DIY Fruit & Vegetable Wash

Washing your fruits and vegetables properly is an important part of eating whole foods, especially if you typically purchase non-organic produce. During the growing process, most produce is treated or sprayed with pesticides, but many of those chemicals are still present on the food when it’s sitting on the grocery store shelves. And while most people typically rinse their produce in water before eating it, the pesticides are designed to be waterproof, and therefore remain on the surfaces of your food even after rinsing. Use this DIY fruit and vegetable wash to get your produce all clean and ready to eat!

Benefits of Making Your Own Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Making your own cleaning products is always beneficial, and this fruit and vegetable wash is no different. When you make your own products at home, you’re fully in charge of what your family comes into contact with. This is especially important for a produce wash that is used directly on food! This is why I recommend making your own as opposed to buying a pre-made wash.

This DIY fruit and vegetable wash:

• Removes dirt from produce.
• Minimizes germs on the surface of the produce.
• Helps to scrub away pesticides that remain on the outside of the produce.

Supplies Needed

• Storage jar: Use either a mason jar with lid, or a food-safe spray bottle.
• Measuring cups: I use these measuring cups.
• (Optional) Produce scrubbing brush: Optionally use a produce brush for scrubbing away dirt and debris easily.

Ingredients

• 3 cups distilled water
• 3/4 cups distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (either premade, or fresh squeezed from 1-2 lemons)

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to the storage jar, and swirl to combine.
2. Use one of two ways. For the first option, spray directly onto fruits and vegetables, and then rinse clean in the sink. For the second option, fill a clean sink with water, and then add 1-2 cups of the DIY fruit and vegetable wash. Add the produce and swirl to scrub debris away. Rinse with clean water.
3. Be sure to label the bottle with one of these label design ideas!

How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables with the Wash

To use, your DIY fruit and vegetable wash, you have two different options.

For a quick clean, make sure that you have your wash in a food-safe spray bottle. Then to use, simply spray liberally on your produce, rub it with your hands, and rinse clean in fresh water.

For a soaking clean, fill a clean sink halfway with water, and then add 1-2 cups of fruit and vegetable wash to the water. Add your produce, and allow to soak, agitating the water periodically. Once you’re satisfied with the soak, rinse the produce with fresh water before storing or eating.

What Fruits and Veggies to Clean

Though produce is often just fine when it’s simply rinsed with clean water, you may want to specifically use a produce wash on fruits and vegetables that have lots of texture and detail.

The best produce to wash include:

• Berries
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Grapes
• Lemons and limes
• Lettuce
• Oranges
• Peaches
• Potatoes
• Strawberries
• …and so much more!

Why not just rinse your produce with water instead?

Though plain water is often effective at removing dirt and debris from produce, it typically does not remove pesticides. The pesticides that are sprayed on our fruits and vegetables when they’re being grown are designed to be waterproof so that the rain does not wash them away. It is very difficult or impossible to remove from our produce with water alone.

The ingredients in this fruit and vegetable wash greatly improve the chances of removing pesticides from our food. This is why it’s the perfect addition to your whole-food kitchen!

Be sure to pin the recipe for later!