How to Clean the Smell From a Wood Cutting Board

Onion leaves an odor on wood cutting boards.

Wood cutting boards protect counter surfaces from scratches and gouges from kitchen knives. These cutting boards require occasional cleaning and maintenance to remain clean and odor-free. Odors from fish, onions, garlic, or other pungent foods may linger on the boards, long after the meal. Soaking wood cutting boards is not an option--water warps wood; fortunately, there is another way to remove odor.

Things You'll Need

• Lemon
• Baking soda
• Spray bottle
• Vinegar

Instructions

Lemon For Deodorizing

1. Cut a lemon in half. Give it a gentle squeeze to break up the pulp so the juice will flow more freely.

2. Press the lemon half, pulp-side down, against the cutting board.

3. Scrub the lemon over the entire cutting surface of the board. There is no need to rinse it off after. Recipe Delights advises lemon (or lime) is especially helpful for strong odors such as garlic or onion.

Baking Soda and Vinegar For Disinfecting and Deodorizing

1. Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the board, until the entire board is covered with a fine layer.

2. Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle (you'll need just enough to spritz the board).

3. Spray this on the baking soda-covered board, as suggested by Readers Digest for both disinfecting and deodorizing wood cutting boards.

4. Allow the baking soda and vinegar to bubble for 10 minutes. Use a wet cloth to wipe the mixture off at this time. Let the board air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Use bottled lemon or lime juice instead of a fresh lemon if you prefer. If you use this, it's easiest to place it in a spray bottle so you can just spray it over the cutting board's surface.

References

• Readers Digest: 6 Effective Ways to Clean Cutting Boards
• Recipe Delights: Kitchen Tips