How to Clean a Wooden Cutting Board: 5 Maintenance Tips

A cutting board is a surface that cooks use for chopping and slicing food for food preparation. Manufacturers make cutting boards from plastic, silicone, or granite, but wood cutting boards tend to last the longest and are the most gentle on knives. You can even build a DIY cutting board with the right wood, woodworking materials, and other household tools.

The best materials to use for wooden cutting boards are durable, nonporous hardwoods from leaf-bearing trees that produce fruits and nuts. Maple, teak, walnut, and beech are all durable woods for cutting boards that also produce showy designs when used together. Avoid porous woods like soft pine, because bacteria and water can seep into the pores and cause mold or warping. Bamboo cutting boards are very pretty, but some chefs find that they dull knives faster than other types of wood.

Wash your wooden cutting board after each use, preferably immediately after using the board when it’s easier to remove food grime.

1. 1. Rinse. To clean a wooden board, start by rinsing the board under warm water, ensuring both sides of the board get wet. If you only rinse the top portion of the board, the wood will swell unevenly and warp.
2. 2. Add soap. Using a sponge and gentle castile soap, scrub your cutting board clean, focusing on any knife scratches or cracks where food can get stuck. If there are still food stains after cleaning your board with soap, you can use baking soda and a rag to rub away stubborn stains for deep cleaning.
3. 3. Dry. Using a clean cloth or paper towel, wipe down the cutting board, removing excess water. After drying your cutting board with a dish towel, the wood will still be damp. Let your board fully air-dry overnight before storing it away to prevent mold and bacteria growth.

The key to maintaining a wood cutting board is gentle washing and routine oiling. Unlike plastic cutting boards, wooden cutting boards are not as prone to scratches and scrapes when properly maintained.

1. 1. Wash by hand instead of using a dishwasher. Hand washing your wooden cutting board with soap and water will preserve the shape and texture of the wood, whereas the hot water and chemicals used in a dishwasher cause the wood to warp. When you hand wash your cutting board, rinse it in the sink using a soft cloth and liquid soap to wipe any remaining grime. Avoid submerging and soaking your cutting board in soapy water, as this can also disfigure the shape of the wood.
2. 2. Use gentle soap. Gentle dish soaps, such as a liquid castile soap, are great when hand washing your wooden cutting board. Harsh soaps and heavy-duty cleaners that contain strong chemicals can eat away at the wood fibers and damage the board over time.
3. 3. Sanitize. While you can use a wooden cutting board to slice raw meat and fish, it’s important to disinfect your board after working with raw food. This will prevent the harmful bacteria from growing and contaminating your kitchen. To sanitize your board, you can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar as a disinfectant, or a mixture of four cups of water and one teaspoon of bleach.
4. 4. Clean with mineral oil. When you oil your cutting board, the oil acts as a barrier, preventing excess moisture from absorbing into the wood and keeping food odors and bacteria out of your board. Choose a food-grade mineral oil, rather than regular cooking oils (such as coconut oil or olive oil), which become rancid over time. Pour a small amount of the mineral oil on the cutting board, then use a clean rag to rub the oil across the entire surface of the board in circular motions. Oil your board approximately once a month, or more often if you use it frequently. You can also apply a layer of board cream, such as beeswax, to seal the oil into the wood.
5. 5. Scrub with lemon and salt. Fresh lemon juice and kosher salt produce a great DIY solution that will deodorize your board and leave it smelling fresh. Simply slice a lemon in half and rub the citrus fruit with the coarse salt in circular motions across the board. After letting the lemon juice sit on the wood for about two minutes, wipe the board with a damp cloth and let it dry.

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