The best way to clean a wood board is to scrape off all remaining food residue from the surface after each use. Then, simply hand wash with warm water and soap.
After washing the wood cutting board, dry
'immediately'
with a towel and let it air dry standing up or on a raised rack with air flow.
While wooden cutting boards are proven to trap less harmful bacteria over time than their plastic counterparts, that doesn’t mean that you should ever skimp on cleaning them.
Remember, many of us use cutting boards to cut up raw meat, which means the boards are exposed to a wide variety of bacteria regularly. If you ever encounter any sour smells coming from your board, apply a cup of baking soda to the cutting board surface and pour a cup of vinegar over it before letting it sit for a few minutes. You could also cut a lemon in half and give your board a citrus rub down. This should 'help' remove any bad smells and give your battle-tested board a bit of a refresh.
If you notice the wood becoming a bit dry — usually every month or two (depending on usage) — give the entire surface a good wipe down with food-grade mineral oil and beeswax (board butter works great for regular maintenance).
** Before adding any Food-Grade Mineral Oil or Board Butter to your board make sure your wood cutting board is thoroughly dry!
Regular maintenance will ensure your wooden cutting board remains splinter, odor, and stain-free.