Cutting board brush: what do you use it for?
You use a cutting board brush to scrub your board clean. The bristles get into the edges and the juice groove, where a cloth or sponge does not reach well. The brush is for cleaning only: you rub oil out with a cloth.
You wash a wooden board by hand. That is quickly done, but something easily stays behind in the grain, along the edges and in a juice groove. That is what the brush is for.
What you use the brush for
- After cutting. You scrub off remains of meat, fish, onion or garlic before they soak into the wood.
- In the juice groove. The groove catches moisture. That is the point of it, but it also has to come out again afterwards.
- Along the edges. That is where moisture runs to when you hold the board at an angle.
- For smells. With coarse salt and half a lemon you scrub a smell out of the wood.
How to scrub a board clean
- Rinse the board with warm water. Do that on both sides.
- Put a little washing-up liquid on the brush.
- Scrub along the grain over the whole surface. Do the edges and the juice groove separately.
- Rinse the board until the suds are gone.
- Dry straight away with a cloth.
- Stand the board upright so that both sides can dry.
Never put the board in the dishwasher and do not leave it to soak. Does it still smell of onion or fish after washing? The approach with salt and lemon is in Wooden cutting board smells.
What you do not use the brush for
| Job | Brush | Cloth |
|---|---|---|
| Scrubbing the board clean | Yes | No |
| Cleaning the juice groove and edges | Yes | No |
| Scrubbing away a smell with salt and lemon | Yes | No |
| Drying | No | Yes |
| Rubbing out oil | No | Yes |
| Buffing beeswax | No | Yes |
You apply oil with a cloth. That way you get a thin, even layer. So keep the brush by the sink and the cloth with the oil.
Keeping the brush itself clean
The cutting board brush has a beech handle. The same rules apply to it as to your board. Rinse the brush with warm water after use and shake the water out. Let it air dry. Do not leave it lying in the suds and do not put it in the dishwasher.
The brush is also in the care set, together with the oil and the microfibre cloth. More about that on Care set for your wooden cutting board.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work the oil into the wood with the brush?
No. The brush is for cleaning. You rub oil out thinly with a cloth, over the edges and the underside too.
Does a brush not damage the wood?
No, as long as you scrub along the grain. If the wood is already rough or full of scratches, sanding helps. See Sanding and restoring a wooden cutting board.
Do I need a brush for a board without a juice groove?
You do not have to, but it helps. A flat board also has grain and edges where remains stay behind.
Is a brush better than a scouring sponge?
For a cutting board with a juice groove it is: the bristles get into the groove. A sponge slides over it.
