Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Made with just 1 really simple, affordable, non-toxic ingredient, this fruit and veggie wash is the quickest, easiest, most effective way to get dirt, grime, and bacteria off of your produce.

Fruit Wash and Vegetable Wash

This fruit and veggie wash is made with just 1 really simple, safe ingredient — well, 2 if you count water as an ingredient! — and works so well. I’ve given instructions for both a produce bath/soak (for sturdy fruits and veggies) and produce spray (for delicate fruits and veggies), plus all of my best tips and tricks below!

What is the main purpose of cleaning the fruit and vegetables?

The main purpose of cleaning your produce is to remove any dirt, bacteria, and pesticides that may be hanging out on your fruit and veggies so that you don’t ingest them. 

Is washing fruits and vegetables necessary?

Yes! Washing fruits and vegetables, even organic, is necessary. While organic produce is my preference, it’s important to still note that even though it is organic, it isn’t necessarily pesticide-free. Pesticides made from natural substances (rather than man-made ones) are still sprayed on organic produce, and there is always a risk of bacteria on both organic and conventional produce.

What happens if you eat unwashed produce?

Eating unwashed produce increases your risk of contracting bacterial infections like E. Coli and Salmonella. While it isn’t SUPER likely that this is going to happen, it’s definitely a reality, and something that should be prevented (by washing) if possible. 

Is fruit and veggie wash safe?

This one is! You can buy premade fruit and veggie wash at the store, but the ingredients aren’t always the very best. This one, on the other hand, is made up of 1 squeaky-clean ingredient (Branch Basics Concentrate) for a wash that’ll clean your produce without adding anything unwanted to it.

Does rinsing produce with water do anything?

It DOES, actually! If you don’t have a produce wash (or the Concentrate to make this one) on hand, rinsing your produce really well under cool, clean, running water is an excellent option. I just like to take things one step further when it comes to cleaning my fruits and veggies, so I can be really sure that everything is super clean and ready for my family to enjoy.

Produce Wash Ingredients

Just 2 simple, extremely affordable ingredients (including water) make up this produce wash. Here’s what you’ll need:

For a Produce Soak

• Water – to start, you’ll need enough water to cover your produce — the exact amount you’ll need will depend on how large your bowl is and how much produce you’re washing. 
• Branch Basics Concentrate – in addition to the water, you’ll also need to toss a capful of Branch Basics Concentrate into the bowl with your soaking produce.

For a Produce Spray

• Water – just like with the soak, you’ll need a base of water for your spray. 1 ½ cups is a good amount to go with here.
• Branch Basics Concentrate – again, a capful of Branch Basics Concentrate will get added to the spray bottle with the water.

How do you make DIY Vegetable Wash and Fruit Wash?

The  process is super simple: simply add your sturdy produce to a large bowl, fill with water to completely cover the produce, add the Concentrate, and let everything sit for about 10 minutes (agitating the produce every once in a while) before draining and rinsing the produce with clean water.

While the produce soak is GREAT for sturdy produce (think: strawberries, beets, cherries, etc.), more delicate produce (like lettuce or green onions) and produce with more delicate skin (like peaches) are better to spray vs. soak. To make a spray, simply combine 1 ½ cups of water and a capful of Concentrate into a spray bottle and shake! Then, instead of soaking your delicate produce, spray it thoroughly with the produce wash, and then rinse with clean water. 

How long does it take to make produce wash?

Making the produce wash is a really simple, speedy process, so it shouldn’t take any longer than about 5 minutes!

How to wash fruits and vegetables

When it comes to washing, you’ll either soak or spray your produce. If your produce is sturdy, soak it, and if your produce is delicate (or really large), spray it! If you’re working with something super sturdy and dirty (think: potatoes of all kinds), feel free to get a brush out to scrub the outside with.

Produce to Soak

Anything sturdy, including…

• Berries, all varieties
• Cherry tomatoes
• Potatoes (use a sponge or brush to scrub!)
• Apples
• Grapes
• Cherries
• Peppers, all varieties
• Beets (use a sponge or brush to scrub!)
• Radishes

Produce to Spray

Anything delicate, including…

• Lettuce
• Green onions
• Peaches

How to wash produce to kill germs

This produce wash is a great way to get the germs off of your produce! The Concentrate is not a disinfectant, so it isn’t going to *kill* the germs, but letting the produce soak in the water/Concentrate and then following with a good rinse with cool, clean water after soaking or spraying helps to remove any germs.

How do you store fruit vegetable wash?

If you’re making a spray bottle of wash, it can be stored in the spray bottle at room temperature (I store mine in the cabinet underneath my kitchen sink). If you’re making a produce soak, you can just measure out and add the Concentrate to the produce and water-filled bowl each time you need to soak.

If you’re interested in cleaning up more of your cleanup (it’s easy, cost-effective, and actually works, I promise!), use code FEDANDFIT for 15% off of a Branch Basics Starter Kit.