Here’s How to Get the Garlic Smell Out of Your Cutting Board

Garlic lovers, listen up. Whether you’re chopping cloves for a decadent garlic chicken or mincing up the good stuff for drool-worthy garlic bread, you’re likely utilizing a cutting board. And while you may not notice any funky odors now, you certainly will later when prepping fruit for a pretty peach tart. We’ll show you how to get that garlic smell and taste out of your cutting board—for good.

Know Your Materials

Before you reach for your cutting board, understand the type of material you’re working with. Nonporous boards—made from plastic, resin, marble or glass—will be easier to clean as they don’t absorb odors. Wood boards, on the other hand, are porous—and thus more likely to stink. Learn more about cutting board care.

How to Remove Garlic Smell from a Wooden Cutting Board

If you’ve chopped just a clove or two of garlic, you might get away with simply washing the board in hot, soapy water.

But on other occasions, you’ll need to give your cutting surface a spa-level treatment.

1. Start by washing the board with equal parts vinegar and hot water.
2. Sprinkle baking soda all over the board and spritz with even more vinegar and water.
3. Exfoliate the board with a scrub brush, rinse well and let dry.
4. Repeat as needed until the garlic odor is gone.

More Cutting Board Tips

Want to save yourself a little time? Buy a small cutting board and use it only for prepping garlic and onions. We like OXO Good Grips utility cutting board as it’s non-porous and has non-slip grips for safer cutting. Or, check out the best cutting boards on Amazon.

Now, here’s how to get the garlic smell off your hands.