5 Non-Toxic Ways To Clean A Wood Cutting Board
Cleaning a wood cutting board is essential for a healthy kitchen, but conventional cleaning methods often involve harsh chemicals that can compromise your well-being. Here are five non-toxic and effective ways to deep clean wood cutting boards naturally using lemon, salt, vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and coconut oil.
How to Clean A Wood Cutting Board Naturally
Deep cleaning a wood cutting board is slightly more challenging than cleaning plastic because of the wood’s natural grain and porous material. But it’s absolutely doable, and all you need are natural, non-toxic ingredients that you likely already have on hand in your kitchen. Here are five non-toxic ways to clean a wood cutting board naturally. Without toxins or harsh chemicals!
1. Salt & Lemon
This easy lemon and salt scrub is one of the best ways to quickly deep clean your wood cutting board naturally. It’s quick, easy to do, inexpensive, and great for removing stains and odours.
Best For: Removing stains and odours, weekly cleaning
How To: Sprinkle coarse salt over your wood cutting board. Cut a lemon in half and rub the lemon over the entire board, working in circles, squeezing slightly to release the juice as you go. Continue to do this until your whole board is saturated and scrubbed. Rinse with warm water and dry well with a natural cloth.
The abrasive action of the salt combined with the acidity of the lemon helps to disinfect and remove stains without any harsh chemicals or cleaners.
2. Vinegar & Water
Vinegar is a staple natural household cleaner that is great for sanitizing and removing odours.
Best For: Naturally sanitizing, deodorizing odours
How To: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water. Apply the solution to the cutting board with a cotton dish towel, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
I like to use my Simple DIY Orange Vinegar Cleaner when I do this because it has a nice citrus scent, is easy to spray on and still gets the job done with the infused vinegar.
Vinegar is acidic, which gives it natural antimicrobial properties, making it effective at killing bacteria and other pathogens that may linger on a cutting board. When mixed with water, vinegar creates a solution that can penetrate the pores of the wood, disinfecting the surface and helping to eliminate odours.
The mild acidity of vinegar can also help to break down grease and food residues, making them easier to wipe away.
White vinegar is best but if you don’t have it on hand any vinegar will do, even apple cider vinegar! You can even learn how to make homemade apple cider vinegar from scraps – it’s super inexpensive, easy to make and works great.
3. Baking Soda
Best For: Neutralizing odours, stain removal
How To: Make a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water. Apply the paste to the cutting board, scrub gently with a natural sponge or brush, then rinse with water and dry completely.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), is a mild abrasive with natural deodorizing properties. When mixed with water to form a paste, baking soda becomes an effective cleaner for wood cutting boards. The gritty texture of the baking soda helps to gently scrub away surface stains, food residues, and odors without scratching the wood.
Baking soda is one of the best methods for neutralizing strong odours stuck on a cutting board.
4. Coconut Oil & Salt
Best For: stains, conditioning
How To: Mix coconut oil with coarse salt to create a scrub. Rub the mixture onto the cutting board, then rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
The combination of coconut oil and salt creates a natural scrub that helps to clean and refresh the surface of a wood cutting board. The coarse texture of the salt acts as a gentle abrasive, helping to remove food particles, stains, and odors from the wood. Meanwhile, the coconut oil moisturizes and conditions the wood, helping to prevent drying or cracking.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
Best For: Disinfecting
How To: Pour or spray hydrogen peroxide directly onto the cutting board, spread it evenly, and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural disinfectant and helps to kill bacteria.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a powerful oxidizing agent, making it an effective disinfectant and cleaner for wood cutting boards. When applied to the surface, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2), releasing molecules that attack and destroy bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms present on the cutting board.
This process helps to sanitize the surface and lift stains and remove residues.
How To Find A Good Non-Toxic Wood Cutting Board
Wood cutting boards are the best non-toxic option for your kitchen, but you still have to make sure that it is truly made from natural materials. Here are a few things to look out for when purchasing a wood cutting board.
Natural Materials
Opt for cutting boards made from solid wood, such as maple, walnut, cherry, or bamboo. Avoid composite materials (mixed materials) or those treated with chemicals or synthetic glues.
Many cheap wood cutting boards will claim they are all-natural but they are actually pieces of wood glued together with synthetic glues and resins. Instead, opt for a solid wood cutting board. This ensures it’s one piece of wood, free of any glues.
Natural Finish
Choose cutting boards that are finished with natural oils or waxes, such as mineral oil, coconut oil or beeswax, rather than varnishes or stains that may contain harmful chemicals.
Again, many brands will sell stained wood cutting boards, that may look pretty but the stain used contains chemicals. Opt for a natural wood slab that specifies that it is only sealed with natural oils or beeswax.
Avoid Chemicals
Stay away from cutting boards treated with chemicals like formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can leach into food and pose health risks.
Of course, most companies won’t outright list this so to be safe, do your research and stay away from any deals that look too good to be true.
Extra Tips For Cleaning A Wood Cutting Board Naturally
There are so many benefits to cleaning your wood cutting board using natural ingredients and methods. It’s safe for your health, easy to do, and much more affordable than purchasing synthetic cleaners!
These five natural methods work incredibly well to naturally clean, sanitize, remove odours and stains from wood cutting boards. However, occasionally you might need extra cleaning power. In cases like these, I love using my Branch Basics Oxygen Boost in combination with the Branch Basics Concentrate.
First, I sprinkle a little bit of oxygen boost over the wood cutting board and then add a couple of drops of their concentrate. You really don’t need much of their products at all, they are very concentrated! I’ll then use my wet sponge and scrub it in circles, covering the whole board. Then just rinse with warm water and let dry!
This is my absolute holy grail when it comes to cleaning stubborn messes. It’s the best 100% toxin and fragrance-free natural cleaner I’ve ever used, and it seriously works like magic.
Cleaning a wood cutting board is pretty easy to do and you definitely don’t need to be using harsh chemicals or cleaning products on it! All you need are some pantry staples and your board will be refreshed.