Refresh that old plastic cutting board

Plastic (polyethylene) cutting boards tend to get worn with use, eventually leading to an unsightly (and often unsanitary) surface. Between cut marks, foods, and cleaners can leave a plastic board looking pretty ragged.

But not all is lost - a quick attack with some sandpaper can refresh that cutting board, making it as good as new and saving the time and money of replacing them! This tried and true food service industry trick can help clean up even the worst of boards and prolong the life of your boards and boost the cleanliness of your kitchen.

Step 1: What you'll need

Materials in addition to your old cutting boards

• dropcloth/newspaper/garbage bag
• clamps
• sander
• Sandpaper (ideally 25 grit through 80 grit)
• metal scrubber or rough steel wool
• scraper/hand plane/razor blade (not pictured)
• gloves
• eye protection
• dust mask
• dish soap
• sponge

For the sander, I'm using a Dremel contour sander. Any sander will do the job, and one with more horsepower will do the job faster. A belt sander or orbital sander would work nicely. I just didn't happen to have one handy at the moment.

Comments

[Ex Machina]

What a great way to keep plastic out of the landfill! My favorite cutting board is no longer scheduled for that big kitchen in the sky....