Washing fruits and vegetables to eat

Washing fruits and vegetables with some water, and maybe a little soap, isn't a new phenomenon, but trendy treatments have some people swearing that their food is left cleaner and bug-free. While some of these options sound great, their ingredients can sometimes list an ironically high amount of chemicals (and some have a price point to match!)

So before you buy, consider mixing up your own. Not only is it cheap, it's also crazy easy, and you get to see exactly what ingredients you're putting into it! Here are five ways to do it.


1. 2 cups of cold tap water, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Mix these ingredients well together and pour into a spray bottle. Squirt your produce 2-3 times, let it rest for two minutes, and then rinse off with more tap water before consuming.


2. 1 cup of cold fresh water, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/8 teaspoon grapefruit seed extract

This next way to wash looks similar to the first, but also contains just a hint of grapefruit seed extract, a known antioxidant with possible antimicrobial properties. Shake everything together in a spray bottle once again, and apply, let sit, and rinse!

3. Mixing water and white vinegar together for a powerful veggie soak. Instead of using your sink as a basin, try a large clean mixing bowl!

4. 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon baking soda

Swap out vinegar for baking soda for a foamy alternative. Spray on veggies and let them rest for five minutes, before rinsing and patting dry.

5. 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup vinegar, 2 tablespoons salt

This mixture is more concentrated than the others, and should be used as a half-hour soak for some serious fruit n' veg cleansing. Salt helps draw out bugs and other nasties hiding in leafy green veggies, while the vinegar vanquishes them!