How to Clean Bamboo Utensils? Including 8 Easy Methods

Bamboo is a gift of nature. It is unique, giving an aesthetic outlook to your kitchen when you use bamboo-made utensils for cooking.

Although it is not correctly wood, it is as hard as wood. Unlike any wooden utensils, bamboo utensils also need some care. Otherwise, you may end up with damaged, unpolished kitchen utensils at the end of the day.

So, how can we avoid this problem? Of course, you must know how to clean bamboo utensils, chopping boards, teaspoons, and others. It would help if you also acknowledged their good storage ideas to extend their longevity and the strong polish looks.

You might find it stinging! It’s no problem; I’ll explain everything in detail today. This tutorial will teach you how to properly care for your kitchen utensils as well as how to help others.

What should you have to clean Bamboo Utensils?

To clean bamboo utensils, you’ll need:

Warm, soapy water

A soft sponge or cloth

Mild dish soap

Towel or paper towels for drying.

Lemon juice or baking soda for stain removal (if needed)

Cleaning bamboo utensils is a straightforward process using these basic items.

8 Best Methods To Clean Bamboo Utensils: Try These

As a part of nature, bamboo is a very porous material. It is perfect for everything, from chopsticks to forks and boards. Bamboo utensils are much stronger than wood dowels of similar size.

Although easy to split, the fibers that come with this are parallel. However, sanitizing and cleaning bamboo utensils regularly plays a crucial role since it expands your tool’s lifespan for a long time.

Method 1: Use Gentle Or Mild Soap

One of the primary parts of cleaning bamboo is selecting the right material. Fortunately, gentle soap is very kind when used as a cleansing material.

Bamboo utensils can easily absorb water. So you can put less effort into this. Follow the below steps to clean the bamboo cooking utensils.

- Pour some gentle soap into a bowl or cooking pot. We recommend Meliora Bar Dish Soap or Dr. Bronner’s dish soap.
- Those are eco-friendly and very gentle on the cooking ware.
- Mix them with warm water.
- Use a natural bristle brush and scrub.
- Avoid using harsh metal or plastic scrubbers since they could scratch the surface of bamboo cutlery.
- You can remove any residue through the pot scraper.
- Rub for some time and take a clean rug.
- With a towel, wipe out the utensils and let them dry properly.

Method 2: Give Hand Wash to Keep It Healthy

You can keep your bamboo utensils healthy and use them for an extended period. Just follow the below tricks. Hand Washes the bamboo kitchen utensils to increase their consistency and natural shine.

- Soak the bamboo utensils in warm water.
- Leave it for some time.
- Make sure it’s free of food particles by rubbing it.

After washing the bamboo kitchenware, manage high/extreme temperatures to dry them off.

Method 3: Remove Stains With Lemon & Baking Soda

If you’re cooking something very special using bamboo products, those may show some stains. Bamboo utensils got stained for high-profile cooking spices like turmeric, chilly powder, sauce, curry powder, etc. To minimize this, we suggest you clean this bamboo quickly after cooking. If you need help removing stubborn stains, here’s what you need to do.

- As quickly as you notice that the bamboo cooking utensils got stained, treat them with lemon juice baking soda.
- Cut a medium size lemon in half, and squeeze it into a bowl or a spray bottle.
- Afterward, mix a tbsp of baking soda on it.
- Mix until you notice a thicker paste here.
- Let it sit for an extra minute.
- Rub the bamboo with a soft bristle brush as you would clean wooden utensils.
- Don’t be too hasty or give extreme pleasure when rubbing those materials.

Once you notice that all the stains are removed from the bamboo cookware, it’s time to leave it for air drying. After this, use any bamboo conditioning oil. Oiling bamboo utensils is vital to rehydrate the bamboo kitchen tools to bring the last look.

Method 4: Use Fine-grain Sandpaper

If you cannot remove the old stains from the bamboo cookware, fine-grain sandpaper is very helpful in this regard. To remove longstanding stains, use fine-grain sandpaper. Do the below steps as well.

