How to Clean Your Wooden and Bamboo Tableware

We can all agree: wooden and bamboo kitchen products turn any meals or drinks into delightful culinary creations. Best of all, they’re handcrafted from coconut wood and bamboo—some of the world’s most sustainable materials!

Yes, they can last years of use. But as with all natural and biodegradable products, these pieces of tableware aren’t exactly immortal—they need some of your tender loving care. Whether you have bamboo cups, coconut wood plates, or utensils, read on and learn how you can make them last for a lifetime.

If you’re getting bamboo, acacia wood, olive wood, or coconut wood kitchenware from us, don’t worry about committing all of these to memory—we always include care instructions in every package!

You can also watch this video to learn how easy it is to take care of your wooden products:

Handwashing

Throwing your wooden or bamboo tableware into your dishwasher seems like an easy option. But we recommend you don’t.

Natural products can get damaged when exposed to heat and too much water. So instead, follow these care instructions:

1. Clean your tableware right after use. You wouldn’t want it covered with nasty food particles for too long!
2. Wash your tableware with mild dish soap. Use the soft side of a sponge or a cleaning cloth.
3. Rinse it with warm water.
4. Pat them dry immediately with a clean cloth.

Don’t soak it in water for long periods. Wood and bamboo materials are porous—when they’re soaked for too long, they may absorb water, which can cause cracks or molds.

It’s also best to let your natural tableware air dry. For air drying wooden or bamboo utensils, our Coconut Wood Utensil Holder is perfect for the task!

Temperature

Wooden and bamboo tableware don’t fare well with extreme temperatures. So avoid putting them in the fridge, heating in the oven or microwave, or washing in the dishwasher (as tempting it may sound!).

How about hot food and drinks? Well, we don’t recommend using these natural kitchen products with hot meals and liquids too. But they’re great for serving cold and warm dishes and drinks! 

Easily Remove Stains

One of the reasons why people avoid wooden or bamboo utensils like a plague is because they sometimes retain stains. Luckily, getting rid of stains (and flavors) from wooden or bamboo products is a breeze—and you don’t have to use harsh, costly chemicals to do so.

Baking Soda

A godsend to many homeowners, baking soda cleans and deodorizes everything in no time, including wooden or bamboo tableware.

Mix some baking soda with soapy water (1:2 ratio). Then, scrub the stain using this mixture and let it sit for a few minutes. Finally, rinse it with water and dry it with a clean cloth.

Lemon

Another all-around natural household cleaner, lemon can naturally remove stains from wooden or bamboo tableware.

You can squeeze some lemon juice into your baking soda and water mixture. Or if you prefer to use lemon as a standalone stain remover, simply cut a slice, rub the stain with that slice, and let it air dry.

Vinegar

A list of all-natural cleaners won’t be complete without vinegar. Simply pour vinegar on the stained area and scrub it with a clean cloth. Then, rinse your utensils with water and let them dry.

Some suggest soaking wooden or bamboo tableware in vinegar for hours to remove the stains. Yes, you can do this, but do so sparingly.

As we’ve mentioned before, soaking these kitchen products for too long might damage them or shorten their lifespans. Plus, we think that cleaning natural tableware with baking soda is the best way to get rid of stains.

Polishing

Are your wooden and bamboo utensils looking a bit dry or discolored? Not a problem. Use any of these food-safe oils to bring back their luster and color:

• Coconut oil
• Vegetable oil
• Mineral oil

Just pour any of these oils on a clean cloth, spread it all over your utensils, and let it sit for a few hours. Then, remove the excess oil with a dry cloth and enjoy your freshly restored utensils! Keep your utensils longer-lasting by polishing them with food-grade oil every month or so.

Wooden and bamboo tableware can take a bit of getting used to, true. But once you’re accustomed to cleaning and maintaining them, you can dig into your dishes or sip your favorite drinks in style throughout your life.

If you have further questions about how to care for your wooden or bamboo utensils, feel free to send us an email at sales@rainforestbowls.com or give us a call at (805) 452 0659.