The old saying "illness comes from the mouth" suggests that a healthy cutting board is essential for a good quality of life. However, during rainy, humid weather, wooden cutting boards can develop mold if not properly cared for. Don’t rush to wash a moldy cutting board with soap when it gets dirty. Instead, apply a simple trick below, and the board will be as clean as new in just 5 minutes and won’t mold again for a long time.
A good cutting board is just as important as the food being chopped or sliced on it. Using a poor-quality board can dull your knives faster and lead to more bacteria staying and multiplying on the surface. Wooden cutting boards are clearly more environmentally friendly and safer to use, but sanitizing them is not easy if you don’t know the right method. While hot soapy water can clean the board, it can also cause the wood to dry out, or even warp. Instead, use household ingredients that are safe for both the environment and your health.
Wash the cutting board with vinegar, salt, toothpaste, and baking soda.
Preparation:
- White vinegar, salt, toothpaste, a toothbrush, cooking oil, baking soda.
Steps:
Step 1: Disinfect with white vinegar and salt
White vinegar has a strong softening effect, so it can help loosen tough stains on the cutting board. First, pour an appropriate amount of white vinegar onto the board, ensuring it's evenly spread. Then, sprinkle a suitable amount of salt over the board. The reason for using salt is that its grainy texture not only provides good friction but also has disinfecting and sterilizing properties.
Step 2: Use toothpaste and a toothbrush to clean
After that, take an old toothbrush and apply a little toothpaste on it. Scrub the cutting board repeatedly with the toothbrush, just like brushing your teeth. The salt and toothpaste have excellent cleaning properties, so they are very helpful in cleaning the cutting board. The combination of both provides a strong abrasive action.
Step 3: Apply a layer of cooking oil
After cleaning the cutting board, we need to dry it. We can then apply a layer of cooking oil to the surface of the board. Cooking oil not only helps to maintain the board but also effectively prevents mold and cracking.
Next, cover the board with a layer of plastic wrap and leave it for 4 to 5 hours to allow the oil to soak evenly into the board. Once the time is up, remove the plastic wrap.