> wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> I want to clean all the dust and dirt that accumulates in the knife
> slots of a typical wooden knife block (yes, even if your knives go in
> clean). I ruined my last block by soaking it in a sink of soapy water
> for a few minutes. (It swelled up and some slots wont accept knives any
> longer. Also, even after leaving it to dry outside for a week, the
> slots still contain enough moisture to wet the knives, and cause them
> to rust). Question is, how can I properly clean the inside of the slots
> with water on occasion, without ruining the block? I'm tired of having
> to rinse my knives before using them, because I can't clean inside the
> block!


Maybe you need a new block with proper clearance. I've been using the same
block for about 15 years and have no gunk in them. Only way to clean them
now is a very thin stiff brush or a metal scraper that just fits down in and
will clean the sides. There is no way to soak it and get it clean without
damage.