Effective Methods to Eliminate Bad Odors from Wooden Utensils

Thursday, May 15, 2025  Read time2 min

SAEDNEWS: Learn the main methods to eliminate bad odors from wooden utensils and discover how to properly care for these items.

Effective Methods to Eliminate Bad Odors from Wooden Utensils

According to SAEDNEWS, We all inevitably use some wooden utensils, and many of us have a special fondness for them. Wooden items like cutting boards and wooden spoons can be found in every household. A common challenge most of us face is that after a while of using these wooden utensils, they develop unpleasant odors. In this article, we aim to explore the causes of these bad smells and learn effective ways to eliminate odors from wooden utensils.

Why do wooden utensils develop bad odors?

Wood naturally has pores and small openings that can trap dust and other substances inside. If the surfaces of wooden utensils are not properly finished or get damaged after finishing, food particles may become lodged inside, leading to mold growth and unpleasant odors. Proper care and maintenance of wooden utensils can help eliminate these bad smells.

How to eliminate bad odors from wooden utensils

If, as suggested above, you have thoroughly cleaned your wooden utensils but they still have a strong unpleasant smell, it’s time to try some new methods to get rid of the odor.

Certainly, you know that in today’s world there is more than one correct way to do things. Below, we suggest several different methods to remove bad smells from wooden utensils, so you can review all the options and choose the one that best fits your needs and situation.

Using lemon and salt

The first method is popular all over the internet. If you haven’t heard about using some salt and lemon or lime, it might surprise you... Basically, you should cut your chosen citrus fruit in half, sprinkle some salt on the wooden utensil, then rub the lemon in a circular motion over the salted area with the juicy side of the fruit.

If you use this method, be careful not to miss any spots. Then let the lemon juice dry on the utensil (it’s better to place the utensil under sunlight). After some time, once it’s dry, you can rinse it and store it as usual.

Using baking soda

Another method to remove bad odors from wooden utensils is to use baking soda, water, and a cloth. You can make a paste and gently scrub the surface of your wooden utensil with it.

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, so this method seems to work well… However, if the smell of your utensil is stronger than usual, you can add a few drops of lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit essential oil to your baking soda paste. After that, let your utensil dry and then wash it as usual.

Using white vinegar

If you want to use regular white vinegar (another non-toxic and natural method for deodorizing), you can soak a cloth in white vinegar, place it on your wooden utensil, and let the vinegar-soaked cloth sit directly on the wood. Alternatively, you can pour some undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle and thoroughly spray it onto the wooden item… let it sit for a few minutes. In any case, allow the wooden utensil to get slightly wet, then rinse it well with water, place it upright on your drying rack, and let it dry completely before use.

white vinegar