Wood Cutting Board Care


Washing and Sanitizing Your Wood Cutting Board

After each use always wipe down your board with a sponge and hot soapy water.

If you wish to sanitize further, consider using baking soda or diluted bleach. One researcher studied the benefits of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide as disinfectants. Be sure to rinse the board with plain water after using any disinfectant.

Never put your board in the dishwasher! The heat and water can cause the wood to split or glue joints to fail.

Keep Your Board Dry and Well-oiled

After cleaning, wipe off any excess water with a cloth or paper towel. Then let the board air dry completely. Remember that air needs to get to both sides of the board, so if your board does not have rubber feet, prop it against a vertical surface so that air can reach both sides. Never let your board sit in standing water or in a puddle on the countertop.

We need to keep cutting boards dry to combat bacteria and mildew, but if wood dries out too much it can shrink and split. The solution is to oil a cutting board on a regular basis. The more often a board is washed, the more often it needs to be oiled. A board seldom used can get by on a few oilings a year, while heavy use in a dry climate might demand daily oiling. Once a week is about right for most people.

What Kind of Oil Should I Use?

Olive oil or other vegetable oils are often suggested for use on cutting boards but we do not recommend them because they can eventually go rancid. Mineral oil avoids this problem, but the product you usually find in the super market is made for using on skin and is not food grade. We suggest using one of the many fine cutting board oils available online or in kitchen stores that are specifically formulated to protect wood and comply with food safety requirements.

Our favorite oil is our own product, Designer Cutting Board Oil.It is made from food grade mineral oil to which we add paraffin and beeswax for extra waterproofing. Finally, we include small amounts of essential oils like peppermint and orange to impart a fresh scent and discourage mildew. We include a bottle with each of our boards, and you can order more from us when you run out.