How to Make An All Natural Vegetable Wash

It is difficult to know what has come into contact with your produce before it reaches your kitchen table. The recent concern for marginally contaminated produce has caused a great deal of companies to raise profits by offering consumers products intended to thoroughly clean produce prior to consumption. These products are readily available in the produce sections of most grocery stores and are usually applied to produce using a small spray bottle. During the application of conventional produce washing products the soft mist provided by the spray bottle, in conjunction with the delicate chemical nature of the solution itself, allows for the neutralization of pesticide reside and the release of organic matter which may have become struck on the produces exterior skin. For those of us interested in natural/organic products, or for the economically minded consumer, there are environmentally safe and effective produce washing alternatives. The following is a recipe for an all natural produce wash which utilizes several household items to safely neutralize pesticide residues while riding the produce of organic matter.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 cup organic apple vinegar
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup cold water
• small spray bottle
• small funnel

1. Pour 1 cup organic apple vinegar into a large mixing bowl.
2. Pour 1 cup lemon juice into bowl containing organic apple vinegar.
3. Pour 1 cup cold water into previous mixture.
4. Gently transfer the mixture into a small spray bottle using a small funnel.
5. Liberally apply to produce.
6. Wash gently in cold water prior to consumption.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not wash produce before storing. If you are intending on preserving your produce for several days it is important not to was the produce prior to storage. Most produce arrives at the grocery store with a thin skin of natural preservatives which allow for extended life. In some cases, produce is sprayed with a thin wax coating to avoid spoilage.
• Even all natural produce wash is not fit for direct consumption.