Regular use cooking essentials like carving boards and kitchen cutlery need to be cleaned and sanitized frequently. Here are some techniques that you can use to disinfect your kitchenware.

Hot Water and Soap
Scrub your carving boards and kitchen cutlery with a mixture of hot water and soap. Rinse them thoroughly and pat dry with a soft cloth. Wood is porous so make sure that you do not submerge cutting boards and knives in water as that can cause the wood to soak up water and become dry. This is a major cause of brittle boards and warped knife handles.

Vinegar
Sanitize your carving boards and kitchen cutlery by wiping them with full-strength white vinegar after each use. The acetic acid in the vinegar is a good disinfectant, effective against such harmful bugs as E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Vinegar is a good cleaning agent for people who suffer from chemical allergies. Keep a spray bottle of undiluted vinegar handy for easy cleaning and sanitizing.

Hydrogen Peroxide
A solution of three parts of hydrogen peroxide can also be used as an antibacterial wash. To kill germs from carving boards and kitchen cutlery, use a paper towel to wipe them down with vinegar, and then use another paper towel with the hydrogen peroxide solution.

Lemon
Another very easy technique is to rub fresh lemon juice or rub a cut lemon over the surface of the cutting board or knife to neutralize onion and garlic odors. Rinse the board and knife after 20 minutes. After rinsing, you may need to re-season as the acid of the lemon can remove the layer of seasoning oil.

Coarse Salt or Baking Soda
Rub the board and knife with coarse sea salt or baking soda. Let them stand for a few minutes and wipe the salt or baking soda, and then rinse. You may need to re-season after rinsing your cutting board and knife.

Line a pan or dish with aluminum foil, fill with three inches of water, and mix in a tablespoon of baking soda. Place knives in the water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a toothbrush to scrub the knives and their handles and remove any crud.

Authors Profile: Xavier Thomasa is a certified interior designer and runs his own interior decoration consultancy. Xavier especially loves decorating a home in wooden furniture and believes that nothing gives a home as warm and cozy a touch as all-wood furniture and decor.
Xavier loves reading up on new design ideas, and has a special interest in space saving techniques. Here Xavier writes about carving boards and kitchen cutlery.