How to Wash Wooden Items in Dishwasher — Should You

Should You Put Wooden Items in the Dishwasher?

No — wooden kitchen items should never go in the dishwasher. This applies to wooden cutting boards, wooden spoons, wooden salad bowls, wooden spatulas, and any other wood kitchenware. The dishwasher will damage them every single time, without exception.

Why the Dishwasher Destroys Wooden Items

1. Water Absorption Causes Warping and Cracking

Wood is a porous material that absorbs water. During a dishwasher cycle, wooden items soak up large amounts of hot water. As they dry — especially during the heated dry cycle — the wood contracts rapidly and unevenly, causing it to warp, split, and crack.

2. Detergent Strips Natural Oils

Dishwasher detergent strips the natural oils from wood, leaving it dry, rough, and brittle. Over time, this causes the wood to gray, splinter, and break down structurally.

3. Heat Accelerates Damage

The combination of hot water and the heated drying cycle is particularly destructive. A single dishwasher cycle can cause visible warping and cracking in wooden items that would otherwise last for years.

4. Glued Joints Fail

Many wooden items — particularly cutting boards and salad bowls — are made from multiple pieces of wood glued together. The hot water and heat of the dishwasher breaks down the adhesive, causing the joints to separate and the item to fall apart.

How to Wash Wooden Items Correctly

Wooden Cutting Boards

1. Wash with warm water and mild dish soap immediately after use
2. Scrub with a stiff brush to remove food residue
3. Rinse thoroughly and dry immediately with a clean cloth
4. Stand upright to air dry completely — never lay flat while wet
5. Oil with food-grade mineral oil or cutting board oil monthly to keep the wood conditioned and prevent drying and cracking

Wooden Spoons and Utensils

1. Wash by hand with warm soapy water
2. Rinse and dry immediately
3. Do not soak in water — even brief soaking causes swelling and cracking over time
4. Oil occasionally with food-grade mineral oil to maintain the wood

Wooden Salad Bowls

1. Wipe clean with a damp cloth after use — many wooden salad bowls should not be submerged in water at all
2. For deeper cleaning, wash quickly with warm soapy water and dry immediately
3. Oil regularly to maintain the finish and prevent the wood from drying out

Removing Odors From Wooden Items

• Rub the surface with half a lemon and coarse salt to neutralize odors and lift stains
• Rinse and dry immediately after treatment
• Baking soda paste also works well for stubborn odors

The Simple Rule for Wood

Wood and dishwashers are incompatible — always. No wooden kitchen item is dishwasher safe, regardless of what any label might suggest. Hand wash, dry immediately, and oil regularly for wooden items that last for years.

Final Tips

• Never put any wooden item in the dishwasher
• Wash by hand with warm soapy water and dry immediately
• Never soak wooden items in water
• Oil wooden cutting boards and utensils regularly to prevent drying and cracking