How to Clean a Knife Block

Clean your knife block with vinegar.

A knife block works well in storing your sharp knives, but just as any other storage unit in your kitchen, you must clean the knife block regularly. Use a cleaning routine that gets rid of all the dirt, crumbs, and buildup, while also killing any associated bacteria that has come into contact with the knife block. Luckily, you can complete all these tasks with a few low-cost cleaning items and a few minutes of your time.

Things You'll Need

• Trash can
• Compressed air
• Water
• Dish soap
• Vinegar or bleach
• Cleaning rags

Instructions

1. Flip your knife block upside down over your trash can, and shake the block lightly.

2. Spray compressed air into the holes of the knife block to get out any leftover crumbs.

3. Fill the kitchen sink with 1 gallon hot water, 2 tbsp. dish soap, and 1 cup of either white vinegar or chlorine bleach. Both the vinegar and bleach disinfect well, but the vinegar uses no harsh chemicals while disinfecting.

4. Collect some of the solution with a cup, and pour it into all the holes of the knife block. Let it sit for at least 10 seconds.

5. Pour the water out of the knife holes, and refill the cup with plain hot water this time.

6. Pour the water into the holes again to rinse out any leftover cleaning solution, and again dump the water out after 10 seconds. Let the knife block air-dry.