Your Wooden Spoons Are Bacteria Sticks — Here’s How to Clean Them

Like most cooks, I love my wooden spoons. They’re wonderful, essential utensils that we often forget to give TLC — total legitimate cleaning. Like any workhorse, they deserve a spa day to relax, rejuvenate, and get back to doing our favorite jobs like stirring, swirling, and scraping. Here’s how to clean and properly care for your wooden spoons. 

Can you soak wooden spoons? 

You should avoid soaking wooden spoons or other wooden utensils. Despite TikTok tutorials where people boil their spoons in hot water, doing this will shorten the lifespan of your spoons. Most wooden spoons are crafted from dense hardwoods like maple, beech, walnut, olive, or cherry. These woods are durable, but prolonged exposure to water — especially hot water — can cause cracks and splinters. Dishwashers are also a killer environment for wooden spoons. The high heat and pressurized water warp wood, leaving behind wonky utensils over time. 

How to clean wooden spoons 

Hand washing is the best way to clean wooden spoons, period. To hand-wash wooden spoons, start with a quick rinse under warm running water to remove any larger food particles. Apply a small amount of mild dish soap to a sponge, soft dishcloth, or gentle scrub brush. Scrub the bowl and handle of the spoon in small circular motions, taking care to reach into any crevices where additional food residue may lurk. Rinse the spoon under running water, then set it out to air-dry. To speed up drying, you can also pat dry the spoon with a clean paper towel before storing.

It’s also a good idea to rub your wooden spoons with any food-grade mineral oil once a month to prevent drying out and cracks.

How to get rid of smells in wooden spoons

While cleaning with regular soap and water is the best and safest method for washing wooden utensils, a mild vinegar solution can help remove any pesky lingering odors or stains. Wash your spoons with a solution of equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water about once a month.

A lemon and some baking soda are also particularly handy. Baking soda’s alkaline nature absorbs odors, leaving the spoons smelling fresh and clean. Start by sprinkling some baking soda into the bowl of the spoon. Using the cut side of half a lemon, gently scrub the surface to create a natural cleaning paste. Allow the paste to break down food particles and absorb odors for about 10 minutes, then rinse the spoon under warm water and air-dry.

When to replace wooden spoons

Generally, you should replace your wooden spoons about every five years. This timeframe can be shorter or longer, depending on how well they are cared for. Some common signs you’re due for new spoons: they’re cracking or splitting (which can trap in excess moisture and grow bacteria), they continually hold onto food smells, or the wood feels rough to the touch, which can cause them to damage other cookware.