Make Your Own Fruit & Veggie Wash
It may be tempting to eat fresh produce straight out of the grocery bag, but don’t! Commercial produce sanitation is likely up to speed, but most of our own produce-handling practices are not: That piece of fruit has likely been touched by 
many hands before it got into your cart — unwashed hands, like yours or mine.
Store-bought veggie washes have not been proven to be as effective as we’d like them to be, and you might not be comfortable just running your produce under cold water, per the FDA’s recommendations. SO, consider making your own fruit and veggie wash to loosen debris, remove pesticides, and eliminate some of the bacteria that other grocery shoppers passed on to your produce.
This recipe calls for vinegar, a popular ingredient in DIY cleaning solutions. Although some people use vinegar as a disinfectant, it is not registered as an official disinfectant and experts say that it does not kill dangerous bacteria like staphylococcus. That said, vinegar is acidic, which makes it a potent cleaner and it’s non-chemical, which at my house is favorable.
Below, you’ll find two different sets of instructions. One is for standard fruits and vegetables and one is for leafy greens, which should be cleaned separately.
How To Make Veggie Wash for Standard Fruits and Vegetables.
You’ll Need:
Spray bottle
Measuring cup and spoons
Colander
Distilled white vinegar
Water
Lemon juice
Gentle scrub brush
Paper towels
1. Make your solution: To clean most fruits and vegetables, mix a solution of 1 cup vinegar to 4 cups water inside your spray bottle, then add a tablespoon of lemon juice. Shake well to combine.
2. Spray your produce: Place your fruit or vegetable in a colander in the sink. Spray it liberally with the mixture, then let it sit for two to five minutes.
3. Rinse: Rinse off the mixture thoroughly with cool water, using a vegetable scrub brush on thicker-skinned produce.
4. Dry: Pat dry with paper towels.
How To Make Veggie Wash for Leafy Greens.
You’ll Need:
• Glass or metal bowl
• Measuring cup and spoons
• Distilled white vinegar
• Water
• Salt
• Colander or a salad spinner
• Paper towels
1. Make your solution: Place your greens into a clean glass or metal bowl. Fill the bowl with a solution of 1 cup vinegar to 4 parts water, then add a tablespoon of salt.
2. Soak your greens: Let the greens sit in the solution for two to five minutes, then remove.
3. Rinse: Rinse off the mixture thoroughly with cold water either in a colander or the basket of a salad spinner.
4. Dry: Dry the greens with paper towels or give them in a run through a salad spinner. It’s recommended to do this right before you eat the greens since any excess moisture can lead to decay in the fridge.
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