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It is important to clean your wood cutting board after each use. Unfortunately, these cutting boards aren't safe to put in the dishwasher, so you'll have to wash them by hand. Scrape all debris into the trash and wash the board with warm, soapy water. Run it under hot water for 10 to 15 seconds to help kill off any germs, and wipe it dry of excess moisture. The cutting board won't be completely dry after wiping it off, so allow it some time in a cool, dry place to air dry--perhaps on its side on a clean, dry towel.
Once the cutting board is thoroughly dry, rub a handful of table salt all over the cutting surface with a lemon cut in half for several minutes. This helps to kill off any lingering bacteria and germs. Rinse away the salt and lemon with hot running water, wipe it dry and set it aside so it can finish drying out. -
As the surface of the cutting board begins to get rough, you may want to sand it. Sanding it by hand is usually easiest, as wood cutting boards are typically not very large, though you can certainly use an electric sander if you have one. Start off with 80-grit paper, then switch to 110 and 220. Wipe the board with a clean, damp cloth. After it dries, sand it one more time with the 220-grit sandpaper. Rinse the board to remove any dust and allow it to dry in a cool, dry place.
To prevent a wood cutting board from cracking, keep it oiled. Apply food-grade mineral oil to a clean cloth or paper towel, wipe the entire board down and leave it overnight. In the morning, there should be very little oil on the surface; wipe away what's left with a clean cloth. This should be done at least once a month, or as soon as it begins to look dry.
