How to Deep Clean Cutting Boards

Cutting boards are one of the hardest-working tools in the kitchen, but they’re also one of the easiest places for stains, odors, and bacteria to build up. If your board smells like onion, looks discolored, or has grooves packed with food residue, a quick rinse is not enough.

The good news is that deep cleaning a cutting board is simple when you use the right method for the material. Wood, bamboo, plastic, and composite boards all need slightly different care, and using the wrong method can shorten the life of the board.

Image source: The Home Depot

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to deep clean cutting boards, remove odors, lift stains, and keep them safe for everyday food prep.

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Why Deep Cleaning Cutting Boards Matters

Cutting boards can hold onto moisture, food particles, and bacteria if they are not cleaned properly. Better Homes & Gardens notes that cutting boards are porous and can harbor bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, which is why regular cleaning is an important part of kitchen food safety. Source

The USDA also recommends washing cutting boards with hot, soapy water after each use, then rinsing and drying them thoroughly. Source

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What You’ll Need

Depending on your board type, gather:

• hot water
• dish soap
• soft sponge or non-scratch scrubber
• clean dish towel or paper towels
• white vinegar
• lemon
• kosher salt or baking soda
• hydrogen peroxide
• unscented liquid chlorine bleach
• food-grade mineral oil for wood or bamboo boards

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How to Deep Clean a Wooden Cutting Board

Wood cutting boards should always be hand washed. Allrecipes says prolonged exposure to heat and water, like a dishwasher cycle, can cause wood boards to split or warp. Source

Step 1: Wash with Hot, Soapy Water

After use, wash the board with warm or hot water, dish soap, and a soft sponge. Make sure to clean both sides and any grooves where food can hide. Source Source

Step 2: Deodorize with Lemon or Vinegar

If the board smells sour, garlicky, or onion-heavy, Better Homes & Gardens recommends either scrubbing it with the cut side of a lemon or laying a paper towel soaked in distilled white vinegar on the board for 5 to 10 minutes. Then wash with hot, soapy water and dry thoroughly. Source

Step 3: Tackle Stains

For visible stains, Better Homes & Gardens suggests laying a hydrogen peroxide-soaked paper towel on the board for 5 to 10 minutes, then washing and drying it thoroughly. Source

Step 4: Dry Immediately

Allrecipes recommends drying wooden boards immediately with a dry dish towel so the wood fibers do not swell, warp, or split. Source

Step 5: Oil the Board

After washing and drying, apply food-grade mineral oil to help prevent drying and splitting. The USDA specifically recommends rubbing bamboo boards with mineral oil to help retain moisture, and Allrecipes recommends mineral oil for wood boards as well. Source Source

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Easy Deep Cleaning Hack for Wood Boards

One popular deep-clean method for wooden cutting boards is a baking soda or salt scrub followed by lemon.

Better Homes & Gardens says you can add scouring power by sprinkling kosher salt on the cut side of a lemon and scrubbing the board to help remove odor-causing buildup and residue. Source

Allrecipes also shares a stronger wood-board deep-clean method: pour baking soda onto the board, add white vinegar, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse. Source

Image source: The Kitchn

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How to Sanitize a Cutting Board After Raw Meat

If you’ve used the board for raw meat, poultry, or seafood, sanitizing matters.

The USDA says both wooden and plastic cutting boards can be sanitized with 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Flood the surface with the solution, let it stand for several minutes, then rinse with clear water and air dry or pat dry with clean paper towels. Source

Better Homes & Gardens gives a similar method using 2 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water, soaking the board for 2 minutes, then washing, rinsing, and drying thoroughly. Source

Important: Better Homes & Gardens warns never to mix bleach with vinegar or lemon juice because the combination creates toxic fumes. Source

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How to Deep Clean a Plastic Cutting Board

Plastic boards are easier to clean in some ways, but they can develop scratches that trap residue.

Better Homes & Gardens says many plastic cutting boards are dishwasher safe, and the dishwasher is often the best option because the high heat adds cleaning and sanitizing power. If washing by hand, scrub both sides with hot water, dish soap, and a non-scratch sponge, then dry thoroughly. Source

Allrecipes recommends a sanitizing mix of 1 teaspoon of bleach with 1 quart of water for plastic boards, followed by a hot water rinse and upright drying. Source

For stains and scuffs, Allrecipes suggests making a paste of:

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon water

Then use it to scrub the stained area. Source

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How to Clean a Bamboo Cutting Board

Bamboo boards are similar to wood boards but tend to absorb less moisture.

The USDA says bamboo absorbs very little moisture and resists scarring better than many other woods, making it more resistant to bacteria than other wood types. Clean bamboo boards with hot, soapy water, sanitize if needed, and rub with mineral oil to help retain moisture. Source

Allrecipes also recommends hand washing bamboo with dish soap, warm water, and a soft sponge, then drying it right away. Source

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Cutting Board Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the biggest mistakes to skip:

• putting wood or bamboo boards in the dishwasher
• letting wood boards stay wet too long
• soaking wood or bamboo for extended periods
• using the same board for produce and raw meat without sanitizing
• keeping deeply grooved or cracked boards too long
• mixing bleach with vinegar or lemon juice

The USDA recommends using one cutting board for fresh produce and bread and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood to help prevent cross-contamination. Source

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When to Replace a Cutting Board

No cutting board lasts forever.

The USDA says all wooden and plastic cutting boards wear out over time, and once they become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, they should be discarded. Source

Better Homes & Gardens also recommends replacing boards that show deep grooves, cracks, or warping. Source

Image source: The Spruce

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Final Thoughts

Deep cleaning cutting boards does not have to be complicated. In most cases, hot soapy water, thorough drying, and the occasional deodorizing or sanitizing treatment are enough to keep your board in great shape.

If you use a wooden or bamboo board, the biggest rules are simple: wash by hand, dry immediately, and oil it regularly. If you use plastic, stay on top of deep scratches and sanitize it often, especially after raw meat prep.

A few extra minutes of proper cleaning can make your cutting boards last longer and keep your kitchen safer.

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Quick FAQ

Can you use vinegar to clean a cutting board?

Yes. Better Homes & Gardens says distilled white vinegar can help deodorize and clean cutting boards. For wood boards, lay a vinegar-soaked paper towel on the surface for 5 to 10 minutes, then wash and dry thoroughly. Source

Is bleach safe for cutting boards?

Yes, when properly diluted. The USDA recommends 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water for sanitizing cutting boards. Source

Can wooden cutting boards go in the dishwasher?

No. Allrecipes says wooden boards should only be hand washed because dishwasher heat and prolonged water exposure can cause splitting or warping. Source

How often should you replace a cutting board?

Replace it when it becomes excessively worn, cracked, warped, or has deep grooves that are hard to clean. Source Source