About once a month, I give my wooden cutting boards a deep clean using just lemon, salt, and some scrubbing. Keep reading to learn this easy and effective cleaning method.
I learned this trick years ago while working in a community kitchen with a big butcher block prep table. We wiped it down daily, and it always looked clean. But once a week, we used salt and lemons for a deeper clean, and I was amazed at how much dirt came off. The proof? Every week, I scraped off a layer of gray gunk—even though the kitchen was always clean and tidy.
The steps are easy. You don’t need a fresh lemon—one that’s already been mostly squeezed works fine and is a great way to use up leftovers from cooking. I’ve also heard that adding baking soda can help make the boards smell fresher.
How To Clean Wood Cutting Boards with Lemon and Salt
Materials Needed
- Half of a lemon
- Coarse salt
- Bench scraper
- Warm water
- Sponge or cloth
Instructions
- Sprinkle some coarse salt on the cutting board.
- Scrub the board using a lemon half, cut side down. Press it a little to let the juice out while you scrub.
- Wait 5 minutes, then scrape off the gray, dirty liquid into a small bowl with a scraper and throw it away.
- Rinse the surface one last time using a clean, wet sponge.