Wooden spoons are one of the most common household appliances available in the kitchen. You can use it regularly while cooking while eating, but not everyone knows how to clean a wooden spoon properly. Join us to learn ways to clean wooden spoons in the following article.
Clean the wooden spoon after use
Kitchen tools must be used regularly, and for a long time, they are easy to get dirty, difficult to clean, increase the risk of infection, mold, … especially with wooden spoons. Therefore, it is essential to clean it immediately after use.
+ Rinse immediately after use
Immediately after using, wash the spoon under running water. Warm water will work best. Do not soak the knife in soapy water because soapy water usually contains chemicals and bacteria, so it is easy to stick on the spoon, affecting the user’s health. Moreover, it is not advisable to soak furniture in water for a long time because it can cause cracking or breaking the spoon.
+ Wash the spoon with your hands
Every day, you can wash the spoon with mild detergent and warm water. Use your hands or dishcloth to lather, clean the silverware. With a wooden spoon, do not use a dishwasher to wash it because it will reduce the spoon’s life, making the wooden surface no longer beautiful.
+ Rinse and dry the towel
Scrub, rinse thoroughly any stains on the spoon. Then let it dry or use a soft, clean towel to dry the spoon before storing, as moisture can cause mold to grow, warp, damage the spoon, or sometimes go undetected. But still, using it can affect the health of everyone in the family.
Use home remedies to disinfect and get rid of odors.
+ Wear gloves before cleaning with bleach and other skin irritants.
With an old wooden spoon, it will not take long to clean. You need to wear gloves and use the right detergent (usually only mild detergent and warm water). Wearing gloves will help you avoid irritation and discomfort when washing the spoon.
+ Remove food stains using baking soda and lemon juice.
You can use some safe detergents such as baking soda and lemon juice for stubborn stains because you should not use harsh detergents in cleaning cookware to avoid chemical effects-harmful substances.
The way is straightforward:
- First, add baking soda to the spoon and spread the spoon evenly, especially in stained areas.
- Put just enough lemon juice on top to make a paste with soda.
- Use your fingers or a soft cloth to stroke the wood grain.
- Rinse the spoon thoroughly with warm water.
- If the spoon is still dirty, repeat the above procedure.
+ Sterilize with hydrogen peroxide
Making
- Place a wooden spoon in a basin or sink.
- Fill the spoon with enough Hydrogen peroxide.
- Use your hands or dishcloth to spread the solution around the spoon.
- Wait a few minutes for the Hydrogen peroxide to soak into the spoon and get the best antibacterial effect.
- Rinse the spoon again
- Alternatively, you can replace Hydrogen peroxide with vinegar.
+ Soak a wooden spoon in vinegar to eliminate odors.
In addition to the sterilization step, we also need to deodorize the spoon. The steps are as follows:
- You can mix vinegar and hot water (ratio 1: 1).
- Soak the spoon in the solution above, making sure the water covers the spoon.
- Should only soak for less than 30 minutes.
- Rinse spoon thoroughly with hot water and dry immediately
You can add a few drops of lemon juice to the soaking solution to increase the deodorizing effect, and should perform disinfection and deodorization periodically at least once a month.
+ Soak in mild bleach.
You can soak the spoon in a mild bleach solution for a few minutes if the stain is too difficult to remove. With wooden spoons that have been left for too long, when cleaning, you should also do this step to remove dust, bacteria, and mold hidden on the spoon.
Air-conditioning and storage of wooden utensils
+ Check your spoon periodically for signs of wear, dirt, or grease.
After the cleaning step, it is essential to check the wooden spoon during its use periodically.
You can check whether the spoon has been changed, such as warping, the surface is dirty, discolored, the appearance of mold, etc. At this point, you should not continue using it and replace it with a new spoon.
Make yourself a habit of checking wooden spoons periodically to detect problems early, to avoid inconveniences and risks when using them.
+ Use steel wool or sandpaper to smooth the surface.
Once the spoon’s surface has faded and is not as good as before, you can improve this by using steel wool or sandpaper to rub the spoon’s outside. Rub from coarse sandpaper to smooth, wet the spoon between each rub. With the last time should wet the sandpaper for the best effect.
After scrubbing, rinse the spoon thoroughly with hot water, blot the water with a towel and let the spoon dry in the air for at least 30 minutes before storing.
+ Apply oil periodically to refresh and keep it alive.
Apply a layer of oil to the wooden spoon’s surface to make it even more beautiful and glossy and help preserve the scoop. Common oils are mineral oil, coconut oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.
After applying oil, hold for about 20 minutes and wipe off the oil with a towel.
Conclusion
Cleaning wooden spoons are simple, right? Hopefully, our article will be useful to you, helping you know how to clean the best wooden spoons, ensuring hygiene and safety for the whole family.