How To Get Onion Smell Out Of Wood Cutting Board (8 Natural Methods)
Onions make food taste amazing, but they sure don’t leave your cutting board smelling that way.
If you’ve ever chopped a few onions and then noticed that sharp smell hanging around your wooden board for days, you’re not alone.
Wood is porous, which means it soaks up odors easily, and onions are some of the strongest culprits.
The good news is that you don’t need fancy cleaners or harsh chemicals to fix it. With a few simple, natural tricks, you can get your board smelling fresh again and ready for your next recipe!
In this post, we’ll show you how to get onion smell out of a wood cutting board like a pro.
#1 Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda is a go-to for so many cleaning tasks, and it works wonders on your cutting board too.
It's gentle but effective, and it doesn’t have any strong chemicals that might damage the wood.
All you need to do is make a paste by mixing a little bit of water with baking soda until you get a thick consistency. Rub this paste onto the surface of the cutting board, focusing on the areas that smell the strongest. Let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Once the time’s up, just wipe it off with a damp cloth and rinse.
The smell should be gone, and your cutting board will feel fresh and clean.
Also Read: How To Get Smells Out Of Wood Furniture
#2 White Vinegar
If you’ve got some white vinegar sitting in your kitchen (and let’s be real, who doesn’t?), it’s a great option for getting rid of stubborn smells.
Vinegar is acidic, so it works well for neutralizing odors.
Simply pour a bit of vinegar onto a clean cloth or sponge and rub it over the cutting board. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off with warm water.
Vinegar will remove onion smell from your wood cutting board.
Don’t worry about the vinegar smell - it'll disappear once everything dries.
#3 Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide isn’t just for cleaning cuts, it can also help get onion smell out of your wood cutting board.
This method works best if you’re dealing with really strong odors that don’t seem to go away.
Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide onto the board and spread it around. Let it sit for about five minutes. After that, just wipe it down with a damp cloth and rinse.
Hydrogen peroxide can help kill bacteria and break down the smells, so it’ll leave your cutting board feeling fresh and sanitized.
Also Read: How To Get Pot Smell Out Of House
#4 Lemon And Salt
If you love the fresh scent of lemons, this method is perfect for you. Plus, the combination of lemon and salt is like a natural scrub that gets rid of both odors and stains.
It’s also a two-in-one solution because you’re both cleaning and deodorizing.
Start by cutting a lemon in half. Squeeze a little juice onto the cutting board, then sprinkle salt over it. Use the lemon halves to scrub the board, squeezing out more juice as you go.
The acidity of the lemon and the abrasiveness of the salt will work together to remove the onion smell.
Once you’re done scrubbing, rinse the board with water and let it air dry.
#5 Sunlight
Sometimes, all your cutting board needs is a little time in the sun.
Sunlight is a natural deodorizer and can help eliminate smells. Plus, the UV rays can kill off any bacteria that may be lurking on the wood.
After cleaning your board, simply place it outside in a sunny spot for a couple of hours.
The sun will dry it out and help get rid of any lingering odors. Just make sure you’re not leaving it in direct sunlight for too long, as excessive sun can cause the wood to dry out or crack.
A few hours is usually all it takes to get onion smell out of wood cutting boards.
Also Read: How To Get Smell Out Of Old Dresser
#6 Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is like the magic eraser for odors.
It's super effective at absorbing smells, so if your cutting board is still smelling like onions after trying a few methods, this could be your new best friend.
All you need to do is place a few pieces of activated charcoal near your cutting board. You don’t even need to touch the board directly. Just let the charcoal sit nearby, and it’ll help absorb the odor over time.
It’s perfect for persistent onion smells that just won’t go away.
#7 Coffee Grounds
Got some old coffee grounds lying around?
Instead of tossing them, use them to tackle that onion smell.
Coffee grounds are great at absorbing odors and neutralizing them, plus they leave behind a pleasant coffee aroma.
Take some used coffee grounds and sprinkle them on the cutting board. Rub them in gently, let them sit for about 10 to 15 minutes, then wipe them off.
If you’re sensitive to coffee scents, just rinse the board off with warm water afterward, and the smell should vanish.
Also Read: Can You Use Toilet Bowl Cleaner In The Sink?
#8 Boiling Water And Soap
Sometimes, the simplest solution works best. If none of the other methods are cutting it, a deep clean with boiling water and soap can help get rid of any smell.
Boil a pot of water and mix in a little dish soap. Pour the hot water over the cutting board and scrub it gently with a soft sponge or cloth. Be sure to get into all the crevices.
Once you’re done scrubbing, rinse the board with warm water and let it dry.
This method works especially well if your board has absorbed a lot of onion juice or if you just need a general cleaning.
Bottom Line
Getting rid of onion smell from a wooden cutting board doesn’t have to be a big headache. There are plenty of simple and natural ways to freshen up your board, from using baking soda to letting it bask in the sun. Just find what works best for you and your board.
Try a couple of these and you’ll be back to chopping and slicing without worrying about that lingering onion scent.
So, give these methods a try next time your cutting board starts to smell like an onion farm.