Unlike wood, plastic is not as porous, which can be an advantage in the kitchen if you need to clean a plastic cutting board. However, these utensils often become discolored or collect leftover food that is difficult to remove. Unfortunately, the dishwasher cannot be of much help in such cases unless the kitchen board is not yet very dirty. Fortunately, there are tried and tested home remedies and cleaning methods that you can use to clean plastic cutting boards naturally. Learn how to remove stains using just hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, or dishwashing detergent below.
Do not use bleach and clean your plastic cutting board
There is an eternal debate about the advantages of wooden or plastic kitchen boards. As a rule, the latter require less maintenance because they can only be cleaned with soap and water. In addition, plastic cutting boards do not require any maintenance such as oil or wax like wooden cutting boards. They are also ideal forCutting fruit, vegetables, bread, raw meat and much more. This type of material also lasts longer, but if there is too much wear and tear from knife cuts, you may want to consider buying a new one.
When cleaning your plastic cutting board, you should do it by hand to make it last longer. The thinner versions don't just deform due to the heatin the dishwasher, but also tend to break down much more quickly. These steps are actually pretty similar when cleaning wooden cutting boards. Although plastic is incredibly practical and easy to maintain, bacteria can develop in the grooves created by the knife, damaging the surface over time. Bleach can kill many of these bacteria, but not everyone wants to introduce this chemical into their kitchen - let alone their food preparation surfaces. With this in mind, here's how to use your plastic cutting boardRemove stainswithout using bleach.
Simple cleaning method with dish soap and water
You can clean your plastic cutting board by simply treating it with mild dishwashing detergent and warm water. First, rinse any leftover food from the board. If you do this manually, you should use hot, soapy water and a scrub brush. A rag or sponge cannot get into the knife grooves that are present on every used cutting board.
Use a scrub brush to work the water and soap into the cracks and remove any food particles and bacteria. Wash the kitchen board thoroughly, making sure to clean both the front and back. Rinse the board completely with warm water, removing all soapy water, and then allow it to air dry.
Combine baking soda with white vinegar and clean plastic cutting board
Mix equal parts baking soda and white vinegar to form a paste. Spread the paste on the stained area and leave it on for at least 5 minutes. Then rinse the board thoroughly with water. Essentially, the combination of baking soda and acetic acid acts as a cleaning and disinfecting agent at the same time. Additionally, many kitchen utensils and household items can be cleaned with the tried and tested baking soda/vinegar combination, although you may need to repeat the process if the boards are very dirty.
Use hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach on kitchen boards
Use simple hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from plastic cutting boards. This is an alternative solution to bleach that also helps disinfect. Additionally, plain 3% hydrogen peroxide will bleach stains out of cutting boards if given enough exposure time. It is a natural bleach that brightens surfaces, kills bacteria andOdors neutralized. It is crucial to give the hydrogen peroxide several hours to work on the stain.
To do this, place the cutting board in a sink and spray or pour hydrogen peroxide over the cutting board until it is wet. Leave the stuff on for several hours or overnight. You should be able to see that the spot becomes noticeably lighter. You can then rinse the cutting board again with detergent and water and let it dry.
Mixing hydrogen peroxide with dishwashing detergent and baking soda also makes an easy-to-apply paste that bleaches stains on cutting boards. To do this, make a paste of 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent and 1-2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. The mixture should be easy to spread, but not too runny. Spread the cleaner on one side of the cutting board and let it sit for several hours or overnight. Wipe or rub off the paste, rinse the cutting board with dish soap and water, and allow it to dry.
Try the lemon cleaning method
Another eco-friendly option is to use the juice of a lemon to clean plastic cutting boards. This means that stains and possibly discoloration on the surface can also be removed. However, you may get better results if you repeat the process as this is a natural product and does not contain any harsh chemicals. Afterwards, let the cutting board dry in the sun for a few days, as sunshine can also act as a natural bleach.
In addition, this method requires a little more time. If you want to quickly remove the stains from your cutting board, you should try one of the options described above. Still, this is a great cleaning method if you have time and don't want to put in a lot of effort. To do this, simply cut a lemon in half and then squeeze the juice while rubbing it around the stained cutting board. Then put the board outside and leave it in the sun all day.
- Vinegar is a great and all-natural home remedy that can disinfect your plastic cutting board. It eats the bacteria and allows for fresh cleaning. Simply pour some white vinegar over your cutting board periodically after cutting and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. Then you should rinse it off with warm water.
- Rinse your cutting board with a mild dishwashing detergent after disinfecting it to make sure you've eliminated all bacteria. Some people use diluted bleach to disinfect their kitchen boards, and it can work just like vinegar. However, to avoid loading chemicals into your food, the above methods are preferable.
- If possible, put your cutting boards in the dishwasher. One of the advantages of non-porous plastic is that it is also dishwasher safe. The hot cycle in the dishwasher is therefore one of the best ways to disinfect your cutting board.
- If your plastic cutting board is dirty with grease and odors, you can simply treat it with baking soda. Baking soda is also very good as an odor remover. Sprinkle and spread it on the board with a little water when rinsing. If soap and water don't remove the onion smell from your cutting board, baking soda certainly will.
- Even with stubborn stains, let the baking soda work for a few minutes and then scrub the dirty area thoroughly. If the stain is stubborn and won't come off, add a little more and let it sit a little longer.
