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If you store your kitchen knives in one, knowing how to clean a knife block is an important aspect of knife care and maintenance. Luckily, it’s an easy process you can breeze through with the help of a few simple supplies!
You don’t need to clean your knife block every time you clean your kitchen, but doing it once every few months can help prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for germs. Here, I’ll show you how to clean a knife block (and sanitize it along the way) in just a few simple steps.
Table Of Contents
Why Clean Your Knife Block?
Storing kitchen knives in a block can be convenient, but those deep, dark slots in the wood can attract bacteria and mold if they aren’t kept clean and dry. Regularly cleaning your knife block is an easy way to improve your kitchen cleanliness and food safety habits.
How To Clean A Knife Block, Inside And Out
The table below provides a quick overview of how to thoroughly clean a wooden knife block. Continue reading for a step-by-step tutorial complete with photos.
| Step | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Empty the block | Take everything out of the block and shake it to remove any loose dirt |
| Clean the inside | Clean each slot with a pipe cleaner dipped in a bleach solution (1 tsp bleach + 1 quart water) |
| Clean the outside | Clean the exterior of the block with a sponge and soapy water |
| Let it dry | Let the clean block sit out on your countertop until completely dry |
| Replace the knives | Return your clean knives to your clean, dry knife block |
Step 1 – Empty The Block And Make A Cleaning Solution
Start by removing the knives (and any other contents) from your knife block and washing them by hand. Once the block is empty, turn it upside down over your garbage can or sink and shake it to remove any loose dust or debris.
To disinfect the inside of the block, make a simple bleach solution by adding 1 teaspoon of bleach to 1 quart of warm water. You’ll also need a few pipe cleaners, a sponge or scrub brush, and a clean, dry cloth.
Step 2 – Clean Each Slot With A Pipe Cleaner
Pipe cleaners are the perfect tool for cleaning out those deep, narrow slots, and they’re widely available and inexpensive. Start by dipping a pipe cleaner into the diluted bleach solution, then insert it into a slot and give it a good scrub.
Rinse or replace the pipe cleaners as needed until each of the slots in your knife block has been cleaned and sanitized.
Step 3 – Clean The Exterior
Next, clean the exterior of the block using a sponge and warm, soapy water. Use a clean, damp cloth to remove the soap residue and loosened gunk from the outside of the block.
Step 4 – Let It Dry
Use a clean towel or cloth to pat the block dry, then leave it out on your countertop to dry for several hours (or overnight). It’s important to let the wood dry completely before using it again!
Step 5 – Replace The Knives
Once the block is bone-dry, carefully replace the knives. Then pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
“Thank you so much for this reminder to clean my knife block, something that hadn’t crossed my mind! As for replacing the knives, I was told long ago to store my knives with the blade facing up. That way they would not [rub] the wood surface each time you inserted or removed them.”
– OGT reader C. L.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Clean The Inside Of A Knife Block?
The easiest way to clean and sanitize the long, deep slots in a knife block is with the help of a few pipe cleaners. Add 1 teaspoon of bleach to 1 quart of warm water, dip a clean pipe cleaner into the solution, then use it to scrub the inside of each slot. Let the block dry overnight, then replace the knives.
How Do You Sterilize A Knife Block?
To sterilize a knife block, use a simple disinfecting solution made of 1 teaspoon of household bleach and 4 cups of warm water.
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How Do You Clean A Knife Block With Bristles?
If the knife block has removable, dishwasher-safe bristles, remove them from the block and wash them by hand or in your dishwasher. Allow the bristles to dry thoroughly before replacing them in the block.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever wondered how to clean a knife block, you now know that it’s actually pretty easy! It only takes a few minutes to ensure your knife block isn’t harboring mold or bacteria — and all for the cost of a few pipe cleaners!
Where do you store your kitchen knives?
How To Clean A Knife Block (Step By Step)
Equipment
- Pipe cleaners
- Sponge or scrub brush
- Clean cloths
- Dish soap
Ingredients
- 1 quart warm water
- 1 teaspoon bleach
Instructions
- Empty the knife block, then turn it upside down and shake to remove loose dirt or debris.
- Prepare a cleaning solution by adding 1 teaspoon of bleach to 1 quart of warm water.
- Dip a pipe cleaner into the solution and use it to scrub each slot. Rinse or replace the pipe cleaner as needed until all slots are clean.
- Clean the outside of the block using a sponge and warm, soapy water, then rinse with a clean, damp cloth.
- Allow the knife block to dry for several hours, or overnight, before replacing the knives.
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