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Several years ago, my dad made me a wooden cutting board. I do a lot of cooking, so having a nice wooden cutting board to use to chop all my vegetables and herbs is a big bonus. Wooden cutting boards do not come without maintenance, though. In today’s post I’m going to give you several cleaning tips and we’ll discuss how to clean a wooden cutting board, as well as how to care for it.

Do you need to wash a wood cutting board?

Let’s get started with the basics. Yes, you need to wash your wooden cutting board after every use. The biggest thing you need to understand, though, is to NEVER put it in the dishwasher. The dishwasher gets way too hot for your wooden cutting board, and the heat will cause your board to warp and possibly crack. While wooden cutting boards require some maintenance, I still think they are the best non-toxic cutting boards.

Your wooden cutting board can be cleaned with hot water and soap, just as you would clean any other dish. If your wooden cutting board has any stuck on residue, use a scraper or scouring pad to remove it. When you’ve washed the cutting board, allow it to dry on a drying rack or standing upright to prevent water from pooling underneath and causing issues.

How do I sanitize my wood cutting board?

If you’ve used your wooden cutting board to cut meat, you probably need to go the extra steps to sanitize it.

Here’s how to clean a wooden cutting board with hydrogen peroxide or vinegar to sanitize the board:

Soak a clean, white cloth in white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Use the cloth to wipe down the wooden cutting board and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
Rinse the wooden board with hot water, dry with a towel, and allow the board to dry on a rack or upright overnight before using again.

How do you deep clean a wooden cutting board?

What if your cutting board has stains or lingering odors like garlic? You have a few options to deep clean your wooden cutting board.

The first method I will teach your is how to clean your wooden cutting board with vinegar and salt.

First, pour some kosher salt on your freshly cleaned wooden cutting board.

Cut a lemon in half and scrub the cutting board.

Rinse with hot water and allow the wooden cutting board to air dry on a rack or standing upright.

If you don’t have kosher salt and a lemon, you can also use baking soda. Sprinkle some baking soda on the wooden cutting board, allow to sit for a few minutes, and then use a rag to scrub the baking soda away. Rinse and dry in the same manner as previously mentioned.

How To Oil and Maintain a Wooden Cutting Board

Now that the wooden cutting board has been cleaned and is thoroughly dry, you can work on maintaining it by oiling and waxing the cutting board.

It is suggested that you oil your wooden cutting board about once a month to penetrate the wood fibers and prevent liquids, blood, and bacteria from soaking into your board.

I use a food grade mineral oil on my wooden cutting board. I pour a generous amount of oil on the board and then use a clean cloth to spread the oil all over the wood.

Once my wooden cutting board is dry to the touch after oiling, I’ll apply some board cream to the surface and use a soft cloth to buff it into the board on the tops and the sides.

Caring for your wooden cutting board with oil and wax will help keep the board cleaner and prevent it from warping.