Comments on: DIY Fruit and Vegetable Wash (& Preserver)

By: Jordana Miller

Jordana Miller — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 01:22:58 +0000

The problem with soaking fruits and vegetables is that vitamin C is soluble in water so you are taking it from your produce….

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 15:38:50 +0000

In reply to Amy. Please say what brand vinegar and what kind of salt. Advice given is great however information about this is just as important. Why bother if the salt and vinegar are toxic. Those new to making their lives cleaner don't know these things. Took me long time to go from organic foods to finding non toxic everything else that touches your food. Research is not easy. Thank you, Jeanne

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 23:04:07 +0000

How about using some hydrogen peroxide in the soaking water. I have been putting fruit in a large bowl, or one proportional to the fruit. I use cold tap (we have a well to trust for this use) and add some 6% hydrogen peroxide & let it soak. Later, I drain, rinse & let dry on towelling. I realize that not everyone uses the 35% foor grade hydrogen peroxide, but if I didn’t have that, already partly diluted, I would buy 3% at the store & use it. I get OG lemons & they are pricey right now.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 12:14:04 +0000

I keep a small plastic bottle (spray painted black) of regular store bought hydrogen peroxide in it and one with white vinegar in it (not painted) in my kitchen. I spray all my vegetables with these two sprays. I let the solution set on the vegetables for a minute or two then rinse well using an organic liquid soap. Everything becomes squeaky clean.
After cleaning the kitchen up I spray the peroxide and vinegar together on the counter top, cutting board, faucet handles, frig handles, floor etc. and let it air dry to kill bacteria. I also use it on bathroom floor and toilet. I find it nicer to use then a bleach solution everyday.
Also, please do not forget to microwave your kitchen dish/pan scrubbies if they are microwaveable once a day to kill bacteria hiding in them.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 21:31:48 +0000

In reply to Charity crawford. Doesn't matter if your corn is organic or not. GM corn can be labeled organic by USDA and other guidelines. Look for corn that says NON-GMO.

By: Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 01:49:34 +0000

In reply to Brittany. I always do a quick rinse.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 17:53:17 +0000

Would you recommend washing organic homegrown produce in vinegar/water or just store bought produce?

By: Natalie

Natalie — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 06:46:00 +0000

Great post. DO you think I could wash frozen veg in the same way i.e. frozen cabbage?
Also, would I wash peas as per the instructions for greens?

With thanks, Natalie

By: Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 18:45:59 +0000

In reply to Grace B. I usually use Dr. Bronners soap or backing soda...

By: Grace B

Grace B — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 18:05:01 +0000

This is great! My only question after reading that you soak things in the sink is: what do you use to safely, and confidently, clean the sink beforehand??

By: Cristen

Cristen — Tue, 03 May 2016 16:19:04 +0000

In reply to Gina.

I grow non-gmo conventional sweet corn. There are varieties, and we do eat it, my entire family does. I’d much rather have sweet corn with a BT trait (GMO) because then we don’t have to spray it as much, as the corn has an internal resistance to corn borer. If you’ve ever seen a pest decimate a crop like the corn borer can, it’d be easy to see why. GMO sweet corn isn’t as popular as you’d think, I wish I could get it, but we get it for free and don’t want to waste the non-gmo. GMO field corn, or dent corn, which is fed as animal feed, ground for cornmeal and has other uses, is more associated with GMO traits. The best GMO corn schtick: GMO Popcorn… there is no commercially available varieties, but in order to pander to the fear of the consumer, it is regularly labeled non-gmo.

By: LisaB

LisaB — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 22:42:36 +0000

In reply to Amy. It's not ok because it's most likely GMO just like corn and papaya unless organic.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 04:18:26 +0000

For grapes, blueberries, and cherry tomatoes, I give them a quick rinse to start. Then, I place them in a big bowl and sprinkle with salt and baking soda. I then shake/swirl the bowl around for a minute and rinse. Then I clean out the bowl and repeat one more time.

By: lisa

lisa — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:44:07 +0000

Have you checked out what white/distilled vinegar is made out of? Corn. Hmmm. Is that good being that it is considered GMO?

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 03:01:52 +0000

Is distilled white vinegar the same as white vinegar?

By: M. J.

M. J. — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 18:15:37 +0000

Another food blogger I trust suggested 1 T of 3% hydrogen peroxide to 1 gallon of water solution kills e.coli and keeps produce fresh longer. I’ve been using this method for the past year or so. It’s inexpensive, easy, and I can do large amounts of produce at once in a large enamel pot. I still rinse berries only as I’m ready to use.

By: Katie - Wellness Mama

Katie - Wellness Mama — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 17:35:34 +0000

In reply to Lisa. I just leave on for about 30 seconds.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 15:41:44 +0000

I’ve been using a mixture of water and ACV w/mother to clean my fruit & veggies. And those not organic I let sit for 20 minutes or so before rinsing.

Is this good enough?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 14:11:32 +0000

If using branch basics as a fruit/veggie wash, how long should the spray sit on the item? Mine is diluted for countertop spray with lemon EO in it. Thanks!!

By: Nicola

Nicola — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 06:02:32 +0000

Eggplant can be GMO, so I would not encourage buying conventional. I have also heard that avocado is often treated with systemic fungicides, so peeling would not be a protection against ingesting them.