How to Clean Kitchen Utensils Properly

To clean kitchen utensils properly, wash them soon after use in hot, soapy water, scrub off any residue, rinse well, and dry them thoroughly. Hand-wash wooden utensils and knives, never leave wood soaking, and only use the dishwasher for items labelled dishwasher-safe. Anything that has touched raw meat should be washed before it touches ready-to-eat food.

Utensils touch your food every day, so how you clean them matters for hygiene and lifespan. The method is simple, but the details change with the material. This guide gives you one basic routine, then the rules for wood, silicone, steel, plastic, and knives.

The Basic Method: Five Steps for Most Utensils

This routine works for spoons, spatulas, tongs, whisks and most everyday tools. Adjust it using the material rules further down.

1

Rinse straight away

Rinse off food while it is still soft. Dried-on residue takes far more scrubbing later.

2

Wash in hot soapy water

Use washing-up liquid and a clean sponge, brush or dishcloth. Wash the cleanest items first and the greasiest last.

3

Scrub the awkward spots

Check handles, joins and holes. Graters, whisks and sieves trap food, so use a brush to push it out.

4

Rinse well

Remove all the soap. Leftover suds can leave a film and a smell.

5

Dry before storing

Dry with a clean tea towel or air dry on a rack. Packing damp utensils into a drawer can trap moisture and leave a musty smell.

Clean by Material: What Goes Where

Always check the maker's label first. When in doubt, hand washing is the safe choice.

Material Rules

Wooden and bamboo Wash by hand, never soak, pat dry and air dry
Hand wash
Silicone Usually fine in the dishwasher; soak in hot soapy water if greasy
Check label
Stainless steel Tough and rust-resistant, so it copes with most washing methods
Dishwasher OK
Plastic and nylon High heat can warp them, so keep them off the hottest cycle
Check label
Knives Point the blade away from your hand and dry straight away
Hand wash
Graters, peelers and sieves Brush food out of the holes soon after use
Hand wash

Which? Experts strongly advise keeping wooden spoons and boards out of the dishwasher and away from boiling water, because heat can split wood, and cracks can harbour bacteria. Their guide to wooden utensils explains why hand washing wins. Knife makers generally give the same advice for knives.

Tricky Tools That Need Extra Attention

Some utensils have gaps, hinges or holes where food hides. A little extra effort here stops smells and stuck-on residue.

Where Food Hides

Whisk Fill the loops with soapy water, spin it, then rinse under the tap
Spin and rinse
Grater Brush from the back so food is pushed out of the holes, not deeper into them
Use a brush
Tongs Open them fully and scrub the hinge, where food collects
Scrub the hinge
Can opener Wash the wheel and teeth with a small brush before residue dries
Use a brush
Garlic press Rinse straight after use, before the garlic dries in the holes
Rinse first

Hygiene: Raw Meat, Cloths and Sponges

Wash Between Raw and Ready-to-Eat

Utensils, boards and cloths can carry bacteria from raw food to food that will not be cooked again. The Food Standards Agency advises using different utensils, plates and chopping boards for raw food and ready-to-eat food, and washing items thoroughly between tasks. It also says to wash or change dishcloths, sponges, tea towels and oven gloves regularly, and to dry them before using them again.

Based on the Food Standards Agency's cleaning guidance, which also suggests washing up as you go rather than letting items pile up in the sink.

Stains and Smells: Simple Fixes

Wooden and plastic tools soak up odours from garlic, curry and tomato. These fixes are gentle enough for everyday use.

Baking Soda Paste

Mix baking soda with a little water, rub it on, then rinse. A common fix for smells on wooden and plastic tools.

Lemon Rub

Rub half a lemon over a wooden spoon to freshen it, then rinse and dry.

Hot Soapy Soak

Greasy silicone and plastic often need a short soak in hot soapy water before scrubbing.

Skip the Boiling Water

Boiling water can damage wood, so use hot soapy water and air drying instead.

Quick Rules: Do This, Avoid That

Do

Good Habits

Wash soon after use, check labels, dry thoroughly, and keep tools for raw food separate from those for ready-to-eat food.

Avoid

Common Mistakes

Soaking wood, putting knives or wood in the dishwasher, boiling wooden spoons, and storing utensils while they are still damp.

Store Utensils Properly After Washing

Clean tools can pick up moisture and smells again if they are stored badly. Stand them upright in a holder or hang them from hooks so air can circulate. Keep knives in a block, sheath, or on a magnetic strip rather than loose in a drawer, which protects both the blade and your fingers. If wooden utensils start to look dry and rough, a little food-grade mineral oil now and then can help them last longer.

Which Routine Suits You?

Pick the routine that fits your kitchen and your time.

Have a dishwasher? Load steel, silicone, and plastic items labelled dishwasher-safe, and hand wash wood and knives. Do not overload it, so water reaches every item.
Hand washing only? Wash the cleanest items first, change the water when it turns greasy, and let everything air dry on a rack.
Sharing a kitchen? Label your wooden utensils and board, and wash your own tools straight after use.
Short on time? Rinse everything straight after cooking. It makes every later wash faster.

Keep Reading

What Are the Basic Kitchen Essentials?

The full guide: every cooking tool, tagged by when to buy it

How to Clean and Care for Your Natural Dish Brush

Keep your washing-up tools hygienic and lasting longer

Explore Our Cleaning Products

Dishwashing liquids, disinfectants and everyday cleaners for a hygienic kitchen.

Shop Cleaning Products

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put wooden spoons in the dishwasher?
No. Which? experts advise keeping wooden spoons and boards out of the dishwasher, because heat can make the wood split and cracks can harbour bacteria. Wash them by hand and dry them well.
How do you clean silicone utensils?
Wash them in hot soapy water, or in the dishwasher if the label says they are dishwasher-safe. For a greasy film, soak them in hot soapy water before scrubbing.
How often should I wash dish cloths and sponges?
Regularly. The Food Standards Agency advises washing or changing dish cloths, sponges and tea towels often, and letting them dry before you use them again.
How do I get smells out of wooden spoons?
Wash with hot soapy water, then rub with a paste of baking soda and a little water, or with half a lemon. Rinse well and let the spoon air dry.
Should knives go in the dishwasher?
Knife makers generally advise against it. Wash knives by hand with warm soapy water, keep the blade pointed away from your hand, and dry them straight away.
How do you clean a grater properly?
Rinse it straight after use, then brush from the back so food is pushed out of the holes. Wash in hot soapy water and dry it fully before storing.

 

Tags:
Back to blog