Hi guys! Today I am spilling all my secrets on how I disinfect, clean, and care for my wooden kitchen ware such as utensils and cutting boards! Plus, my method is completely nontoxic!
How To Clean and Care for Wooden Kitchen Ware
It’s no secret that I love to thrift wooden kitchen ware! I’ve explained why I think wood is the superior choice when it comes to nontoxic kitchen ware in this post, but I haven’t shared how I like to clean them.
I start out by laying out all my wooden utensils or cutting boards on a clean dish towel. If there is one that is in pretty bad shape, I will give it a light sanding. Also, if there are any stickers on them, this is when I use lemon essential oil to get off the sticker and the residue.
I generally only purchase utensils if they are in good condition. I stay away from items that have mold on them or look like they are beyond repair. If I find one that I love the shape of but isn’t good enough to use when cooking, I use it for decor only.
To sanitize, I use my homemade all purpose spray. I plan on sharing the recipe soon as I use it for just about everything. But, to give you the short version, I basically let lemon rinds soak in distilled white vinegar for a few weeks and add distilled water. I spray the mixture all over the boards, rolling pins, and spoons, and then I let it sit for 5 minutes or so. (I want to mention here that you really shouldn’t put wooden utensils in the dish washer as it can dry them out. But, you know, life is busy and sometimes the spoons end up in the dish washer…)
After, I rinse in hot water. If they still seem dirty, I will mix baking soda, hot water, and lemon EO or lemon juice and wash them in that. Allow them to dry.
Wood Butter Recipe
Next, I make a wood butter. See the recipe below or click the link to download.
I want to note that I purchase my beeswax from a beekeeper based out of Illinois, and I will link the specific one that I purchase here. It’s important that you research the beeswax you purchase as this is going onto your cooking utensils. You wouldn’t want to leach anything that is toxic into your food.
I let it cool some, and then, I buff a generous amount onto the wood. After a few minutes of letting the wood butter soak, I wipe away any excess. You should do this every few months when the wood seems to be getting a little dry.
And there you have it! How to properly sanitize, clean, and care for your wooden kitchen ware, both new and thrifted!
