How to clean wooden chopping boards

SINGAPORE - I have a large wooden chopping board that sits on the counter of my all-white kitchen, as a counterpoint to all that minimalism. But cleaning it is a pain as the board is large and heavy.

However, I have discovered a way of cleaning it without having to move it. I just wipe it down with plain white vinegar.

The acetic acid in vinegar is a good disinfectant against bugs such as E. coli, salmonella and staphylococcus.

I had been using a wet rag with a bit of washing detergent, which I have now realised I should never do as the detergent can eat into the wood fibres.

If the board needs deodorising, I dust it with baking soda and spray it with vinegar.

Then I rub the vinegar in and leave it to foam, and wipe the board down with a wet cloth. Indeed, white vinegar does a good job of cleaning around the kitchen.

A combination of vinegar and baking soda can unclog and deodorise sink drains and is far gentler than commercial drain cleaners.

Pour in half a cup of baking soda followed by one cup of vinegar. When the foaming subsides, flush the sink with hot tap water.

Wait five minutes, then flush again with cold water. This removes odour-causing bacteria.

Vinegar is also good for cleaning the stainless steel surfaces of appliances.

Just mist the surfaces with it, then buff them with a slice of soft cloth. You can even remove sticky labels and stickers with vinegar.

Just saturate the label with white vinegar and scrape it off with a piece of plastic. Then wipe the surface with a clean cloth.

And you thought vinegar was only good for salads.

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