Compared with the blunt and cold plastic tableware, the warm wooden tableware retains the warm atmosphere from the earth, and the warm texture of the warm color not only makes the food look extra delicious, but also makes life more warm. However, after the baptism of years, the light brown luster of the surface of wooden tableware will gradually dim, and it may also be deformed and moldy due to improper storage and cleaning.
Generally, wooden tableware can be divided into two types: painted and unpainted. Applying a layer of paint can prevent the wood from being invaded by foreign substances, and it is also more convenient to maintain and use, but pay attention to the type of raw materials for surface paint.
As for tableware that is advertised as 100% logs and no artificial coating, the biggest disadvantage is that it is afraid of water. The wood itself has pores that are invisible to the naked eye, and moisture, dirt, and grease from the outside can easily penetrate through it.
Because wooden tableware is afraid of water, the cleaning and preservation methods are different from ordinary tableware. Master the following tips, you can save your worries.
Tip 1: Baking soda is a good cleaning aid
There is no difference in the way of cleaning between painted and unpainted dishes. You can use food grade baking soda powder and bitter tea powder for cleaning. If the tableware is greasy, you can use tea water or tea residue to clean it. Tea contains theophylline, which helps to remove oil. When cleaning, you can soak the tableware in tea water to remove the oil, or you can put the tea residue in a small filter bag to wipe off the oil. In addition, you can also use a neutral detergent to clean, but pay attention to when cleaning unpainted tableware, the detergent will inevitably penetrate into the pores of the wood, it is recommended not to use odorous detergents to avoid residual fragrance.
Tip 2: Use a soft sponge, avoid soaking for too long
To clean wooden utensils, it is best to use a soft sponge to gently remove oil. Never use loofah, steel wool, and do not wash with hard forks, knives, and cutting boards. These hard utensils will peel off the paint on the surface of wooden tableware, or cause scratches, which are easy to hide stains. Nurgle.
It is best not to soak for too long when washing. If you want to soften the food residues that stick to the tableware, the soaking time should be controlled within 5-10 minutes. If the wood is soaked for too long, it is easy to spoil and mold.
Tip 3: After washing, put it in a dry and cool place to dry
It is best to dry the dishes immediately after washing, or store them in a dry and cool place upright. Be careful not to place it in places with high temperature or moisture, such as refrigerators, water dispensers, and rice cookers; direct exposure to the sun is also not recommended. Too high temperature or too much humidity can easily crack the wood, deform it, and breed bacteria. You can also heat the oven slightly for 5 minutes, turn off the power, and use the residual temperature to quickly dry the wooden tableware.
Tip 4: Don’t put it away in an airtight cabinet when not in use
After washing and drying, it is best to place the tableware in a ventilated and cool place. It is not recommended to put it directly in a closed cabinet. Otherwise, when the air humidity is high, especially in the rainy season, the wooden tableware is placed in a closed cabinet. If it is not used for a long time, it will easily absorb the moisture in the air and become moldy.
In addition, wood has low hardness and is prone to scratches when it is bumped. It is recommended to separate it from other metal tableware when putting it away.
Tip 5: Regularly apply olive oil to maintain wood
Wooden cutlery needs regular maintenance just like skin. Tableware will inevitably lose its original woody luster after being used for a long time. Just like applying lotion to the skin every day, a thin layer of olive oil is regularly applied to the tableware to restore the woody luster. However, it should be noted that the pores of the wood will be stained with fragrance. It is not recommended to use scented sesame oil, and do not apply too much to avoid oil consumption.
Tip 6: Sterilize with warm water
If the tableware has been used for a long time and wants to be thoroughly disinfected, do not use alcohol. High-concentration alcohol will damage the wood surface coating. If you want to sterilize, you can soak it in 50-60 ℃ warm water, that is, it is a little hot to the touch but can bear the heat. It is not recommended to use it in hot hands.
Finally, even when properly washed and stored, wooden cutlery has a limited lifespan. If the tableware has been used for a long time, it is necessary to observe whether the tableware is discolored, worn, cracked, or even attached to mildew. If there is, it must be replaced immediately. Damaged tableware is easy to breed mold, and tableware with bacteria is definitely not less harmful to the body than plastic products.
If you want to use wooden tableware with peace of mind and follow the above tips, you can let your family eat with peace of mind and worry-free.
