http://www.care2.com/greenliving/cutting-board-cleaner-green-makeover.html
Cutting Board Cleaner: Green Makeover
By Annie B. Bond
Cleaning a cutting board thoroughly so that it doesn’t harbor bacteria is important to protect your family’s health. But in doing so you don’t want to add new environmental problems such as the overgrowth of superbacteria, which disinfectants can cause. Here’s what to do instead:
While I recommend people cut meat on plates and wash the plates in a dishwasher so that the hot water sterilizes the plate, I am aware that most of us use our cutting boards for a wide variety of chopping duties.
Reduce concern about deadly bacteria growing in your cutting board using these simple options:
1. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that soap and water kills bacteria. Wash the cutting board with soap and water (note to use real liquid soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s); it is effective to do this using a good scrub brush, to get into all the nooks and crannies.
2. Wash with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide alternated with straight white distilled vinegar. Let each material rest on the cutting board for 10 minutes or so before rinsing.
3. If you like the smell of lavender, make an antibacterial spray by mixing about 10 drops of the pure essential oil of lavender to 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend. Spray on the cutting board and don’t rinse.
I am on the lookout for a safe, EPA-registered herbal disinfectant. Stay tuned.
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30 comments
add your comment »I don't know if anyone has tried sanding down the surface of a wood cutting board after years of use. would that be a realistic & safe option?
anyway- I have two wood cutting boards from the 1970's that I still use for cutting everything. One has a burn mark from a hot stove, the other has a crack in it. I have only had a dishwasher since the mid 1990's & before that always washed them with dish soap & water.
These days, I stick them in the dish washer, but have cut just about everything on them. I raised 2 relatively healthy kids without much concern about bacteria.
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I would like to say that im pleased to see Dr. Bronners soap mentioned for cleaning counters and cutting boards. I just started using Dr. Bronners for everything in my home and i love it. I mixed 1 tbsp of his cleaner called Sal Suds, 1 tbsp of his Lavendar scented castile (vegetable) soap with 2 caps of bleach in 1 gallon water jug then put it into spray bottle and spray all my countertops, table, walls, and garbages. I let it soak for a minute then effortlessly wipe away food and germs. My house gets really messy with 3 year old twin boys and because of that i need safe non-toxic ways to clean. Im also a nurse and very concerned about germs and not breeding superbacteria in my house by using disinfectants constantly. Just wash them away, what little that remains wont be strong enough to harm you unlike killing 99.9%them and leaving only the strongest .01% to reproduce in your kitchen! I clean everything effortlessly with Dr. Bronners and Baking soda! I buy it cheap from vitaminwharehouse.com.
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Julie, I use a vinegar and water solution in a spray bottle to clean kitchen countertops... works great!
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Does anyone have a great recipe for kitchen counters. I clean homes for a living and I am putting together a supply of all natural products to use in my customers homes. The only thing I can't seem to find a recipe for is a really good antibacterial spray for kitchen counters. HELP PLEASE!
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the best I have heard of and use to this day is slicing a lemon in half, sprinkle coarse salt on the board and rub with the half of lemon like a sponge...smells great, works great!!!
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I love wood, but have used glass cutting boards for the last several years. Much easier to clean.
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I use a product from Melaleuca. It has been approved by Health Canada. Main ingredient is Thyme. It is all-natural and safe around babies. It is guaranteed to kill HIV, Samonella to name a few bacterias. Here is a link to one of my favorite products. http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/index.cfm?f=ps.productDetail&pid=1074&pType=1&sCatId=162
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I dry it in the sun its' a great bacteria killer(after washing naturally)
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As long as you remember to throughly rinse your boards with BOILING hot water, it should not cause any problems. by hubby also cannot have grapefruit and licorice is another product that should be avoided by those who are on any kind of high blood pressure,heart and related medical issues.
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I take a half a lemon and wipe the board completely with it squeezing some of the juice onto the cutting board and let it stand for about ten minutes. You don't have to rinse it but if you want you can with hot water. It works well!
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