Inside: Need some tips on cleaning and caring for your spoons? Check out how to care for wooden spoons to make them last for years and look great too! It's easy to clean wooden spoons to keep them looking like new.
Recently I have switched to using more wooden spoons when I am cooking. I am trying to use less plastic around the house and making the switch to wooden spoons was easy!
I had one wooden spoon I loved so I bought a few more.
Wooden spoons work great and are perfect for non-stick surfaces like on the Le Creuset so it doesn't scratch them.
They also won't get hot like metal spoons will and they look so pretty too!
With a little bit of care, your wooden spoons will last for years. If you want some great tips on cleaning and disinfecting your spoons check out how to care for wooden spoons below.
How To Care For Wooden Spoons
Caring for your wooden spoons is pretty easy and will only take about 20 minutes every 4-6 weeks.
You will need a few things to really clean and disinfect your spoons.
- lemon juice or lemon essential oil
- Spoon oil to keep them well oiled (I recommend this brand)
Check out how to get started below.
Cleaning Wooden Spoons
Everyday cleaning of your wooden spoons is very simple. Just use soap and warm water to clean them.
I have found the stuck-on food just comes right off with a little soap and water.
You can use a dishcloth or scrub brush to scrub them if you want or have bad stuck-on foods.
Once they are clean just set them out to dry.
FYI: You never want to send your wooden spoons through the dishwasher. The heat will damage them and cause the wood spoons to dry out.
Drying Spoons
When you finish washing your spoons you will want to wipe them down with a clean dish towel and then let them air dry.
I just prop them up against the backsplash on my drying mat so both sides can dry.
It should only take them a few hours to dry after hand washing.
Disinfecting Wooden Spoons
Every month or so you will want to deep clean and disinfect your wooden spoons. This is an important part of caring for wooden spoons even though they are resistant to bacteria.
To disinfect your spoons you will need a container large enough to hold your wooden spoons. Fill the container with very hot water.
I usually use a microwave-safe container and just pop it in the microwave for a minute or two.
Then, add about 10 drops of lemon essential oil to your container. The lemon essential oil will help deodorize and disinfect the spoons.
Next, add your spoons to the water mix and set a timer for about 10-15 minutes.
Once the time is up remove the spoons and rinse them off. Hand dry them with a towel and then let them dry.
How To Oil Wooden Spoons
One of the best ways to care for your wooden spoons is to oil them once a month. This will keep the wood from getting dried out and letting in germs and bacteria.
You will want to start by washing and disinfecting your spoons. Then, once they are completely dry you can oil them.
There are different kinds of oils or butter that you can use for spoons, but I prefer this oil from Boos Blocks (this brand). It's inexpensive and works well.
Take an old rag or paper towel and add some of the oil to the paper towel. Then rub the paper towel all over the spoon to coat it with the oil. Once the oil is all over the spoon then prop it up and wait for it to dry.
Depending on how dry your spoon is you may want to go back and reoil it again before using it.
Always make sure the oil is completely dry before you use it.
To keep yours spoons from drying out oil them every month.
Caring for your wooden spoons doesn't have to be a lot of work. With a few minutes every month, you can keep your spoons clean and looking great!
Want some more easy cleaning tips? Check out how to clean and disinfect without using bleach.
