Wooden kitchen utensils, such as a wooden spoon and wooden cutting boards, are functional staples in the kitchen that provide a natural feel to the space, as well as a lightweight cooking tool safe enough to use on non-stick pots and pans. However, they can easily absorb dirt and oils, which can be difficult to remove.
What You'll Need
You will need cleaning solutions that will remove odors, oils, and stains from your wooden utensils. Cleaning wooden spoons and other utensils with mild dish soap after every use is helpful in preventing stains, but to clean stained wooden utensils, you will need some supplies:
- Mild dish soap
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
- Salt mixture - Fine and coarse salt
- Hot water
- Sponge
- Dish drying towel
How to Clean Wooden Kitchen Utensils: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Wash Your Utensils Thoroughly
Use hot water and dish soap to wash your utensils as you normally would, making sure to get into each crevice. Use a soft sponge with an abrasive side to scrub away at the food stains and dried food bits. Rinse, and pat dry before moving onto the next step.
Step 2: Squeeze Lemon Juice Over Wooden Spoons
Squeeze the juice of one lemon over your wooden utensils. Place wooden spoons in a container to keep the juice in, while the acidic solution can be squeezed directly onto cutting boards. The acid in lemon should dissolve stains, making them easier to lift out later on. You may use white vinegar instead, but the smell may be off-putting. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
Step 3: Add Salt and Baking Soda
Add a mixture of fine and coarse ground salt, and baking soda over your wooden spoons and utensils. Let the mixture bubble, then use a clean cloth, sponge, or lemon rind to scrub these wooden surfaces clean.
Using two sizes of salt allows you to get into the small crevices, while baking soda is both an abrasive scrubber, as well as a stain remover and deodorizer. This cleaning mixture will also kill mold, and remove bacteria from wooden spoons and other utensils.
Step 4: Scrub the Stains Away
Scrub all over the areas where the stains are heaviest, and don't forget to scrub the handles as well. Use a clean toothbrush or wire brush to scrub through the slots in your wooden spoon, and make sure you scrub every inch of the wooden surface to remove the stains.
Step 5: Rinse, and Store Upright to Dry
Wooden kitchenware must be dried before storing. Rinse the utensils, pat dry with a kitchen towel, and store them in a well-ventilated area to air dry completely. It is best to seal dry wooden items with an edible oil, such as coconut oil, olive oil, or a mineral oil to create a water-resistant layer.
Tips on Maintaining Your Wooden Utensils
Clean wooden spoons and other kitchen utensils each time you use them to prevent food and oil stains. Doing so will keep your wooden utensils in good condition, and will minimize the odors coming from your wooden spoons as well. Here are other maintenance tips:
- Never place your wooden utensils in the dishwasher, especially a wooden spoon. Wood can splinter and break when exposed to high heat coupled with pressurized water. Wash your wooden utensils by hand instead.
- Seal your wooden utensils with mineral oil - a food-safe oil that seeps into each wooden utensil to create a water-resistant protective layer that prevents mold.
- Store wooden utensils dry. Storing utensils when wet or with food stains will increase the likelihood of your wooden spoon gathering mold.
- Avoid soaking your wooden spoons, especially during cooking. This will allow the wood to absorb the food based oils, smells, and stains from your cooking.
- Avoid using excessive force when dealing with wooden cutting boards as they may splinter or scratch with excess force from the knife.
Keep Cooking!
Cooking with wooden utensils is a great way to prevent scratching your pots and pans, and works well in baking mixes, stirring stews, and rolling out dough. Keep cooking and baking without the mess as our team at Luce will keep your kitchen clean! Our regular cleaning and deep house cleaning services will get rid of those stains for good!
Give us a call to schedule your next cleaning session, and experience the difference!
