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Good Housekeeping’s cleaning guidance says wooden cutting boards should be washed by hand with warm water and dish soap, not put in the dishwasher. For raw-meat use, wash first, then sanitize with a food-contact-safe product or a diluted bleach solution and let the board dry completely.
Good Housekeeping’s cleaning guidance recommends washing wooden cutting boards by hand with warm water and dish soap, rather than putting them in the dishwasher, where prolonged water exposure and heat can cause damage. The report also outlines a separate sanitizing step for boards used with raw meat, advice that matters for both protecting the board and handling food safely.
Noah Pinsonnault, a reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab, says the dishwasher combines prolonged moisture, high temperatures and detergent in ways that can make wood swell, warp or crack. For boards made from multiple pieces of wood, repeated dishwasher cycles may also weaken the glue joining those pieces, he says.
The report says the hand-washing routine takes about a minute: use warm water and dish soap, scrubbing with a sponge or brush. Do not leave the board to soak or sit in standing water. After washing, dry it promptly; Pinsonnault recommends standing it upright so air can circulate around both sides.
For a board used to cut raw meat, the report recommends washing it thoroughly and then sanitizing it with a food-contact-safe sanitizer, following that product’s directions. It also cites USDA guidance for a homemade solution: mix one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach with one gallon of water. Rinse the board thoroughly afterward and allow it to dry completely.
Care That Protects Boards and Food
Washing method affects more than a board’s appearance. According to Pinsonnault, repeated dishwasher exposure can contribute to warping, cracks and weakened glue joints, potentially shortening the usable life of a wooden board. Hand-washing avoids that combination of sustained moisture and high heat.
Raw-meat preparation adds a food-safety step: cleaning removes residue, while the report’s guidance calls for sanitizing after washing. Readers should follow the sanitizer label or the cited USDA dilution and rinse-and-dry directions; the supplied report does not present ordinary dish soap as a substitute for sanitizing.
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Why Wood Needs Different Care
The advice applies to edge-grain and end-grain wooden boards, as well as bamboo boards, according to the Good Housekeeping report. Although board construction varies, the report’s general warning is that repeated dishwasher cycles expose these materials to water and heat for longer than a brief hand wash.
There is an exception for some products made from wood-fiber composite. Pinsonnault says certain composite boards, including some Epicurean boards, are designed to be dishwasher-safe. That does not mean every composite board can go in the machine: the report advises checking the manufacturer’s care instructions for the specific product.
“One tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water.”
— USDA guidance, as cited in the Good Housekeeping report
Board-Specific Care Still Varies
The report does not identify every dishwasher-safe board or give a single care rule for all products. Material and manufacturer instructions matter, particularly for wood-fiber composite boards. The supplied material also does not specify the sanitizer contact time or whether every sanitizer is suitable for every board; users should follow the product label rather than assume one procedure fits all.
No comparative test results, damage rates or publication date are included in the source material. The advice is attributed to a Good Housekeeping Institute analyst and cites USDA dilution guidance, but the supplied report does not provide additional study details.
Check Labels Before Washing
Before cleaning a board, check its manufacturer’s care instructions to confirm whether it is solid wood, bamboo or a dishwasher-safe composite. For ordinary wooden boards, wash by hand, avoid soaking and dry upright. After raw-meat preparation, wash and sanitize as directed, then let the board dry completely.
The report offers a routine rather than announcing a new regulation or product change. For any board whose material or care instructions are unclear, the next step is to consult the maker’s guidance and the directions on the chosen food-contact sanitizer.
Key Questions
Can a wooden cutting board go in the dishwasher?
The Good Housekeeping report advises against putting ordinary wooden boards in the dishwasher because heat, detergent and prolonged water exposure can cause swelling, warping or cracks.
What is the recommended way to wash a wooden cutting board?
Wash it by hand with warm water and dish soap, using a sponge or brush. Do not soak it, and dry it promptly, ideally standing upright for airflow on both sides.
How should a board be treated after cutting raw meat?
Wash it thoroughly, then use a food-contact-safe sanitizer according to its directions. The report also cites a USDA solution of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water; rinse thoroughly and dry completely afterward.
Are any cutting boards safe for the dishwasher?
Some wood-fiber composite boards are designed for dishwasher use, according to Pinsonnault. Check the care instructions for the specific board; the exception does not apply automatically to all wood or composite products.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
