Kitchen Basics — How to Clean a Cutting Board
Whether or not you like to cook, you probably have a cutting board or two in your home. These kitchen necessities can get pretty gross if you don’t wash them properly, as bits of food and bacteria can be left behind. Fortunately, keeping your cutting boards clean takes minimal time and effort.
Learn how to clean your cutting board like a pro with the following tips.
How to Clean Plastic Cutting Boards
Cutting boards made from plastic are relatively easy to clean, as you can just put them into the dishwasher if you have one. If you’re stuck handwashing, however, you do have other options.You’ll need:
- A kitchen sink filled with hot water
- A few drops of liquid dish soap
- Distilled white vinegar
- A towel
- Microfiber cloths
- Clean your kitchen sink and fill it with hot water. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the flow from your tap, and make sure the water isn’t so hot that you can’t stand putting your hands in it.
- Use a microfiber cloth to clean the surface of your cutting board.
- Rinse the cutting board completely and set it on your towel.
- Gently pour the distilled white vinegar on the cutting board so that the surface is covered.
- Let the vinegar sit until it has dried completely. This should take about 30 minutes to one hour.
- Once the vinegar has dried, rinse the cutting board under clean water.
- Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe your plastic cutting board dry before putting it back in your cupboard.
How to Clean Wood Cutting Boards
Unlike their plastic counterparts, wooden cutting boards should never be placed in the dishwasher. Doing so may cause them to warp or even split apart. However, you can clean your wood cutting boards with items that you may already have in your kitchen.You’ll need:
- Half of a lemon
- Kosher or sea salt
- A plastic spatula
- A microfiber cloth
- Generously sprinkle the salt over your cutting board.
- Scrub the cutting board using the lemon half. Gently squeeze the lemon as you work to release as much juice as possible.
- After you’ve scrubbed thoroughly, let the salt and lemon sit for about five minutes so that they can work their magic.
- Next, use your spatula to scrape the salt and lemon juice from the surface of the cutting board.
- Finally, rinse your cutting board in the kitchen sink. Dry it with a microfiber cloth before putting it back in its place.
How to Clean a Marble Cutting Board
Marble and other types of stone can’t handle the high acidity of natural cleaners, such as lemon juice or vinegar. In addition, very hot water could cause your marble board to crack.You’ll need:
- Gentle dishwashing liquid or castile soap (Make sure you’re using soap that’s free of citrus oils or citric acids.)
- Warm water
- Microfiber cloths
- Mix a few drops of soap with warm water.
- Dampen your microfiber cloth with the soapy water and use this to gently clean the surface of your cutting board.
- Rinse the cutting board under warm water until all the soap residue has been removed.
- Use the microfiber cloth to dry your cutting board. Marble should never be left wet as this can result in water stains.
As you can see, cleaning a cutting board only takes a few minutes. However, keeping your entire kitchen clean can be a lot more time-consuming. If you need a helping hand, contact the housekeeping professionals of your local Merry Maids.
