Bleach is one of the most popular cleaning products used for the removal of stains from plastic cutting boards. Although it’s effective and disinfecting, it’s not the only option out there.
In fact, there are several other methods you can use to clean plastic cutting boards without bleach.
Whether it’s because you want a greener cleaning method or due to having asthma or some other breathing issue and bleach exposure is causing irritation, it’s totally understandable.
If your plastic cutting board has been out of shape lately, it’s time to sparkle things up.
You can use other ingredients like baking soda, dishwashing detergent, and hydrogen peroxide. This will refresh the board and remove those stubborn stains.
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What Is Bleach & Why Is It So Popular for Cleaning Purposes?
Bleach is a potent and effective disinfectant.
It has an active ingredient called sodium hypochlorite. It denatures the protein in microorganisms. It’s used for killing fungus, viruses, and bacteria.
The household-purpose bleach works fast and it’s inexpensive.
The diluted variety is used for facility disinfection. Caution when using it is pivotal since it can irritate the mucous membranes, the airways, and the skin. It also reacts with other chemicals.
Its overuse can trigger the production of toxic substances. These are harmful to the environment and disrupt the ecological balance!
It’s a popular kitchen disinfectant (always diluted with water). It’s used for cleaning sinks, tiles, floors, countertops, fridges, stainless steel, plastic cutting boards, trash cans, and many other, non-porous surfaces.
How to Clean Plastic Cutting Boards with Bleach?
Bleach is used for cleaning due to its disinfecting properties. It’s commonly used in both professional and home kitchens for deep cleaning.
It successfully destroys different viruses and bacteria. It’s also used for the removal of stubborn stains and to whiten clothes.
Bleach is unable to remove residue and dirt from surfaces; for this, scrubbing and rinsing the surface should be done first. Afterward, you can apply the bleach solution.
Plastic is a surface that does well with bleach. The solution won’t react with the plastic in any way and it’s a safe method of sanitization.
It’s also highly recommendable and often used when the board has surface stains.
The white and brightly colored boards are more prone to stains so bleach is an excellent method to freshen them up.
How to Clean Plastic Cutting Boards without Bleach?
Household bleach isn’t toxic, technically speaking, nor corrosive, even upon ingestion. However, bleach can burn human skin, both internally and externally, particularly that of kids!
Moreover, in some individuals, like people with asthma or allergies, it can cause mouth, skin, eyes, and lung irritation. So, they’re not able to use it freely like others.
With this in mind, it’s good news that there are other, more natural, and greener ways to restore your plastic cutting board’s glory without bleach. Below, check out some of the best ways to disinfect your plastic cutting boards without having to use any bleach.
- The dishwasher
Plastic cutting boards have a non-porous surface. As such, you can put them in the dishwasher and this won’t harm them. This method sanitizes them, especially if you run them on a hot cycle or antibacterial one.
- Baking soda & hydrogen peroxide
Mix 3 to 4 tbsps. of baking soda, a tbsp of dish soap, and 1 or 2 tbsps. of hydrogen peroxide.
Spread this content over the board and leave it overnight. In the morning, scrub and rinse it off with warm water.
- White vinegar
White vinegar is a great cleaning option for your plastic cutting boards. It will clean and deodorize them.
Mix a cup of water, ½ cup of distilled white vinegar, and 5 to 8 drops of your favorite essential oil.
Spray it all over the board and then scrub it well using a brush with stiff bristles. Then, wash the board with dish detergent and dry it before storing.
Why Do Plastic Cutting Boards Need Sanitization?
Plastic cutting boards are popular because they’re inexpensive, versatile, and easy to clean.
Studies suggest that a plastic cutting board is easier for sanitization than a wooden one, but they do tend to get deeper grooves than wood does. This means that as time goes by, they will eventually develop pockets that become the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Though this is the case, you needn’t throw them away just yet. The trick is to clean them optimally, after every use, and practice some of the deep cleaning methods from time to time.
Disinfection of plastic cutting boards isn’t just recommended for the boards you use with meat, but the ones you use with veggies, fruits, and leafy greens.
These foods can also contain different bacteria. Believe it or not, produce contains approximately 50 percent of all foodborne diseases.
Meat/poultry contains only 22 percent!
To help reduce cross-contamination, always wash produce with an all-natural wash and keep your cutting boards clean.
Final Thoughts
Despite being the go-to for disinfecting plastic cutting boards, bleach isn’t the only way you can deep clean plastic cutting boards.
In fact, you can clean plastic cutting boards without bleach and restore their shine with greener cleaning options. Some of the most favored and effective ones are baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and white vinegar.
Thanks to these solutions, you can remove stubborn stains from your plastic cutting boards, especially the white ones.
Proper deep cleaning of your plastic cutting boards is essential, especially as time goes by. Namely, from all the cutting, chopping, and dicing, the boards will eventually develop cracks. If not cleaned, they can become the ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
The next time your plastic board stains annoy you, opt for some of these cleaning and disinfecting methods rather than throwing them away!
