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So the other day I bought a whole bunch of fruit, brought it home and was about to wash it. But I realized I was out of the veggie wash that I use around here.
No worries, I scoured the net and discovered you could make your own!
Well doesn’t that just sound handy…not to mention cheaper!
Here’s How-To:
(I came up with my own ratio that works for me)
Make sure your sink is very clean.
(UPDATE: I have been getting a lot of comments about sinks being so dirty. Sure they can be. I wash my dishes and clean my kitchen from my sink, so I’m careful to make sure my sink is clean. Obviously.)
Fill a sink halfway with lukewarm water.
Add 1 cup of white vinegar.
Mix.
Add your fruit. Don’t over fill your sink with fruit.
Soak for about 10 minutes (shorter for berries – about 2 – 5 minutes).
Rinse well.
The Result: Clean. Fruit.
And how did I know they were clean?
The water was dirty, and the apples had that white sheen left on them after the wax has dissolved off.
And if you rinse well, there is no vinegar taste. Even in the berries.
That’s it folks. Easy-peasy.
Don’t overfill your sink with fruit. What you see in the pictures above is all I add at one time.
Clean.
Ready-to-eat-fruit-instead-of-potato-chips-or-candy.
Have a great day!
Hi I'm Jo-Anna! I mom. I blog. I cook. I craft. I like pretty things.
Oh great tip to know! Love that it works AND is cheaper yeay!
Thanks for sharing :)
Oh vinegar, how I love thee :) So many cool things that little guy can do – I started putting in the washer so I don’t need fabric softener. Love this idea!
does this not make your clothes smell like vinegar? :)
Nope. I do this all the time. The vinegar get’s rinsed out.
I love this idea and have been doing it as well. Stopping by from “Somewhat Simple”.
What a great tip. Thanks for sharing.
I’m embarrassed that I never use vinegar to wash my fruit – just rinse them in the water quickly! But now that I think about it, it’s really not doing much. I’m going to keep this in mind! Thanks for sharing!
Star Hughes Living
Yay! Another way to use my handy vinegar! I use it to ‘clean green’ all the time, glad to know there’s one more reason to keep it around!
That fruit looks really yummy, very colorful selection. Oh summer fruits! I’ll have some once winter ends in Australia. (I don’t think they’re allowed to import, so fruits are ridiculously priced, especially since a lot of crop was damaged in the flooding this past US spring.)
Hi Jo-Anna
As an avid follower of your blog I just wanted to say that I love your posts and to mention that I’ve just started my own blog. Please check it out if interested – visualmeringue.blogspot.com
Thanks!
Elaine.
Great post! Thanks for the info. I can’t wait to try it!
What a great tip! I will have to use this when I get home from the farmer’s market today. Thanks for stopping by to say hi today!
This is clever!! I had no idea it was so easy to make your own wash!! PS – you have a really pretty blog, I love the design!! Thanks so much for linking up to Think Pink Sundays! ;)
Found this on pinterest! What a wonderful idea! Now I’m excited to go grocery shopping in a few days so I can try it out. :)
Thanks! I use it all the time – so easy and inexpensive!
Jo-Anna
Jo-Anna…does this really work with strawberries or blueberries? I live in Florida and my berries will turn to mush unless you wash just right before eating! I will have to do a test run on a few.. Denise
hey! what a helpful post! you mentioned mainly fruit, but can i put my veggies in there too? what about lettuce? you think the vinigar would stay in the leaves and taste funny?
Thank you! I am very happy that you found it useful! I use it for a lot of my veggies – things like cucumbers, peppers, that kind of thing. I’ve never used it for things like lettuce or celery – so I’m not sure about those – I would be a bit worried these types of veggies would taste vinegary.
I hope that helps!
Jo-Anna
I’ve seen on some other websites that give the same vinegar/water ratio and they say for lettuce, separate the leaves and swish them around in the water then rinse quickly, don’t let them sit in there for more than a minute and dry as best you can before putting them away because the water will cause them to wilt faster. And for celery, simply put it in for a couple minutes, I’d recommend less than 5. And always rinse very well and let dry properly and you won’t have any vinegar taste at all.
