How to Clean Your Wood Cutting Boards Naturally!

DEEP CLEAN WOOD CUTTING BOARDS

Making good food doesn't just rely on the recipe you use or your skill in the kitchen. It's also determined by how well you maintain the tools and surfaces that you have, regardless of how expensive they are! Let's talk about your wood cutting board today. When is the last time you deep cleaned it? Been a while? Let's do it tonight - it's so easy and you likely have the ingredients you need!

Check out our recipes for making your own cleaning products too, just in case you are in the mood to keep on cleaning after you finish cleaning your cutting board!

A few key pieces of information about wood cutting boards before we start:

• NEVER, NEVER put them in the dishwasher! Although it seems like a good idea, wood is a porous substance and if soaking it full of water is a BAD idea!
• On that same note, NEVER submerge your wood cutting board in water. It will dry out very quickly and will become dry and crack over time.
• Although you can, it's not recommended that you cut meats on your wood cutting board because of the porous substance. BPA-free plastic or glass cutting boards are better for cutting meat (watch your knives though!)

Want to know what you need to deep clean your wood cutting board? A lemon and some coarse salt.

Let's get started!

1. Wash your cutting board as you normally do - a little soap and a scrubber sponge or a brush. Rinse thoroughly.
2. Cut your lemon in half. Coat the wet board with coarse salt and squeeze the juice of 1/2 of the lemon onto your board. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes.
3. Take the other half of the lemon and begin to scrub the salt into the board using the cut side of the lemon, slightly squeezing the lemon to juice it as you scrub. Let the board sit for 1-2 additional minutes.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Stand the board upright to dry either on a towel or in your sink.

Want to restore the wood of your cutting board? Rub a little mineral oil into your board after it has dried. Mineral oil is odorless and tasteless.

Have scratches on your cutting board that drive you crazy? You can use a little bit of fine-grit sandpaper to relieve the scratches. Be sure to wash and complete the steps afterward to remove the particles.

When's the last time you deep cleaned your cutting board?