I have "inherited" a ricer (yippee! I'd never seen one until Husband Dear's aunts brought theirs out). The colander part is metal, but the squishing part (don't know what it's called- looks like a wooden rollin pin) is wooden. This thing has been sitting in a closed up house for five years, and probably not used in more than 20 years. It looks fine (no mold or anything), but I need to know how to clean the wooden part. I don't use soap on my biscuit board, but I clean it every time with hot water. Should I use soapy water on this squishing part of the ricer, or just scalding water?
I clean my wood kitchen stuff with hot water and lemon juice Let it dry fully and coat it with Mineral oil to keep it sealed and from cracking. Congrats on your "inheritence"
Mandi
"There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones." Madeleine L"Engle
If it were mine I would probably scrub it good with hot soapy water and give it a rinse with diluted bleach (just for extra measure) and then scrub it with the hot soapy water again...and then maybe oil it a little. After that you may not have to use soap at all. After sitting that long though, I would want to scrub it good. How neat to have one. I love mine.
Wood is actually a lot cleaner than most people think. Because it is natural germs die when the wood dries, so I would actually caution against the use of bleech. I clean all found wooden kitchen items with vinegar and lemon juice after washing them with the dishes.
After being used, I never let them sit and soak. I wash them right away and oil my wooden things once a month.