Oh and when it comes to berries, even raspberries, the easiest and safest way I’ve found to clean them is to put them in a collander before dipping them in the mix and rinsing them, that way you don’t bruise them or anything. Just give them a few swishes in the mix and then gently toss them to get them all rinsed off in the water.
Have you tried strawberries in this mixture? I can’t wait to start cleaning my fruit this way!
I have, but I don’t soak them. I just quickly wash them in the mix, and rinse really well! The water after strawberries is SO dirty! ;)
Jo-Anna
Just found the posts about strawberries. THanks, but will the berries last in the fridge for any length of time after the soaking? THanks, Denise. Just discovered your great blog!
What about oranges, lemons, limes, etc?
Definitely! It’s amazing for citrus fruit! You can see the wax that comes off of them, floating in the water after they have soaked!
Jo-Anna
Vinegar kills bacteria and mold. Your fruit will last days longer. I also have a spray bottle of vinegar water mix.
Has anyone tried this on vegetables as well such as potatoes, carrots, baby carrots (already peeled & cut), etc? Thank you.
I haven’t, but if I did, I would use it as a wash, not a soak. I would just quickly wash them in the solution, then rinse really well.
Jo-Anna
Hey nice post, I have question though, do you think the wash takes out the pesticides too?
Thanks! That’s a good question, and unfortunately I don’t really have an answer. My guess is that this wash helps to remove some residual pesticides on the surface of the fruits, but not all of it. A lot of pesticides end up in the fruit too, so it’s almost impossible to remove them. Every little bit helps, but organic is best.
Jo-Anna
Does Apple Cider Vinegar work?
Hi! I’ve never tried it, but I’m sure it would!
Jo-Anna
Fabulous tip. Thanks so much for sharing
Wanted to let you know I shared this ( and linked back) to this post! It is awesome! Perfect for summer!
http://allthingsfee.blogspot.com/2012/06/lifesavers-series-cleaning-fruit.html
I just used this today…but didn’t see any “icky” stuff floating around…not sure if there just wasn’t that much on the fruit (apples & grapes, carrots & peppers). I had a hard time keeping everything submerged, so I took my larger cutting board & placed it on top to keep everything down. Worked great! Thanks for the awesome tip!
Just make sure your sink is super clean before doing this. Sinks are one of the dirtiest, bacteria carrying places in our home. Thanks for your tip. I’ll be using this will my delicious summer fruit!
Definitely.
What would the best way to make sure your sink is clean with out using soap?.
Do you have a good way to clean the sink with out soap?
I use a vinegar/water solution and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, then I use hot soapy water to clean out the sink.
Jo-Anna
In your vinegar/water solution that you use to clean the sink, what ratio of water to vinegar do you use?
I will definately use this mixture to wash my fruit!! But, instead of using the sink, I’m using a lg square wash basin. Then I store it away and only use it for cooking purposes.:)
Would this work with herbs like cilantro?
I’ve never tried it with cilantro, but I should! I would probably just do a quick rinse (not soak).
Hope that helps?
Jo-Anna
I tried this today, I had about 4 red apples, 3 green apples, and 2 cucumbers. When I rinsed it all, the red apples came out with white film all over them. It was too hard to scrub, and barely came off when I scraped my fingernail across the skin. Did I do something wrong? I used warm water and about a cup of white vinegar.
No you didn’t do anything wrong! In fact that white stuff means that most of the wax & junk is off your fruit!
Jo-Anna
Oh, so maybe they need another dip. Thanks!
I tried this and all of my apples had alot of white film on them. I could not scrape it off. What is this film? Is it the wax? I let them soak for almost 30 mins.
Is it possible to use too much vinegar?
I would think so…
This also works great for washing romaine lettuce to ensure no e-coli!!! Great blog.
Super idea!
I found your blog through Pinterest and I would love to invite you to share this, and any other posts you would like to, at my Creative Thursday Link Party at http://www.michellestastycreations.blogspot.com. (Runs through Monday each week)
Have a wonderful day,
Michelle
Okay, you said berries too? Raspberries? They are so fragile. Just use as a wash? Same with strawberries? I would love for them to last longer. I can see it working well on blueberries since they are firmer.