- Take any fine-grain sandpaper to sand down the areas gently.
- Remove the dirt and stained wood by pressing gently. Give a simple pressure to rub the surface and ensure not to put any splinters on the uneven areas.

Method 5: Vinegar Could Eat Up Bacteria

Keeping the bamboo cutlery and many tools clean is the firm responsible for every house owner. Since those things are very porous and easily trap bacteria, you must disinfect them regularly.

Bamboo utensils must also be cleaned periodically, along with disinfecting methods. This method is easy to do. Just keep these things in mind.

- Take a bowl of warm water, put ½ drop of vinegar on it.
- Stir it with a clean spoon.
- Check the temperature.
- Soak all the utensils on it for ½ an hour. If you’re in a hurry, let them rest for 5 minutes.
- Rub them with a soft brush as you do to clean wooden utensils.
- To dry it, wipe it off and place it in a well-ventilated area.

Note: Vinegar is a natural cleaner that kills bacteria effectively and is very helpful in removing food residue.

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Method 6: Clean & Remove Stains Using Coarse Salt

Bamboo cutlery, especially the chopping board, cannot be cleaned traditionally. But cleaning these boards is necessary to eliminate raw meats, fish fins, nasty smells, and many other things. In that case, you can rely on natural coarse salt. Of course, scrubbing the cutting board with coarse salt works as magic that you can’t imagine.

- Clean the cutting board or spoons after finished of your cooking.
- Place some coarse salt on the stained areas. Make sure those tools are free from debris and food particles.
- Scrub the salt using both your hands and a paper towel.
- Keep it until you’re sure all the stains are fruitfully removed from the board.
- Pat them dry after rinsing them with clean water.

Method 7: Baking Soda White Vinegar

Make a stain-fighting mixture with baking soda and white vinegar. Both of these ingredients are excellent natural cleansers on their own. Try out the following steps include with:

- Combine some warm water and vinegar altogether.
- Cover the stained areas using a light coat of baking soda.
- Now, take a tablespoon of white vinegar. Apply it all over the surfaces. Let it soak for a while. As soon as those bamboo pieces absorb water, the stains will vanish naturally.

Rub the areas again and rinse the bamboo metal cutlery with warm water.

Method 8: Hydrogen Peroxide Or Diluted Bleach

Another best way to clean bamboo utensils is hydrogen peroxide or diluted bleach. It requires only 4–5 steps but takes a few minutes to give stain-free, pure bamboo utensils. Just do the following steps.

- Grab some hydrogen peroxide, and dab them to remove stains from the bamboo utensils.
- Rub all of these bamboo kitchen materials with the help of a soft toothbrush or a paper towel.
- After removing the dirt, it is time to do the drying process.
- Use a cleaning cloth to dry them after rinsing them with warm water.

5 Tips to Maintain Bamboo Cooking Utensils

Like any other wood kitchen tools or cooking ware, bamboo utensils require regular maintenance. They need some extra care which helps to lengthen their lifespan and reduces you wasting money over time.

But you should be careful about some matters to make your caring routines effective. Because defective maintenance and care of those bamboo materials unknowingly could bring a big disaster for anybody. So, keep an eye on such matters below instead.

Flat the Warped Cutting Board In Hot Water:

Your bamboo cutting board could be warped due to using it for longer periods. In that case, you can use hot water to make it flat again. Let the board soak for a few hours in hot water. It will become pliant and easy to manipulate back into shape.

Another trick here is placing a heavy weight on the board. It is like a heavy skillet or Dutch oven. On top of it, put the flattened cutting board below. It will help reshape the board as it did previously.

Avoid Using Dishwashing Liquid or Soap:

Avoid using high-profile dish soap to clean bamboo material. Dishwasher cleaning liquid or materials would make these boards damaged, defective, and unpolished.

Even though you may be stuck in the middle of work due to their unpolished finish, try to use mild soapy water to reduce their discoloration.

Meanwhile, you can use a dishwasher-safe cleanser in an emergency or if the cleaning materials aren’t available.

