Many fruits and vegetables are grown with pesticides to get rid of bugs. Although nobody wants to find a creepy crawly thing in a peach or tomato, according to the Environmental Working Group, even small doses of pesticides can adversely affect your health and are worrisome, not well understood, and in some cases are completely unstudied.
Fortunately, you can drastically reduce your exposure to pesticides and bacteria found on produce with a thorough vinegar and water wash. Experts found that a white vinegar and water wash kills 98% of bacteria and removes pesticides.
You can concoct your own vinegar/water mixture at home to save money. You’ll probably spend less than 20 cents to make a homemade vinegar and water rinse, compared to around $4 for a premade produce wash. Plus, you can use the same bottle many times when you make your own wash!
Good Green Habits for Washing Produce
- Mix 3 parts water to 1 part white vinegar (3:1 ) in a spray bottle.
- Spray on fruits and veggies to get rid of pesticide residue.
- Rinse with water after spraying.
-OR-
- Fill a bowl with water and add 1/8 to 1/2 cup of vinegar, depending on the size of your bowl.
- Place your fruits and veggies in the bowl.
- Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rinse with water.
Note: GGH loves the second version because it’s super easy and quick.
Update: You can read more about this topic (and get a new recipe!) at Cleaning Fruits and Vegetables: Organic and Conventionally Grown.
[...] Like Heartsong…I too use vinegar…if I buy any fruit I just rinse it in a bowl of water with a small amount of vinegar…….Washing Vegetables With Vinegar | Good Green Habits [...]
[...] other vegetables and fruits, there are two ways to remove most [...]
[...] Do an online search and you will find many do-it-yourself recipes. Here’s one that I found from Good Green Habits to get you [...]
[...] I was researching for a vinegar fruit wash, I was hoping it would be a nice fix to my fruit going bad before I have [...]