How to Clean a Cheese Grater

Theo asked, “How do you clean a cheese grater without destroying a sponge?”

You Will Need:

• Lemon
• Raw potato
• Dish liquid
• Nylon scrub brush
• Old toothbrush

Steps to Clean the Grater:

1. Soak the grater in a sink or bowl of soapy water for several minutes to soften the food particles for easier cleaning. Do not allow the grater to soak for too long or it could rust.
2. Wipe each side with a slice of lemon or raw potato to loosen soft cheese or other sticky residue.¹
3. Place a drop or two of dish liquid onto a nylon scrub brush or vegetable scrub brush and wet the bristles.²
4. Use the brush to scrub the grater inside and out. Only rub the brush in the same direction as the grain of the holes on each side (the non-grating direction) or you will risk damaging the bristles.²
5. If there are still any hard to reach particles of food stuck in the crevices, use an old toothbrush to remove them. Be sure to boil the toothbrush first though so that it is sterile.³
6. Rinse the grater thoroughly or place it in the dishwasher if possible.
7. Be sure that it is completely dry before returning it to a cupboard.²

• Rub the grater with a bit of butter or salad oil before grating to prevent residue from sticking to the surface.⁴
• For the finest grating surface, often used for citrus rinds or hard cheeses, wrap the grater with plastic wrap. By doing so, the holes of the grater will poke through the plastic, but the plastic will catch the residue left behind by the cheese or rind without shredding into the food itself.²

1. Household Hints For Dummies by Janet Sobesky
2. Clean it Fast, Clean it RIGHT by Jeff Bredenberg
3. 10,001 Hints & Tips for the Home by Reader’s Digest
4. Haley’s Hints by Graham and Rosemary Haley