Store Bamboo Cooking Utensils in a Cool Place:

Bamboo is resilient for heating stuff. Store the bamboo cooking utensils in a cool place because high temperatures can cause bamboo boards to dry out and crack.

Choose a kitchen cabinet or a dish rack location to keep the bamboo cooking utensils. It will help keep the cutting board away from direct sunlight to avoid major inconveniences.

Oiling The Bamboo Materials Regularly:

It is crucial to oil the bamboo materials to keep them polished, natural, fresh, and new. For oiling, you need to choose bamboo conditioning oil.

Bamboo particles remain good and alive while using mineral oil. You can use any oil, including walnut oil, wood oil, canola oil, etc. Food-grade mineral oil is also best and plays a significant role.

Owing More Than One or Two Cutting Board:

Consider owning more than one or two cutting boards made with bamboo. Those will help you to maintain hygiene. If you use different chopping boards for various purposes, you’ll have to spend less in the future.

What should avoid to clean bamboo utensils?

When cleaning bamboo utensils, it’s important to avoid the following:

Harsh Chemicals: Avoid using harsh or abrasive chemicals, as they can damage the bamboo’s natural finish.

Dishwasher: Do not put bamboo utensils in the dishwasher. The prolonged exposure to water and high heat can cause them to crack or warp.

Soaking: Avoid prolonged soaking in water, as it can weaken the bamboo.

Microwave: Never use bamboo utensils in the microwave, as they can heat up and potentially catch fire.

High Heat and Flames: Do not expose bamboo utensils to high heat or open flames, as this can cause scorching or even ignition.

By avoiding these cleaning practices, you can prolong the life and maintain the quality of your bamboo utensils.

How much temperature Bamboo Utensils can tolerate?

Bamboo utensils can tolerate temperatures up to around 350-375°F (175-190°C) for low to medium heat cooking. Avoid high heat and open flames to prevent damage.

Regularly inspect for wear and replace if damaged. bamboo utensils are a good choice for cooking at lower to medium temperatures, making them suitable for most common kitchen tasks.

However, it’s crucial to be mindful of their limitations and avoid exposing them to high heat or open flames to extend their lifespan and maintain their functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Bamboo Kitchen Utensils Need to Be Oiled?

Unlike other wooden kitchen utensils, your bamboo needs to be oiled periodically. Try oiling those materials using any olive or food-grade mineral oil. Food-grade mineral oil is also available in most grocery shops. Use a soft cloth to wipe it off.

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How Do You Clean Wooden / Bamboo Utensils?

You can clean wooden bamboo utensils through handwashing. But never, ever try to put this material in the dishwasher. Use hot water or any mild dish soap.

Otherwise, clean them with a washcloth or a bristled brush to scrub the utensils. After that, prop them up for drying.

Can I Wash Bamboo With Vinegar?

Of course, vinegar is a very effective and natural cleanser. Bamboo utensils can be eroded by harsh detergent. In that case, you must have used an ammonia-based cleanser and dishwashing soap to prevent damage.

Do Bamboo Utensils Hold Bacteria?

Bamboo utensils don’t hold bacteria if cleaned adequately with the right cleanser. Besides this, you must keep them in the best areas for well-maintenance. A user must have cleaned them with mild soapy water after finishing cooking.

How Long Do Bamboo Utensils Last?

Bamboo utensils can last and stick around in the kitchen for ten years or more. But there is a condition for this. You have to take good care of these utensils and maintain them properly.

Final Thought

Before I quit, I want to inform you about the horrible reality. Currently, plastic-made utensils aren’t worthy and usable due to their instability and recycling issues. 85% of plastics are not recycled and are dumped in open areas as filthy waste. It is unpleasant to hear, and you must switch from plastic to bamboo to save the environment.

In that sense, invest more to buy bamboo cutlery sets and get ideas of how to clean bamboo utensils to use them for more than a year. However, feel free to share any problem you’ve faced recently. Drop them in the comment section, and we’d try our best to answer.