Raspberries are a little more tricky…I don’t wash mine in this solution only because they are so fragile, and I’d be afraid they would fall apart. I just rinse them under water. But I do wash my strawberries and blueberries in it, right before we eat them.
Jo-Anna
WEll, you just answered my second question, so thanks!!
Can you do Peaches this way?
Absolutely! I always wash my peaches with this wash!
Jo-Anna
What type of vinegar do you use? Malt? White? white or red wine vinegar? Cider?
So many choices these days? I presume white vinegar by default.
MAG
I use just plain old white vinegar – it’s cheap and works great! ;)
Jo-Anna
I just tried this… but I think I’m going to have to find a spray bottle because most of my fruits are apples, raspberries and strawberries. I did use the soak on my lemons and they look great. Thanks!
Do you know if this is a safe way to wash fruit and vegetables for rabbits?
I’m not sure… I use it to wash fruit and veg for my kids…
Maybe a dumb question but would you do this on bananas too?
I’ve never washed bananas before, but I bet this would work too. I wouldn’t soak them though, maybe just a quick wash and rinse.
Jo-Anna
I think I’ll do this in a cooler in my bath tub. I think it’ll be easier for me to clean/fill/drain the cooler than the sink (as silly as that sounds.) Besides I seriously don’t trust my sink because I have 3 roommates and their habits are mildly disgusting (read: my germaphobia runs rampant now.)
Do you think you could compile a list of fruits/veggies you would
-soak for longer
-soak a little bit
-swish and rinse
-rinse only before eating and
-wouldn’t wash at all?
Thanks~
Great idea! I’ll try to put something together!
Jo-Anna
Can’t wait to try this-can you wash all fruits? strawberries, blueberries? and do they have to be organic?
I use it for almost all of my veggies and fruits (and most aren’t organic). I don’t use it for strawberries and other fragile fruits like raspberries.
Hi Jo-Anna…thank you so much for this post! I can’t believe I haven’t thought of this before. I linked to your post through my blog…every Friday I post about a Pinterest find. You can check it out at http://perfectlyimperfecthome.blogspot.com
Thanks again for the great idea!
I tried this with nectarines and plums and it made the fruit turn bad. It works great on apples and tomatoes and most veggies. But I switched to baking soda and water for my soft skinned fruits (apples are not soft skinned, and although tomatoes are they held up fine with the vinegar soak.
I am so going to do this. I have a mixture that I have been using (1 cup of vinegar to 3 cups of water in spray container)but this sounds like a way easier way to clean quantities. I use my spray on strawberries bought at the grocery store too. Just spray the berries, wait a few minutes and rinse off. Doesn’t hurt them at all. I also wash melons thoroughly with dish soap and water, then rinse well, followed by vinegar spray and fresh water rinse. After the cantelope deaths, I don’t cut into anything without a good cleaning. Thank you for the tip. Frani
Awesome tip! I’ve been looking for a good way to wash my produce without having to buy the fruit was. I love that this also helps to preserve it as well! If people are worried about their sink being unsanitary, or don’t have the time to give it a good scrub (as is usually the case with me), I’m sure using a large pot would work in a pinch. I just have to figure out the ratios to use. Maybe half a cup of vinegar for a large stock pot?
Looks like a good idea ! I remember something like this being recommended for produce bought “on the economy” in Korea in 1987.
Rice vinegar or “white vinegar” (from corn) might be good ideas to avoid the smells of apple or grape vinegar.
Asian groceries once had hard rubber brownish tubs for such washing, then pink or baby blue washing bowls, and now stainless steel basins that fit inside your sink to soak dishes or peaches.
-mfr
Looks like a good idea ! I remember something like this being recommended for produce bought “on the economy” in Korea in 1987.
Rice vinegar or “white vinegar” (from corn) might be good ideas to avoid the smells of apple or grape vinegar.
Asian groceries once had hard rubber brownish tubs for such washing, then pink or baby blue plastic washing bowls, and now stainless steel basins that fit inside your sink to soak dishes, or peaches…
-mfr
I don’t bother. Bit of dirt won’t hurt you.
