How to Clean a Bamboo Cutting Board (Without Cracking It)

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So, it seems you, like me, as an environmentally conscious person, finally got a bamboo cutting board and started using it. Probably, besides being eco-friendly, it’s also durable, which makes you happy, and it looks great on the kitchen counter, almost like a fundamental kitchen item. Not to mention that it helps you with cooking and many other things. What did we do next? You, like me, cut raw chicken, meat, and fish on it. Or maybe garlic. Later, I (and you probably do the same from time to time) stand at the kitchen sink, a bit thoughtful, wondering how to clean the bamboo cutting board without breaking, cracking, or ruining it. This thought probably crosses your mind from time to time as well.

As I mentioned, this situation happens to me from time to time, just as it surely happens to you. In fact, let me briefly tell you about my adventure with my first bamboo board. Being an environmentally conscious person, I left the first bamboo cutting board I bought to clean overnight in the sink. Guess what happened? The answer is simple: I cracked my bamboo cutting board. It’s worth noting that this was during my novice period. How could I have known that exposing bamboo to too much water would lead to great heartbreak? After my experiences, I somehow learned how to clean it.

Now, here’s what I do:

Now, here’s what I do: First, I wipe it down right after I’m done using it. That is, I don’t take a Netflix or YouTube break in between. I wipe it immediately. Just a quick rinse with lukewarm water (pay special attention that it’s not hot or boiling water), and then I gently scrub it with a sponge and a little bit of natural dish soap. Not too harsh; being a little gentle is beneficial. The dishwasher? Never even let it cross your mind. The dishwasher should be the last thing you use for a bamboo board.

If there’s any smell—onion, fish, you name it—I sprinkle coarse salt or baking soda on the board and rub it in with half a lemon. Smells gone, stains lifted, and it feels like some kind of rustic spa treatment for the board. Plus, your hands smell like lemon afterward. Win-win.

Now, about drying—super important. I stand it upright or lean it against the wall with the grain facing down. It dries evenly that way. Laying it flat traps moisture, and yeah… that’s how the warping begins.

Oh, and every now and then (maybe once a month?), I rub a bit of food-grade mineral oil or fractionated coconut oil into the surface. Just a tiny amount. It keeps it from drying out and cracking. Think of it like moisturizer for your board. Seriously.

You don’t need to baby it, but treating it with a little respect goes a long way. And if someone ever tells you to bleach it? Run. That’s not a friend, that’s sabotage.