Never wash your wooden cutting board in the dishwasher or leave it to soak.

Depending on what foods come into contact with your cutting boards, hand washing with a sponge, unscented dish soap and hot water after each use is usually enough to keep your cutting board germ-free. Make sure to wash both sides so the wood is uniformly wet and dry to prevent warping.

After washing, dry the cutting board with a towel and then lean it on its long edge or place it in a drying rack to allow it to air dry completely and evenly. Only place it flat on the countertop once it has fully dried.

If you use the board to chop up meat and fish, take your wood cutting board care routine further to ensure it's sanitized. This is best accomplished with vinegar, which can be sprayed lightly over the board's surface or wiped on with a clean cloth. Once dry, your cutting board will be disinfected, and any odors should disappear.

Since cheese boards are typically wood boards, cheese board care instructions are the same as cutting boards.

If your cheese board is made of another material, such as slate, hand washing with hot soapy water is probably enough to clean it sufficiently. Avoid using acidic liquids like lemon juice and vinegar, which will damage many surfaces.