Wooden spoons are one of the most commonly-used kitchen utencils but did you know they hide a dirty secret?

Back in 2016, Matt Preston shared with delicious.com.au a handy hack for cleaning your wooden spoons. In the story, Matt suggested soaking your wooden spoons in a cup of boiling water for around 20 minutes to help release oils and liquids that have been absorbed into the wood.

The hack has since gone viral after a mum tried it and shared the results on Facebook.

“A tip I learned from Matt Preston years ago,” she posted. “Does anyone soak their wooden spoons in boiling water? Mine always go into the dishwasher every night but that doesn’t stop what gets absorbed.”

The post was accompanied by an image of a cup of murky water topped with a grimy film of oil.  “This one is going in the bin… revolting really,” she added.

And to think you were just about to stir your custard with that.

Her post attracted hundreds of comments from friends and family, with others revealing that had also tried the hack and received similar results.

If you’re repulsed by what you find, Matt Preston suggests trading out the wooden spoon for a silicone spatula, which essentially does the same job.

“They’re hygienic, heat-resistant and flexible, so they are great for getting into the corner of a pan or getting every last skerrick out of a bowl,” he said.

For more helpful hints, here are the 6 kitchen utensils you should give up, according to Matt Preston.