Best Ways to Remove Stubborn Stains from Your Plastic Chopping Boards!
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Chopping boards are a kitchen staple – the more you use them, the more you realise just how essential they are for all kinds of food preparation! Plus, there are some options out there, like plastic chopping boards, that are reasonably priced, so you can buy a few to have on hand at all times.
However, plastic chopping boards are far from perfect – the main issue being that they often accumulate deep gashes and cuts in the surface from vigorous chopping. Not only do these marks make the board look unappetising, but they can also become breeding grounds for nasty bacteria.
The best advice is to make cleaning and maintaining your chopping boards a priority. Clean them regularly and properly, and you can avoid any potential health risks. Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we’re always on the lookout for less time-consuming ways to keep our kitchenware sparkling and hygienic.
The good news is that there are plenty of different cleaning methods for plastic chopping boards, depending on how dirty your board is, and whether you prefer to use natural or chemical cleaners. Let’s take a look at the best ways to remove those surface stains and keep your kitchen neat and tidy!
The Easiest Way: The Dishwasher
One of the best ways to give your plastic chopping boards a deep clean is to put them in the dishwasher. The high heat of the water and the powerful combination of soap and detergent will take care of any dirt and residue. Using the dishwasher is a great way to keep your boards fresh. However, note that if you clean your plastic chopping board this way regularly, the material can start to warp, so it's best to keep it to once a month and do the rest of the cleaning by hand.
The Most Common Way: Bleach
If your chopping board has gotten really dirty and is full of unpleasant stains, many experts agree that nothing works better than bleach. Don’t worry, the diluted bleach solution you create will not harm your plastic board, and can help remove even the toughest stains.
To create the solution, mix one teaspoon of bleach with four cups of tap water – use a sponge to scrub your board with the diluted bleach, then rinse with soap and water once you're finished. For safety, you should wear gloves when cleaning with bleach, to avoid skin irritation, so have them handy when scrubbing.
The Natural Way: Lemon Juice
Not everybody wants to use harsh chemicals like bleach on the surfaces their food will come into contact with. For those of you who prefer to use more natural cleaning agents, lemon juice is a great option. Start by cutting a lemon in half, then squeeze the juice (or, if you find it too hard on your hands, you can buy a bottle of ready-made lemon juice) all over the board. This method won’t remove tough stains, but it will disinfect the board as lemon juice is a natural antibacterial agent.
The Secret Cleaner: Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide & Dish Soap
If you have the ingredients and the time, you could try this combination method to really bring life back to your chopping board. Start by mixing 4 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and 2 tablespoons of food-grade hydrogen peroxide. Spread the DIY cleaning agent over the chopping board and let it sit overnight. In the morning, rinse it with water and soap. Although this may take more time, it will show better results than the lemon juice method.
Sometimes, cleaning may seem like an exhausting chore, but it’ll always pay off when it comes to the health of you and your family. So keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to enjoy the convenience of plastic chopping boards while keeping them good as new for longer. So, what do you think, members? How do you clean your chopping boards?
However, plastic chopping boards are far from perfect – the main issue being that they often accumulate deep gashes and cuts in the surface from vigorous chopping. Not only do these marks make the board look unappetising, but they can also become breeding grounds for nasty bacteria.
The best advice is to make cleaning and maintaining your chopping boards a priority. Clean them regularly and properly, and you can avoid any potential health risks. Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we’re always on the lookout for less time-consuming ways to keep our kitchenware sparkling and hygienic.
Clean and bacteria-free plastic chopping board. Image: Freepik.
The good news is that there are plenty of different cleaning methods for plastic chopping boards, depending on how dirty your board is, and whether you prefer to use natural or chemical cleaners. Let’s take a look at the best ways to remove those surface stains and keep your kitchen neat and tidy!
The Easiest Way: The Dishwasher
One of the best ways to give your plastic chopping boards a deep clean is to put them in the dishwasher. The high heat of the water and the powerful combination of soap and detergent will take care of any dirt and residue. Using the dishwasher is a great way to keep your boards fresh. However, note that if you clean your plastic chopping board this way regularly, the material can start to warp, so it's best to keep it to once a month and do the rest of the cleaning by hand.
The Most Common Way: Bleach
If your chopping board has gotten really dirty and is full of unpleasant stains, many experts agree that nothing works better than bleach. Don’t worry, the diluted bleach solution you create will not harm your plastic board, and can help remove even the toughest stains.
To create the solution, mix one teaspoon of bleach with four cups of tap water – use a sponge to scrub your board with the diluted bleach, then rinse with soap and water once you're finished. For safety, you should wear gloves when cleaning with bleach, to avoid skin irritation, so have them handy when scrubbing.
Secret ingredients to remove stains from chopping boards! Image: Freepik.
The Natural Way: Lemon Juice
Not everybody wants to use harsh chemicals like bleach on the surfaces their food will come into contact with. For those of you who prefer to use more natural cleaning agents, lemon juice is a great option. Start by cutting a lemon in half, then squeeze the juice (or, if you find it too hard on your hands, you can buy a bottle of ready-made lemon juice) all over the board. This method won’t remove tough stains, but it will disinfect the board as lemon juice is a natural antibacterial agent.
The Secret Cleaner: Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide & Dish Soap
If you have the ingredients and the time, you could try this combination method to really bring life back to your chopping board. Start by mixing 4 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and 2 tablespoons of food-grade hydrogen peroxide. Spread the DIY cleaning agent over the chopping board and let it sit overnight. In the morning, rinse it with water and soap. Although this may take more time, it will show better results than the lemon juice method.
Sometimes, cleaning may seem like an exhausting chore, but it’ll always pay off when it comes to the health of you and your family. So keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to enjoy the convenience of plastic chopping boards while keeping them good as new for longer. So, what do you think, members? How do you clean your chopping boards?
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