Cutting boards are an important tool in the kitchen. They protect your countertop from damage when preparing foods, as well as from the stains that occur when certain foods come in contact with your counter's surface. The juice from strawberries leaves a pink stain when it lingers on any surface. Though it stains your cutting boards, too, it's much easier to remove a strawberry stain from a cutting board than it is from a natural stone countertop.

  • Cutting boards are an important tool in the kitchen.
  • Though it stains your cutting boards, too, it's much easier to remove a strawberry stain from a cutting board than it is from a natural stone countertop.

Wet the surface of your cutting board with a little warm water. Sprinkle baking soda onto the wet cutting board. Use enough to make a thin coating.

A nylon dish scrubber cleans your cutting board without scratching.

Scrub your cutting board's surface with a nylon dish scrubber to work the baking soda into a watery paste. Let the baking soda soak into the surface of your cutting board for a few minutes. The natural abrasiveness of baking soda helps remove the strawberry stains and also deodorises your cutting board.

  • Scrub your cutting board's surface with a nylon dish scrubber to work the baking soda into a watery paste.
  • Let the baking soda soak into the surface of your cutting board for a few minutes.

Lay your cutting board with the baking soda still on it in a dishpan. Pour white vinegar over the surface of the cutting board and allow it to foam for a few minutes. The vinegar works with the baking soda to help remove the strawberry stain and sanitises your cutting board as well.

Rinse off your cutting board with warm water. If any strawberry stain remains, mix one tsp liquid bleach with one quart water and soak the cutting board for a couple minutes. Rinse again with water and allow your cutting board to air dry completely.

TIP

Diluted bleach can also be used to sanitise your cutting board. Season your cutting board with oil once each month to keep stain-causing material from soaking into a wooden cutting board. Wash and sanitise your cutting board after using it to prepare raw meat or fish.

WARNING

Never soak a wooden cutting board for more than a few minutes. The wood absorbs the water, causing it to crack.