3 Tips for Taking Care of your Favorite Pair of Chopsticks

How to Care for Chopsticks

If you carry chopsticks instead of a knife & fork in your lunch bag, you obviously appreciate and enjoy using them. Here are a few tips on caring for your favorite pair so they can last a lifetime.

Ok, so here are 3 things you should NOT do with your chopsticks:

1. Water - If your chopsticks are made of wood - do not let them soak in water - if you do, in time, moisture find its way into them, making chopsticks swell and warp; possibly making them crack and chipping any artful finish they may have had.

2. Dishwasher - Some newer chopsticks are dishwasher safe and may tolerate the harsh cycles of a dishwasher; however beware, they may not last as long. Of course hand-washing is the kindest treatment you can give your chopsticks. With lacquered and artful finish chopsticks, avoid using harsh scrubbers that may scratch the finish.

I definitely avoid the dishwasher because one time my chopsticks found their way out of the cutlery basket and somehow blocking the rotating mechanism in my machine - no fun!

3. Sunlight - Many things, including your precious chopsticks, after repeated sun exposure will discolour and fade. So do keep them in a drawer way from the sun.

Finally, if your chopsticks have cracks or chips in them, well, you’ll definitely want to avoid your mouth. No one likes a sharp object stuck in their cheek! instead recycle them into plant stakes, use them for art projects, for stirring cocktails or cleaning small spaces!

Voila - now you know how to keep your favorite chopsticks for a lifetime of good use.