Hello,

This is an excellent question. Cleaning a cutting board whether it is plastic or wooden is very after every use. Both wooden and plastic get nicks and scratches that tend to harbor bacteria. This is especially a problem with uncooked meat with chicken being a real problem. Many people use one cutting board for fruits and vegetables, then another for meats. This doesn't always prevent campylobacteriosis that is caused from raw chicken.

The CDC recommends cleaning your cutting boards with soap and water and to use the different cutting boards for meat from fruits and vegetables. Allow the wooden cutting board to airdry. Once dry then you may also want to spray the cutting board with a weak bleach water solution. Usually this is 1/2 - 1 tsp of bleach to 1 quart of water mixed.

Be sure to wash hands before and after handling cutting board.

As it is a wooden cutting board, cleaning depends on what is being chopped with that. Let's assume that we cut everything on it from meat to veggies and everything else. First, you must get rid of the particles clinging to the board by washing with warm water and detergent. Second, rinse it with warm water until it is not soapy. Third, disinfect with bleach or something with chlorine or some disinfectant. The third step is important because you don't want bacteria to grow in your wooden board especially if it has cracks in it. If growth is not checked or hindered, contamination occurs when the board is used again. Hope this helps. Peace!

A diluted bleach solution as @grits48 stated is best to clean a cutting board, especially if meat products have been placed on it. However, if you do not like to use bleach you can also use the 3% hydrogen peroxide found in drug store directly. It will clean and disinfect the board as well.

For cleaning cutting boards, i use diluted bleach and dishwashing soap on hot water. Be sure to rinse it well and air dry it.

Another way if you do want to use bleach is using vinegar or lemon with dish soap, it get rid of the smell residues of what you cut.

I always use vinegar and baking soda for a lot of cleaning in the kitchen especially the sink.

Loads of experience gives me this method

Step 1: Damp down the wood all over so its wet but not dripping.

Step 2: Pour as much granulated salt that is needed to cover the board so its white! A cup is not going overboard, use heaps.

Step 3: Rub the salt into the board for a few minutes and leave to dry for an hour or so

Step 4: Brush all the old salt off and leave the board for a few minutes

Step 5: Repeat all the above if the board still has a lingering smell, otherwise now is the time to use a weak solution of bleach to wipe down the board.

Don't soak it, wooden boards just soak up water that way and get smelly quickly. Wipe a damp cloth over it with a bit of effort ( elbow grease!!! ) leave to dry, repeat if necessary.

Why use all that salt? It really sucks out all the old gunk from the wooden fibers and you'll see the salt you wipe off the board isn't white, it will be a brownish color. And the salt will kill any residue bugs and germs and get into any cracks in the wood to prevent it going smelly later.

I have a few old boards, had them for years, still look good and smell fine :)