How to Clean a Wood Cutting Board With Bleach

Wood cutting boards are popular and durable accessories in many kitchens. No matter how useful wood cutting boards are, however, they do have one major drawback. The porous nature of wood makes them prone to absorbing the liquids from the food that's prepared on them. If a wooden cutting board is left to sit for too long, those food juices turn into bacteria and can end up causing illness. Wood cutting boards can, however, be easily and effectively cleaned with bleach.

Things You'll Need

• Empty gallon jug
• Bleach
• Water
• Funnel
• Marker
• Spray bottle
• White paper towels
• Cutting board

Instructions

1. Put the funnel on top of the gallon jug and pour 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid bleach into it. Fill the jug with water. Put the lid back on the jug and shake it gently to mix the bleach solution.

2. Set the funnel on top of the opened spray bottle. Pour the bleach solution into the funnel so it can run into the spray bottle. Put the spray nozzle back onto the spray bottle.

3. Wash and rinse the cutting board before bleaching to make sure you start with a surface that is free of food particles.

4. Spread out a layer of paper towels on a flat surface and place the cutting board on them. If your countertop are easily marked, make sure the layer of paper towels is very thick to protect them. If you can balance the board securely over the sink, it is OK to skip the paper towels.

5. Mist the entire cutting surface of the board with the spray bottle filled with bleach solution. Make sure it is thoroughly wet from the spray. Let it soak in for five minutes.

6. Rinse the cutting board and dry it with paper towels. Make sure the board dries completely before using it.

Tips & Warnings

• Carefully label the bleach-and-water solution with a marker as bleach water and make sure to store it safely out of the reach of children.

References

• Fightbac.org: Common Home Food Safety Myths