How to Remove Black Stains from Wooden Cutting Board

A wooden cutting boards are prone to get black stains because of various kinds of molds and other reasons like food contaminations. If the cutting board is made of a porous piece of wood, then the fine-looking wooden cutting board turns into a filthy-looking one with growing dark spots.

Therefore, “how to remove black stains from wooden cutting board” has become a general question. However, wooden cutting boards require constant maintenance with oil or wax massaging.

Otherwise, the surface of the board loses its natural sebum and helps bacteria, mold, and mildew to grow without any obstacles. Besides, the high carbon stainless steel makes knives add an extra bad effect to the black stain.

However, it’s time we know how to get rid of the black stains of a wooden cutting board thoroughly.

4 Ways to Remove Black Stains from Wooden Cutting Board:

Black stains are not hygienic when you are preparing food on a wooden cutting board. The stains carry many toxic mold and mildew and they only grow over time. If you don’t take enough steps to reduce the chances of the growth of the microbial organisms, then the wooden cutting board will become a dwelling place of bacteria and fungus.

[ WARNING: Before, we proceed to the ways of removing black stains from a wooden cutting board you need to know that wood carries some natural marks on it. If you buy a new wooden cutting board and see it has stains, remember these stains are natural and very mild. You can easily make the difference between a black stain caused by food contamination, molds, or heavy strokes of high carbon steel-made knives and a mild stain caused by natural effects.]

These natural effects provide the right moisture to the cutting board. Besides, the natural extraction of the superficial marks spreads a natural mild fragrance to the cutting board as well.

If you try to remove that thinking it’s a mold attack, you’ll get a reverse result and your wooden cutting board might get cracked or warped eventually. Therefore, before you take steps to remove the actual filthy and black stains, make sure you are not destroying the natural extraction of the wooden cutting board.

So, now that we’re enough aware of the consequences of cleaning off natural stains from a wooden cutting board, let’s adopt the solutions to clean the actual black stains.

Way 1. Natural Solution – Clean with Lemon and Salt:

You can adopt many natural solutions to get rid of the black stain. One of the popular natural solutions to come out of this problem is using lemon and salt. For “not so severe condition”, these ingredients can be used regularly to alleviate the spreading of the black stains. Besides, both of the ingredients carry natural bleaching formula and works effectively together. Follow the steps to get a proper satisfying result.

Step 1: First, take a towel and wet it in hot water. Then wipe the wooden cutting board with the hot wet towel so it loses the bonds of the black stain caused by mold.

Step 2: Then take another dry towel and wipe the cutting board thoroughly and nicely to dry off the wet cutting board immediately.

Step 3: After that, grab some coarse salt and sprinkle it on the cutting board properly. Also, take a lemon and squeeze the juice over the cutting board.

Step 4: Then take half of the lemon and start to scrub the surface of the cutting board over and over with it until you think the black stain is removed. Make smaller circular motions while scrubbing. It will make sure that you covered every space of that cutting board.

Step 5: Next, you grab the hot wet towel again and wipe down all the salt and lemon from the cutting board. Then efface all the excess ingredients from the board with the dry towel. It will give your board an even smooth texture.

Step 6: Lastly, use mineral oil and massage the surface of the cutting board to keep it away from warping or cracking. Make sure you do this process on both sides of the wooden cutting board for a successful result. Read Also: 6 Best Spray Bottle for Bleach Solution 2021.

Way 2. Deep Cleaning Solution – Vinegar and Baking Soda:

A deep cleaning solution is required if your wooden cutting board has serious kinds of black stains and bacterial built-in. This cleaning solution will help the cutting board to get rid of the sour odor as well. For this solution, you will be needed vinegar and baking soda.

The antibacterial, antifungal, and acetic acid components in vinegar help to abolish the fungal attack of the cutting board with the help of baking soda. Apply the following steps to get a suitable result.

 Step 1: Take equal proportionate white vinegar and baking soda in two different cups.

Step 2: Then pour a cup of baking soda thoroughly on the surface of the board. Take the cup of vinegar and apply it on the surface as well.

Step 3: To make the formula efficient, wait for a few minutes. After that, give the wooden cutting board a gentle and effective rinse. The black stains might already be gone by the time.

Step 4: To prevent your cutting board to absorb water furthermore, give it a good massage with neutral or mineral oil.

Way 3. Bleaching Solution:

Many people don’t even get the effective and desired result by applying a natural solution or deep solution. In a situation like this, you can adopt the bleaching solution to remove the stubborn black stains and the mildews that linger with the stain from the surface and make it sparkling again. Chlorine bleach is the most effective bleach to accomplish the job. Though it comes with chemical properties, it’s safe when you dilute it properly.

To make the right chlorine bleaching solution, take 1 tablespoon of it per gallon of water. Place the bleaching solution on the cutting board and scrub the surface gently with a kitchen scrubber. Continue scrubbing the surface until it pulls out every stain on the board. Then rinse the board with clean water and make sure there is no chlorine bleach is presented on the board. Then make it dry and take some solid steps so the stains don’t get back.

Way 4. Other Cleaning Solutions:

Besides, some other solutions can provide the same satisfying result in abolishing black stains from a wooden cutting board. The methods of applying these solutions are more or less the same. So, let’s just know about the solutions.

a) Making a Paste of Bicarbonate Soda:

This bicarbonate soda can be turned into a paste by adding salt, vinegar, lemon, and the right amount of water. Use the paste as a scrubber and apply it following the same method that we’ve explained before.

b) Hydrogen Peroxide:

3 % of the hydrogen peroxide is okay to remove black stains. Especially, it helps in removing stains that happen because of the heavy thrashing of high-carbon stainless steel-made knives. You are supposed to spray the solution on the cutting board and rub the dark spots with a clean cloth. Then follow the same method as before.

How Can You Save Your Wooden Cutting Boards from Black Stains:

A wooden cutting board requires maintenance to save it from getting black stains again. Once you are done with removing the dark spots of the board, you better adopt a routine of taking care of your wooden cutting board whenever requires. If you provide some attention to your cutting board and apply the following maintenance, you’ll get many privileges from the board.

1. Wash the wooden cutting board thoroughly after heavy use with warm water. And then dry off the surface with a dry towel instantly, so the board cannot absorb the moisture in it.
2. After cleaning the board, don’t lay it on a countertop. Instead, make it stand so the moisture doesn’t get trapped into the pores of the wood. Better to dry off the excess water, let the natural heat of UV ray come to the direction where you make the wet cutting board stand.
3. Never put the cutting board in the dishwasher. Because it cannot stand the heat that the dishwasher provides. Also, never put your filthy wooden cutting board to soak into the water. It will only worsen the board and make it cracked and warped.
4. To massage your cutting board, choose neutral or mineral oil. Don’t apply any food oil or olive oil because if you do, it will leave a sticky feeling to the board and you’ll have a problem preparing vegetables on the same surface. Take a cloth and dab it on the surface to remove extra oil. Then let the board soak the oil for a day.

FAQs:

Question: How to clean an old wooden cutting board?

Answer: If you intend to use an old wooden cutting board, you have to disinfectant it first. To do the disinfecting job, use vinegar and let the board soak into it for some time. Vinegar carries properties to tear up the dwelling of mold and mildew very well. After that, clean the board with warm water.

And then wipe out the excess water. Sprinkle some good amount of coarse sea salt and pour the juice of a lemon. Then scrub the surface with a half lemon properly in a circular motion. Then rinse the board with water and the dark spots will be gone. Then wipe the board with a dry cloth and let the damp board dry in natural heat.

Last Updated on October 1, 2024 by Rogers Weber

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