Should You Put Wood Cutting Boards in The Dishwasher?

An expert shares everything you need to know about keeping this kitchen staple in prime condition.

When life gets busy and handwashing dishes and kitchen utensils feels like too big of a chore, you may be tempted to slash your cleaning routine in half by tossing your wood cutting boards into a dishwasher—but this could actually do more harm than good. By putting wood boards in the dishwasher, you could be unintentionally causing permanent damage to this kitchen staple.

Whether you use wood cutting boards for decorative kitchen displays, charcuterie nights, or meal prepping, you should always wash them by hand. "As a rule of thumb, no wood cutting board should be put in the dishwasher," says Stacy Borocz, founder and president of etúHOME.

If you want your boards to last as long as possible and remain hygienic, there are a few precautions you can take. Borocz shares her professional tips on how to maintain a wood cutting board so that it can last you a lifetime.

Related: 12 Things You Should Never Put in the Dishwasher

Why Can't You Put Wood Cutting Boards in the Dishwasher?

Dishwashers are an amazing time-saver for appropriate dishes, but they can negatively affect the longevity and structural integrity of wood cutting boards. Since these appliances cycle through continuous heat, water, steam, and detergents, your boards can easily warp or crack in just one cycle.

"No matter the size or reason, wood boards should be washed by hand," Borocz says. "The continuous water and heat [of a dishwasher] can result in the warping of the board." A dishwasher can also strip a wood cutting board of its natural oils, leading to a board completely splitting over time.

The good news is that wood cutting boards do not pose the same bacteria-harboring issues as other cutting board materials. "For example, when plastic cutting boards get knife-mark grooves, that area becomes a harboring ground for bacteria. [But] if a wood cutting board gets knife marks, it does not enable the growth of bacteria because wood is naturally antimicrobial," says Borocz.

Related: 16 Things You Never Knew You Could Clean in Your Dishwasher

How to Clean Wood Cutting Boards

Even though you'll need to skip the dishwasher, cleaning and maintaining your boards might be easier than think. Simply by adding a few best practices to your existing cleaning routine, your boards will stay clean and last longer. Borocz suggests this routine:

Step 1: Scrape off any remaining food residue.

Step 2: Wash the board with soap and warm water.

Step 3: Leave the board out to air-dry.

Step 4: Nourish often with plant-based wood wax or any mineral oil. Do not use food-based oils such as olive or vegetable oils (to prevent your board from becoming rancid). "Beeswax and coconut oil work together to create a moisture barrier, sealing and protecting your wood cutting board, reducing knife marks, and making it quick and easy to clean," Borocz says.

Related: Why You Should Absolutely Be Oiling Your Wood Cutting Boards Regularly

Cleaning Tip

After washing, clean and dry your boards right away. If you submerge or drench your boards in water, you also risk damaging them. Daily cleaning and regular locking with wood wax allow your boards to stay clean and bacteria-free. Remember, properly cared-for wood cutting boards can last a lifetime and be a generational piece.

How to Remove Surface Stains from Wood Cutting Boards

Some foods, like berries, beets, turmeric, and red cabbage (to name a few), can cause surface stains. To prevent and resolve surface stains, Borocz recommends wiping your board's surface clean with hot, soapy water immediately after use (and then drying with a clean, dry dish towel). While submerging dishes with stuck-on food can help loosen up their debris, dousing your boards in water does not help remove stains on your boards.

Borocz recommends avoiding abrasive cleaning products and provides an alternative, all-natural stain removal remedy here with the following steps:

Step 1: Dampen your board with warm water and scatter coarse salt or baking soda over it.

Step 2: Cut a lemon in half and rub it over the board while gently squeezing it to release the juice. Let stand for 5 minutes, and remove the excess using a scrub brush.

Step 3: Wax (or season) your boards. Since boards often pick up odors and staining from foods, waxing your boards after washing and drying can help eliminate these problems. You can also pick waxes with essential oils for an added, pleasant (but subtle) scent, like rosemary or sage. "Regularly seasoning your kitchen wood products will increase their lifespan," Borocz says. "Apply once a month or as needed."

Should You Keep Using Wood Cutting Boards, Since They Can't Go in the Dishwasher?

"Wood cutting boards do not harbor bacteria in the same way that plastic cutting boards do [even though plastic boards come with the added convenience of being dishwasher safe]," Borocz says. "Plastic cutting boards can lead to microplastics ending up in your food—so wood is a much safer alternative."

Bamboo cutting boards are also not generally dishwasher safe. And when comparing wood boards to bamboo, they're neck and neck in terms of care. Still, bamboo boards may not be the best alternative because they are not typically graded for cutting and are not considered wood, Borocz says. She explains how bamboo is actually a very thin grass, so making a cutting board with a bamboo core, "requires a significant amount of glue to hold each thin layer of grass together," she says. "As a result, glue is often the number one component of a bamboo board, and as knife marks scratch its surface, glue ends up into the food being cut."

Borocz also recommends against using marble cutting boards. Although they make a pretty decorative statement, they can actually be one of the worst surfaces for cutting. "Marble cutting boards dull knives quickly and are extremely heavy to move for washing, and their porous nature can harbor bacteria," she says.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any types of wood cutting boards that can go in the dishwasher?

"This applies to all wood cutting boards. No boards should be put into dishwashers, no matter what material it is made of. They should all be washed by hand to ensure continued use and do not require replacement," Borocz says. "It is far more sustainable and eco-friendly to hand washboards and seal with wax—that way, they don't need to be replaced, leading to unnecessary materials and expenses."

How long do wood cutting boards actually last?

"With proper treatment, a cutting board made of quality oak or beech wood can last a lifetime. Wood has a natural ability to manage cuts and slices into the board, without raising the sharp edges or marks you would see with a plastic cutting board," Borocz says. "Regular nourishment with mineral oil or wood conditioner will preserve and refresh the natural texture and quality of the wood. When it’s time to throw out the plastic cutting board, a properly treated wood cutting board will be functioning as well as the day it was made."

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