# Disinfecting plastic cutting board... with what I have on hand? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2010, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539 "2010-01-19T07:48:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/1 "2010-01-19T07:48:05Z")
I’d like to run a disinfecting run on my two plastic cutting boards (one for meats, one for veggies). I don’t have any bleach on hand (and all the dire warnings on the label make me nervous), but I do have some Formula 409. Would that do any good? Any other options that aren’t as harsh as bleach? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/2 "2010-01-19T08:02:08Z")
Put each on a baking sheet in a 150° F. oven for five minutes. Not hot enough to melt the plastic, but hot enough to kill bacteria. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/3 "2010-01-19T11:32:31Z")
Actually having worked at a chemical plant that makes bleach [among other products] bleach is not all that bad as a sanitizing solution. For many many MANY decades the best sterilizing solution around the house is the very classic half a teaspoon in a quart of water then into a spray bottle. Bleach [sodium hypochlorite] degrades quite quickly in the air, so literally you can just spray it on and let it air dry until the smell of bleach is off the surface. To be honest, I have dealt with everything from the standard household bottling of 5% through a custom industrial application 21% solution, with no ill results. Just don’t stick your nose over the bottle and take a heavy sniff, don’t mix it with ammonia in any form, and don’t spill on anything that you do not want to bleach out and you will be fine. And honestly, chemicals are not evil, ok? If you follow the directions on the back of the bottle of bleach for making a sanitizing solution you will be fine. If it spills on your hand or clothing, just wash off with plain water, and launder the clothing [and it will have bleached out spots because it bleached out the color…] ---
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/4 "2010-01-19T13:00:45Z")
Alton Brown, in his new book, says vinegar will also work. Use full strength. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/5 "2010-01-19T13:13:10Z")
I would definitely not use Formula 409 for food contact surfaces unless the label has directions for that sort of usage. I don’t think there’s anything in 409 to act as a disinfectant anyway - its main claim to fame is cleaning up grease. As \*\*aruvqan \*\*said, bleach, when used properly, is not dangerous and isn’t going to dissolve your cutting boards or make the kids grow a third eye. One other thing in favor of bleach is that it’s really cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/6 "2010-01-19T17:32:42Z")
There is an “Antibacterial Kitchen All Purpose Cleaner” formula of 409, but even that is not for food preparation surfaces, the manufacturer says. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/7 "2010-01-19T17:40:38Z")
Immerse in oxygen dihydride heated to 100 degrees C. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/8 "2010-01-19T18:10:40Z")
I run mine through the dishwasher - is that not sufficient disinfection? I mean, I know it isn’t getting sterilized, but I figure any really nasty bacteria are getting washed off, and I don’t need autoclave-quality sterilization in my kitchen anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/9 "2010-01-19T18:28:54Z")
Wash it really good with hot soap and water and put it in the sun. The sun is a great disinfectant. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/10 "2010-01-19T20:05:01Z")
Your dishwasher should be a good enough disinfectant. I second the recommendation to buy some bleach. They have to put dire warnings on the bottle because people are stupid. It’s pretty mild stuff as far as cleaning chemicals go. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/11 "2010-01-19T22:18:27Z")
Bleach is my go-to disinfectant. I use it on my cutting boards, my bathroom, the floors (I have birds. Shit happens), the laundry… Follow the dilution instructions on the label. I suggest wearing gloves, but a small splash of dilute bleach on your hands won’t cause a problem, particularly if you rinse off immediately with plain old water. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/12 "2010-01-19T22:20:48Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Immerse in oxygen dihydride heated to 100 degrees C. [Just be sure your will is up to date.](http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html) ---
**Author:** ![akwally1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akwally1/32/3220_2.png) [@akwally1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akwally1)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/13 "2010-01-19T22:51:38Z")
The dishwasher will work just fine. If you’re really concerned, put it on the pots and pans cycle. I think Cooks Illustrated did a study recently and they found that scrubbing in hot soapy water eliminated almost as many bacteria as a bleach solution. Mark ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/14 "2010-01-19T23:00:19Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > I run mine through the dishwasher - is that not sufficient disinfection? I mean, I know it isn’t getting sterilized, but I figure any really nasty bacteria are getting washed off, and I don’t need autoclave-quality sterilization in my kitchen anyway. Same here. I use a wooden cutting board for veggies since it doesn’t need to be sterilized; I do meats solely on the plastic board because I can fit that in the dishwasher. We’ve had that plastic board for 7+ years and seem to still be alive. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/15 "2010-01-19T23:03:01Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > [Just be sure your will is up to date.](http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html) Yes, indeed, prolonged immersion of people in oxygen dihydride causes [an estimated 6,500 deaths per year in the U.S.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drowning) Heating the solvent as I suggested would cause severe injuries if you immersed any part of your body for a relatively short period. It’s a dangerous substance, but it’s also one found in every household. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/16 "2010-01-19T23:14:29Z")
Why do many people tell Leaper to use bleach when out of bleach? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/17 "2010-01-20T00:13:46Z")
I just got a freebie copy of Cook’s Illustrated, and it says soap and hot water are very effective in getting rid of germs. Also, the teaspoon of bleach in a quart of water in a spray bottle. It also says rags and sponges can be sterilized by microwaving, but not for how long - I give them 20-30 seconds, myself. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/18 "2010-01-20T01:00:59Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Why do many people tell Leaper to use bleach when out of bleach? Because to be honest, bleach is one of the best disinfectants around for kitchen applications when used properly. In the OP, he/she is seemingly terrified by this simple chemical because of the dire warnings put on the label … because some morons can’t seem to use it safely. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/19 "2010-01-20T01:20:17Z")
That, and I don’t own eye goggles, which the label insists I must use in order to use bleach. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539/20 "2010-01-20T03:34:32Z")
Scrub in hot soapy water, rinse, then pour a pan or kettle of boiling water slowly over it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disinfecting-plastic-cutting-board-with-what-i-have-on-hand/525539.md?page=2)