Scrape off any food particles before you wash the cutting board.
Use a spatula, bench scraper, or dull knife to gently scrape away any food on the surface of the cutting board. Because it’s best to minimize how much water you use on your cutting board, it can be helpful to dry clean stuck-on particles before you start washing.
- Don’t gouge your scraper into the wood—if anything is stubbornly stuck to the cutting board, you can remove it during the washing process.
Scrub the cutting board with soapy water
We recommends using a “stiff brush or sponge with dish soap and warm water” to clean your wooden cutting board.Sears agrees, and adds that you should “be sure to scrub any food spots away.
- Cover stubborn stuck-on food with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice for about 5 minutes to break it down.
- If you notice discoloration or odors on your board, we advise scrubbing it with salt to help you get food particles out of the “smaller crevices and cracks in the board.
Rinse the entire cutting board with clean water.
- Be sure to get water on every side of the wood—top, bottom, and side edges. If only one side gets wet, the wood will swell unevenly, which can lead to warping and cracking.
- Don’t soak the cutting board in water. Instead, pour the clean water over the board until it’s fully rinsed.
Pat any moisture off the board, then prop it up to air dry.
When you’re finished cleaning the board, gently pat away any moisture with a clean, dry cloth or paper towels. Then, sit the cutting board upright on its side, leaned against a wall or the side of your sink. That way, air will circulate around the board so it can dry completely.
- If the cutting board dries unevenly, the wood can warp and crack.
- If you’re going to sanitize the cutting board, you can wait to dry it until you’re finished with that.