The Three Rules of Cleaning: Clean, Disinfect and Dry
1) Clean
To clean using hot water, sponge and a light amount of soap, scrub off any foods and fluids that have come into touch with the board. Scientific evidence shows that in cleaning, the volume of water matters more than anything, as it washes away bacteria and particles, so make sure you run it under lots of water and especially on scarred sections that are good at trapping food particles.
2) Disinfect
To disinfect, use pure white vinegar. Note that any vinegar other than pure white vinegar may impart smells to your board that are undesired. This will kill bacteria and germs, as they can only live within certain pH conditions. To apply, soak a cloth in the vinegar, then wipe the board down thoroughly with the wet cloth.
If your board has any sour or mold-like smell, you can cut lemons in half and rub the board down with the sides of the lemon. Let sit for a few minutes before rinsing off.
3) Dry
After you have disinfected your board, the most important part is to wipe it with a dry cloth. This last step is the most important for maintaining your cutting board, as water permeating the wood is what causes the wood fibers to swell and then warp your board. This is why you should never soak your cutting board in water and never put it in the dishwasher.
Just as important as washing it is using mineral oil to help protect it. Water soaking into the fibers is what causes the wood to swell, warp, crack, etc. Mineral oil fills in the tiny fibers and stops water from soaking in. Before you got your cutting board from us, it was submerged in mineral oil for at least 24 hours, then wiped down with a clean rag. We then wipe on our own mixture of Mineral oil and beeswax and let it sit overnight. The next day we buff the oil and wax off with a clean rag. Part of normal use should include treating it with mineral oil or a mix of mineral oil and beeswax once a week. Doing this should keep the board healthy for decades.
Things You Should Never Do
1.) Leave your cutting board soaking in water. The water will expand the wood fibers and crack the wood.
2.) Let blood pool on the wood for long periods so that it soaks in
3.) Do NOT put your cutting board into the dishwasher