Here is my question…since the apples float, how do you soak the bit of apple that stays above the mixture?
Wondering if anyone else found this to ruin your fruits & veggies?? I’ve tried this several times and each time my fruit, even my lemons, went bad super fast!!! I was really careful to dry the fruit as well as I possibly could but still didn’t work very good. My strawberries & cherries seemed to get gross overnight. I don’t know what went wrong but Ive gone back to using my old product I get at Trader Joe’s. Any ideas how I could mess up something so easy???
I really have no idea. This has never happened to me…in fact my fruit & veggies seem to last longer!
Jo-Anna
Any ideas why this didn’t work for me?? Ive tried it several times and each time my fruit seemed to go bad quicker. Ive tried lemons, oranges, cherries & strawberries….tried to dry them all well but they all seemed to either go bad or mold quickly!! Ive given up and gone back to my store bought stuff. Any thoughts??
What about pesticides? Does this remove them if you’re not using organic?
That’s a good question, and unfortunately I don’t really have an answer. My guess is that this wash helps to remove some residual pesticides on the surface of the fruits, but not all of it. A lot of pesticides end up in the fruit too, so it’s almost impossible to remove them. Every little bit helps, but organic is best.
Jo-Anna
WOW!! A lot of responses, Pinterest helped your post explode!! I wanted to add to the comments about sink cleanliness, it appeared your sink is stainless steel, which is inherently antimicrobial! All I use to wash mine is wet it, sprinkle about 1/8 c of baking soda, and wipe it all over it with a paper towel! That removes any soil (and rust from that can no one rinsed!) and then you are golden!! Thanks for the tip, I just soaked my grapes, they were on sale and I am hoping they will last a bit longer!!
Thanks for the tip! I hope this works out for you too! ;)
Jo-Anna
I have been doing this for years and have no problem. Delicate things like berries don’t need as long. Then rinse well with cool water and spread out on layers of paper towels or clean dish towels to air dry. Celery just don’t cut the ends before you soak and then rinse and cut ends. If you are worried about the sink being dirty, I have a plastic wash tub that I only use for this purpose.
Thanks for sharing this great tip! I used it this last weekend and am so happy to have done it! I did a feature post and linked back to your blog! Thanks again!
http://www.sjscrafts.blogspot.com
Wow, so simple. I’ve been using a special vegetable wash but it’s very expensive.
Thank you so much for posting!! We had about 15#’s of apples that needed to be washed, and this worked absolutely perfect for us. Thanks again, and here is my blog linking back to you. – Melissa
http://craftsformommas.blogspot.com/2012/09/fruit-veggie-wash-go-green.html
I was just thinking… if people thought their sinks were too “dirty” to wash their fruit, they could always buy a dishpan (the plastic tub ones). I use those in my classroom for storing things, but they were made for dishes and come in a couple of sizes (small, large) and are really cheap (a couple of bucks at Walmart)!
I just tried it with apple cider vinegar cause thats all I had… but I’m not seeing any results. Maybe I’ll have to buy the regular vinegar. Can you post a pic of what the sink/fruit look like after next time you do it?! Thanks!
This is information I always wanted to know but never bothered to research how to do. Thanks for sharing. Will be putting this to the test after the next grocery run.
~Dana
http://www.MommyeTime.com
I have been using this for a while now and the best thing is that berries like raspberries and blueberries last so much longer without going moldy. Saves money on fruite wash and wasted fruit.
Can you wash bananas too?
I tried this but the wax is still on my apples. . . .now they look gross and white. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Chelsea
No actually you did it right. That white stuff is just the last bit of wax & gunk to come off your fruit – it means that they’re mostly completely clean. You don’t see that stuff every time you clean your fruit – just some apples have more wax on them than others. You can usually just rub it off with a slightly damp cloth.
Jo-Anna
Wow, so simple. I’ve been using a special vegetable wash but it’s very expensive.
Hi, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this post. It was practical.
Keep on posting!
i have been using the fruit & veggie wash from trader joe’s i think its like a citric acis is this good or not & another thing that just happened is i bought strawberries & rinsed in the same solution the citric wash and i will take them back because they have an after taste like the taste of a pickell!!! has anyone had this happen???