended exposure to water can cause the wood to split or mold.

wooden cutting board

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Even professional chefs clean their wooden cutting boards via hand-washing.

While you might put raw meat on a wood cutting board, it will require sanitizing afterward.

Doing this promptly will prevent staining, especially when handling meats.

materials for cleaning a wooden cutting board

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Use a soft sponge or scrubber to remove any sticky bits.

see to it that no foods or dishes are in the splash zone to prevent cross-contamination.

Do not allow the board to soak in the solution.

rinsing residue off of a wooden cutting board

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Use a dishwashing brush orhalf of a lemonto scrub the area.

The acid from the lemon will boost the cleaning power and lighten stains.

Rinse the Board and Dry

Rinse the board in warm water to remove all suds.

scrubbing a wooden cutting board with a cleaning solution

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Dry the board thoroughly with a soft cloth or paper towel.

Use this same method to clean a wooden cutting board with mold.

Do not dry flat on the counter because the bottom of the board can warp.

using baking soda and lemon juice to scrub a cutting board

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Never store a wooden cutting board until it is completely dry.

Use food-grade, highly refined mineral oil.

drying off a wooden cutting board

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

using vinegar to sanitize a cutting board

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

disinfecting a cutting board with bleach

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

letting a cutting board air dry

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

conditioning the wood

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska