You probably never thought about deep cleaning your wood spoons and neither did I. After reading about bacteria, old wood particles, and how lingering orders work their way in I decided it was time to learn how to deep clean my wooden spoons.
I had no idea what was living in my wood spoons!
Of course I wash after use with soap and hot water, but I’ve never done a deep clean. Wood is porous so the debris gets trapped inside which means bacteria, old food particles, and lingering orders work their way deep into the grain. Over time and regular washings doesn’t reach what’s hiding in the wood. Once I learned this I had to research ways to deep clean my wood pieces.
I recently deep-cleaned my wood utensils. It took about 15 minutes, that’s i! Here’s everything you need to know.
Why soap and water isn’t enough
Even with daily washings, wooden spoons can hold on to things you can’t see. Here’s what’s actually hiding in your wooden spoons and utensils. Also, make sure you wash your wood cutting boards too!
- Soap and water sit on the surface and don’t penetrate deep enough to pull out what’s in the wood.
- Heat and moisture over time create the perfect environment for mold and bacteria to grow inside the grain.
- Wood absorbs flavors and odors from everything you cook, think garlic and onion.
- Old bacteria can transfer from one meal to the next without you realizing it.
How I Deep Clean My Wooden Spoons
- Warm a pot of water. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
- Place the spoons in the water for a few minutes. Remove, rinse, and then use a soft cloth to dry.
- Once the spoons have dried completely, treat with coconut oil, food grade mineral oil, or (unscented) spoon butter. Here’s my recipe. Make sure to make a batch with and without essential oil.
- Avoid soaking your spoons for more that a few minutes to prevent premature cracking, warping, etc.
- If you notice your spoons have lost their luster and are beginning to crack or chip, toss and buy new ones.
How often should I deep clean my wooden spoons?
It also depends on how often you use you wooden spoons. Your spoons should be washed with a gently soap and dried completely prior to using again. Deep cleaning (in hot or boiling water) should be done seldom.
Here is some important information to consider when cleaning your spoons:
Is Boiling Safe?
While many swear by boiling, experts agree that it should not be done frequently as it can strip natural oils and cause the wood to crack.
What to Avoid:
- Avoid putting wooden spoons in the dishwasher. The high heat and water pressure will cause warping and splitting.
- Avoid prolonged soaking. This allows food particles and odor to absorb deeper into the gain.
Alternative cleaning
- Clean with kosher salt and a half of a lemon. Make a paste and allow to sit for a few minutes. Rinse and dry completely. Use Kosher or sea salt for better abrasion.
- Conditioning: After the spoons are dry, apply food-grade mineral oil or coconut oil to keep them from drying out or absorbing future odors.
Your wooden spoons work hard for your family every day. This is a simple way to take care of the tools that take care of you.
Have you tried this before? Drop a comment below. I’d love to know if this surprised you as much as it did me!
Leslie
