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After purchasing a beautifully engraved wood cutting board, make sure your money doesn't go to waste by letting it crack and fester with bacteria. From cleaning, disinfecting, conditioning and maintaining, ensure your board will last a lifetime by caring for it properly. Keep in mind to always clean or rinse your board after every use, never submerge it completely in water and never put it through the dishwasher. Now that you're ready, let's get these boards looking as good as new again. Salt and Lemon Great for deodorizing and disinfecting, sprinkle the surface of the board with coarse sea salt. Cut a lemon in half, placing the open edge facing down on the cutting board and rubbing it over the salt in a circular motion while slightly squeezing to release the lemon juice. You can do this either when odors occur or once a month to disinfect. Mineral Oil and Beeswax Perfect for conditioning and sealing your hardwood cutting board, simply start by heating the mixture to create liquid consistency. Using a thin, soft cloth, dip a corner in the mixture with caution (It might be very hot!) and spread it evenly across the board and wipe away any excess conditioner. Make sure not to use too much on your board as it may take a lot longer to dry. Once done, you can store the rest of the mixture in a dry, room temperature area. You should condition your wood cutting board at least once every 3 to 4 months. Hydrogen Peroxide (3% is Suggested) Amazing at disinfecting, all you have to do is pour or spray the hydrogen peroxide onto your board and spread an even coat across the surface. Let it sit and start fizzing as it disinfects the board and kills any bacteria that might have made its way into the cracks. You should always disinfect your wood cutting board at least once a week if used very frequently and once a month if used on a regular basis. Baking Soda The best mixture to help remove stains, sprinkle a good amount of baking soda over the surface of your board and let it sit. Soak your sponge in hot water and ring it out so it's damp and not dripping wet. Use the sponge to scrub over the stain on your wood cutting board. Immediately rinse with warm water and leave to dry in an upright position. This can be done whenever a stain occurs on your board. White Vinegar or Diluted Bleach Wonderful at deodorizing and disinfecting, white vinegar is a natural disinfectant and deodorizer. You can either lightly spread it over the surface with a cloth or spray it onto the board with a spray bottle, let it sit and then rinse it off with warm water. Similar to white vinegar, a diluted bleach mixture can have the same effect. Make sure to only use about a spoonful of bleach to around a liter of water to dilute the harsh chemicals that the bleach contains. This can be done whenever odors occur or once a month to disinfect the cutting board. |
