I’ve mentioned to you already how I like to use a produce cleaner like Fit to clean my fruits and vegetables from the chemicals, pesticides and wax companies throw over produce to make them look particularly pretty for display at the supermarkets. They might look pretty, but those chemicals are definitely no good for our health.
But what do you do if you don’t have Fit or any other commercially available produce wash with you??
There are indeed natural ways to clean your fruits and vegetables… using lemon juice, vinegar or a combination of the two.
Grapes are fruits we enjoy a lot – we love to welcome in the New Year by eating 12 grapes to ask for 12 wishes for the new year. And after 10 days of fasting and cleansing your system, the last thing you want is to intoxicate your body with the pesticides and wax non-organic grapes are coated with.
All you need to do is soak the grapes in water and add the juice of 2-3 lemons or limes to the water the grapes are soaked in. Try for the grapes to be submerged as much as possible in the acidic solution. If not possible, then be vigilant and rotate the grapes so at some point they’re all soaked with the acidulated water. If using vinegar, try 2 tsps per gallon of water. Soak the grapes for only 20 minutes to 30 minutes tops. After that, the grapes start to soak the acidic water and they start to become mealy… not a good thing.
The acidic nature of lemon juice or vinegar dissolves and breaks down the wax covering the grapes… Check out this side by side pic of grapes washed in just water and grapes washed in the lemon water.
Knowing this method, we were able to thoroughly wash grapes we purchased right on the streets of Allahabad. Lemons are very common in India and unfortunately, waxed grapes are too.
After the grapes, or any other fruits you wish to enjoy, are cleaned… just dry them off and store as you would usually do – in the fridge or countertop. Or just go ahead and eat them immediately!!!
KarmaFree Cooking 
This is seriously an awesome and easy way to clean my fruit! I will definitely be trying this!
i’m so agressive about cleaning my fruits and vegetables. potatoes and other tubers get the most attention.
It is better to rub fruit and vegetables under a bowl of water, rather than under a running tap. This will help reduce splashing and the release of bacteria into the air that could result from cleaning directly under a running tap. Try to wash the least soiled items first and give each of them a final rinse.
Best regards! Rotherhithe Carpet Cleaners Ltd.
Good article! 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.