How to Clean a Wood Cutting Board

It is extremely important to keep the wooden cutting boards clean at all times. Bacteria from food you have cut in the past can remain on the cutting board and transfer to new foods. Food-borne illness is a risk associated with dirty cutting boards. Moreover, just because it does not look dirty does not mean that there is not bacteria. Try a multifaceted approach to ensure that the cutting board stays clean.
First, pay attention to any cleaning instructions that come with the wooden cutting board. Certain boards require special cleaning so make sure you know what the manufacturer suggests. Many wooden cutting boards cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher because they would damage them according to The Learning Channel. However, a few may be dishwasher safe, so if the manufacturer says that you can wash it in the dishwasher, then this can be a good way to get it cleaned.
You should rinse the wood cutting board as soon as you are done using it, according to the FoodNetwork. This will get rid of a great deal of the bacteria, however, this in itself is not sufficient for long-term use. You should always rinse it before putting it in a sink filled with water because otherwise the bacteria may just go into that water.
You can use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to disinfect your woodcutting board. Place it all over the board and use a sponge to make sure that it gets everywhere. Give it a few minutes so that the germs will be killed. Use a clean sponge to wipe it. You can repeat the process if you think it needs to be further cleaned.
Baking soda or coarse salt can be used to help get rid of stains.Once the board is totally dry then you can put some of the salt or baking soda on it. Take a sponge or a brush that has hot water and scrub the cutting board.
White vinegar can help get rid of many odors that the cutting board may take on through use. You can spray the vinegar on the board. White vinegar is also effective as a disinfectant per the Washington State’s Department of Ecology.
Diluted bleach can also be used to sanitize a wood cutting board per the USDA. You may do this once in a while or after cutting something that can create high levels of bacteria such as raw meat. The recommended amount of bleach is ½ tablespoon per half-gallon of water. Pour all of it on top of the board or soak the board in it, then wait several minutes and then use hot water and a scrubbing instrument to thoroughly rinse the board.
Make sure to keep your wood cutting board very clean to safeguard your family. Try the above cleaning measures.