Homemade Fruit and Vegetable Wash
How-tos
Vegetables
Ingredients:
- 720 ml (3 cups) water
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) white vinegar
- 15 g (1 tbsp) baking soda
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) fresh lemon juice
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Use a spray bottle for convenience — a clean spray bottle makes it easy to mist produce quickly without needing a full soak every time.
Have a soft brush ready — a vegetable brush makes scrubbing firm produce like potatoes and squash much easier.
Instructions:
- Combine the ingredients: Mix water, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice (if using) in a large bowl or spray bottle. Stir or shake until the baking soda dissolves.
- Soak or spray: Submerge fruits and vegetables in the solution for up to 15 minutes, or spray produce directly and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
- Scrub: Gently scrub firmer produce like potatoes, apples, or cucumbers with a soft brush or your hands.
- Rinse: Rinse thoroughly under cool running water to remove any residue.
- Dry and store: Pat dry with a clean towel before eating or storing.
Common Mistakes: Using too much vinegar — a strong vinegar solution isn't necessary and can leave a lingering taste on delicate produce like berries; stick to the ratio.
Storage: Store in a sealed spray bottle or jar for up to 2 weeks. Shake well before each use, since the ingredients can settle.
Swaps: Baking soda can be left out for a simpler vinegar-and-water wash. Grapefruit seed extract (a few drops) can replace lemon juice for a different natural boost.
Tips: Soak delicate produce like berries for no more than 5 minutes to avoid them absorbing too much water. Always dry produce thoroughly before storing to help it last longer.
White vinegar — its mild acidity helps loosen dirt, wax, and residue from the surface of produce.
Baking soda — a gentle abrasive that helps lift away residue without damaging delicate produce.
Lemon juice — adds extra freshness and a pleasant scent, and its acidity gives the wash an added boost.
Water — dilutes the solution to a safe, food-friendly strength for soaking or spraying.
Homemade Fruit and Vegetable Wash
Ingredients:
- 720 ml (3 cups) water
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) white vinegar
- 15 g (1 tbsp) baking soda
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) fresh lemon juice
Why These Ingredients:
White vinegar — its mild acidity helps loosen dirt, wax, and residue from the surface of produce.
Baking soda — a gentle abrasive that helps lift away residue without damaging delicate produce.
Lemon juice — adds extra freshness and a pleasant scent, and its acidity gives the wash an added boost.
Water — dilutes the solution to a safe, food-friendly strength for soaking or spraying.
Prep:
Use a spray bottle for convenience — a clean spray bottle makes it easy to mist produce quickly without needing a full soak every time.
Have a soft brush ready — a vegetable brush makes scrubbing firm produce like potatoes and squash much easier.
Instructions:
- Combine the ingredients: Mix water, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice (if using) in a large bowl or spray bottle. Stir or shake until the baking soda dissolves.
- Soak or spray: Submerge fruits and vegetables in the solution for up to 15 minutes, or spray produce directly and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
- Scrub: Gently scrub firmer produce like potatoes, apples, or cucumbers with a soft brush or your hands.
- Rinse: Rinse thoroughly under cool running water to remove any residue.
- Dry and store: Pat dry with a clean towel before eating or storing.
