Natural Ways to Clean and Protect Cutting Boards

Natural Ways to Clean and Protect Cutting Boards: Cleaning wooden cutting boards with water and dish detergent can weaken the wood, and small cuts and scratches are perfect places for bacteria to hide even after washing. Follow these hacks to ensure your wooden and plastic cutting boards stay clean and beautiful for years to come.

Make your own cleaning scrub. Periodically deep clean your cutting boards by scrubbing with a thick paste made from 1 tablespoon each of baking soda, salt, and water. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. This cleaning method will also remove light stains.

Disinfect with vinegar. To disinfect and clean wooden and plastic cutting boards, wipe them with a paper towel drenched in full strength white vinegar after each use.

Clean your grill with salt and lemon. Cut a lemon in half, and dip the cut side in salt. Kosher salt works great for this since the granules are larger and, therefore, more abrasive. Using a grill fork or tongs to hold the lemon, rub the cut side over hot grill grates, applying more pressure to remove buildup. Replace the lemon as needed. Let the grill cool completely, then rinse the grate with clean water from the hose. Dry with paper towels, or replace on the grill and heat until dry to prevent rusting.

Deodorize with baking soda. Some foods, such as garlic and onions, can leave offensive odors behind. When your cutting board needs deodorizing, sprinkle liberally with baking soda, and spray with white vinegar until bubbles form. Let it bubble for 10 minutes. Rinse, dry, and store.

Remove odors with lemon. You can also use half of a cut lemon or bottled lemon juice to neutralize odors and help sanitize. Rub the board with the cut side of a lemon or a generous splash of bottled lemon juice. Rinse, dry, and store.

Use lemon essential oil to remove stains. Add 5–10 drops of lemon essential oil to 1/4 cup of water. Pour the mixture onto a sponge, and use the saturated sponge to wipe the lemon solution on the cutting board. Set the board out in the sun, and repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Remove really tough buildup from your grill with washing soda. If your grill is in really bad shape, you may need a more powerful cleaner. Fill a storage bin or bathtub with enough water to cover the grill grates. Sprinkle liberally with washing soda, and stir with a gloved hand to mix. Soak the grates in the mixture for about 10–15 minutes, then scrub with a grill brush until clean.

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