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Things you will need:
- ½ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 20 drops tea tree essential oil
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Do you want to properly clean your cutting boards using natural ingredients?
Cutting boards are important kitchen tools. We use them every day whenever we prepare meals and other kinds of food Basically, there are three kinds of cutting boards: plastic, wooden, and bamboo. Most people would say that a wooden cutting board is the best choice when it comes to choosing cutting boards. Cutting boards made of wood are beautiful and they are gentle on knives. The cuts of the knife don’t become scars on wood because it is self-healing. A wooden cutting board is also durable and can be used for a long time if properly maintained.
Bamboo is another kind of cutting board. It’s not only very attractive but bamboo is also a natural and readily renewable resource. However bamboo is harder than wood so it is a little harder on knives.
Plastic cutting boards are generally cheaper than the other kinds of cutting boards. Plastic is not very hard so knives can easily leave cuts or scars on the cutting board. Furthermore, these cuts are unsightly and become breeding grounds of bacteria.
Regardless of what material they are made of, cutting boards can become infected with bacteria and fungi, after use. They are the perfect environment for harmful bacteria to thrive like E. coli, Salmonella and Staph. Plain warm water and soap are not enough to disinfect cutting boards.
TIPS ON HOW TO CLEAN CUTTING BOARDS
1. Use two different cutting boards. One for ready-to-eat foods like bread and vegetables and one strictly for raw meat, poultry, and seafood. Make sure not to confuse the two. It is a good option to buy cutting boards in different colors to remember which one is for raw meat.
2. Do not use bleach to clean your cutting boards. Bleach is dangerous when inhaled and swallowed and they should not be used on cutting boards.
3. Clean cutting boards every after use. Most people clean plastic and bamboo cutting boards in the dishwasher. But wooden cutting boards should not go in the dishwasher.
4. Wooden cutting boards can be cleaned with hot, soapy water but avoid soaking them because wood is absorbent.
5. Make sure the cutting boards are absolutely dry before storing them. Bacteria thrive in a moist environment. After washing, you wipe your cutting board with a dry clean cloth. Let it air dry but do not just set it flat on the counter. Prop it upright on a rack for even drying.
6. Use an essential oil spray to disinfect and sanitize your cutting boards. Many essential oils are antibacterial and antifungal.
DIRECTIONS
1. Pour the Apple Cider Vinegar and water in a glass spray bottle.
2. Add tea tree essential oil and shake well.
3. Spray on the surfaces of the cutting board and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
4. Rinse off with running water.
5. Let it dry. The proper way to dry a cutting board is to prop it upright in a drying rack so that the underside is exposed to the air and it can dry evenly.
The Apple Cider Vinegar is effective in disinfecting all surfaces, even wood. It can also eliminate bad smells. Tea tree essential oil is antibacterial and antifungal. The oil fills in the little cracks and crevices which is where water and bacteria love to hide. This natural spray can disinfect your cutting boards without any harmful residues.
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