u/ArdentHex

This is a little embarrassing because I cook almost every day and always thought I kept my kitchen pretty clean.

For years I'd wash my wooden cutting board right after using it, scrub it with soap, rinse it, let it dry and put it away. Seemed fine. But every now and then I'd notice a weird smell when I pulled it back out. Not rotten exactly, just... off. I figured that's just what old wood does after a while.

Last week a friend came over who's worked in restaurant kitchens for years. He watched me rinse the board and immediately asked why I wasn't standing it upright while it dried. Apparently I've been leaving it flat on a towel this whole time. He explained that moisture gets trapped underneath and the board can stay damp way longer than you think. I started drying it upright with airflow around both sides and the difference was honestly kind of shocking. The smell is completely gone and the board feels noticeably better too.

Now I'm wondering what other "normal" cleaning habits I've had for years that are actually making things worse lol.