How to Clean and Sanitize a Cutting Board

A person cleans a green cutting board over a soapy kitchen sink. Bright afternoon light shines from the window.

Cutting boards don’t only get dirty, they get germy. Here are a couple of simple ways to safely clean and sanitize your cutting boards, with or without bleach.

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By Mary Gagliardi

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Use as directed.

Group shot of Clorox disinfecting bleach, wipes, toilet cleaner and multi-purpose spray products.

It’s important to keep safety in mind when cleaning or disinfecting kitchen surfaces. This is especially true with cutting boardsthat directly contact your food. We can show you how to keep your plastic, wood or bamboo cutting boards clean and safe for meal prep, whether you decide to use a simple bleach solution or opt for bleach-free products. 

For bleach-free cleaning and sanitizing, use Free & Clear Disinfecting and Sanitizing Mist and Free & Clear Spray, two great products that are safe to use around kids, pets and food!* Just spray and go, no rinse required.

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Cleaning and sanitizing with bleach

Gather your supplies

Steps to sanitize a cutting board with bleach

  1. Pre-clean the cutting board

    Use the sponge and the dish detergent to wash the cutting board with hot soapy water, then rinse with clean water.

    A person cleans a green cutting board over a soapy kitchen sink. Bright afternoon light shines from the window.

  2. Make the bleach sanitizing solution

    Measure 1 gallon of water (16 cups) into the plastic dishpan, then add 2 teaspoons Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach.

    Tip

    Bleach and water solutions must be made fresh daily.

    A simple closeup shot of clear liquid being poured out of a clean glass.

  3. Sanitize the cutting board

    Use the sponge to wipe the cutting board with the bleach and water solution, reapplying as needed so the surfaces stay wet. Smaller cutting boards can simply soak in the solution in the plastic dishpan.

    Tip

    To sanitize, surfaces must stay wet for 2 minutes.

    Hands with rubber gloves in a plastic bucket.

  4. Air dry

    There is no rinsing step when sanitizing food-contact surfaces with a bleach and water solution. Simply set the cutting board aside to air dry, an make sure it is allowed to air dry completely before use.

    open window ventilation

Cleaning and sanitizing with Free & Clear

Gather your supplies

Steps to sanitize a cutting board with Free & Clear Mist

  1. Pre-clean the cutting board

    Use the sponge and the dish detergent to wash the cutting board with hot soapy water, then rinse with clean water.

    A person cleans a green cutting board over a soapy kitchen sink. Bright afternoon light shines from the window.

  2. Sanitize the cutting board

    Hold Clorox® Free & Clear Disinfecting Mist 6-8 inches away from the surface and spray the cutting board until thoroughly wet.

    Tip

    Surface must remain visibly wet for 1 minutes to sanitize, or 2 minutes to disinfect.

    Hand spraying Clorox Free & Clear Disinfecting Mist at downward angle on neutral background.

  3. Allow to dry

    Treated surfaces will air dry in a few minutes, or they can be wiped dry with a paper towel.

    open window ventilation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I clean kitchen surfaces with the Free & Clear products?

The Free & Clear product line is safe to use around food, pets and kids so you can clean kitchen surfaces with both the Free & Clear Compostable Cleaning Wipes or the Free & Clear Multi-Surface Spray Cleaner. No rinsing after cleaning is required.

  • *

    When used as directed.