Amanda Lauren is a Los Angeles–based contributor to a variety of publications, including Real Simple, Forbes, Forbes Global Properties, Reader's Digest, Simply Recipes, Bob Vila, and A Sweat Life. As an interior design expert she's appeared on Cheddar TV and Good Morning America to discuss design trends, and has had two home decor lines: creating a holiday placemat line with Elizabeth Sutton Collection, as well as designing The Hamptons Collection for ArtSugar. On top of creating design and lifestyle content, Amanda hosts the Bougie Adjacent podcast where she interviews celebrities, influencers, and entrepreneurs. She appreciates both traditional and contemporary interior designs and believes pink can be incorporated into any room of the home.

If there's one item you can never have too many of in your kitchen, it's cutting boards. Cutting boards are a necessity not just for keeping your countertop in good shape, but also for properly preparing meat, poultry, vegetables, and more. A good cutting board is also absolutely essential for food safety. To prevent cross-contamination, you'll need to designate different cutting boards for different tasks—one for preparing meat, another for vegetables, another for fish. Then, learn how to clean a wooden cutting board properly and diligently follow the steps below every single time you use the board to help stop the spread of germs.

Once your wooden cutting board is thoroughly cleaned, don't forget to oil it. Not only will this help maintain the board's shine, but it can also prevent cracks from forming. Here's how to clean and maintain a wooden cutting board, step by step.

There are some advantages to plastic cutting boards, the main one being price. Plastic cutting boards can be purchased for just a few dollars, while high-quality wooden cutting boards can cost $70 or more.

Plastic cutting boards are non-porous, so bacteria will sit on top of the board, as opposed to being absorbed into the surface. However, bacteria often linger in the little grooves and scars caused by knives. Luckily, plastic cutting boards are easy enough to clean. Just put them in the dishwasher or wash them by hand using hot water and dish soap.

You'll always want to wash a wooden cutting board by hand, as placing the board in the dishwasher can cause it to warp or crack over time. It's also a good idea to dry wooden boards right away and oil them regularly to maintain them. In exchange for the extra maintenance, you'll enjoy a few benefits: Wooden cutting boards are less slippery than plastic ones, and they help your knives last longer. Not to mention, wooden cutting boards make beautiful additions to the kitchen. Ultimately, the debate over wood versus plastic cutting boards is a matter of personal preference, but if you opt for the latter, you'll need to learn how to clean a wooden cutting board the right way.

While the dishwasher is ideal for cleaning and sanitizing most things in your kitchen, you should never put a wooden cutting board in the dishwasher. This is because water can cause the board to crack and warp. Those little cracks end up becoming breeding grounds for bacteria that can potentially cause foodborne illness. Instead, wash the board by hand after every single use, following the steps below.

If you used your cutting board to cut raw meat or poultry, cleaning it with bleach will help kill bacteria on the board. Follow the steps above to first clean the board with dish soap, then follow the additional steps below.

Cleaning your cutting boards with lemon and salt once per month is a great way to help maintain them. This method can help remove stains on the board. And if your cutting board smells from lots of chopped garlic, this could help freshen it up.

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