How to Make Your Own Fruit and Vegetable Wash

How to make your own produce wash and spray at home
June 2020 |

Make your own produce wash at home for a fraction of the price of the store-bought product

This quick recipe uses items you already have on hand and can make your produce last longer.

Your fruits and vegetables have a long journey from the farm to your table, so it’s important to clean them properly when they enter your kitchen. Making your own safe fruit and vegetable produce wash is quick and easy without using any harmful chemicals; save your bleach for your counters and bathrooms! Skip the $4.99 price tag for expensive veggie wash at the store; you can make your own for about $1.

To make it easy, I’ve collected all my favorite items you need to make this produce wash here for easy shopping. These items aren’t necessary, but they make it easier to clean your fruits and vegetables quickly, so they’re a worthwhile addition to your kitchen. Plus, you’ll use them for a variety of other things.

I’m going to show you how to make this two ways: a produce spray and a produce wash. The produce spray is better for fruits and vegetables with harder surfaces, while the produce wash is optimal for looser and softer items, like berries or leafy greens. 

Watch me make both, or read on for more details below.

How to Make Produce Spray

To make the produce spray, you need a spray bottle and a funnel. Always label your bottle so you don’t get it mixed up in the kitchen.

Use the funnel to combine the following in your spray bottle:

  • 2 cups cold water
  • ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

The lemon juice adds freshness and acidity, plus it cuts the smell of the vinegar. After you squeeze your lemon, toss it down your garbage disposal to clean it out while giving your kitchen a fresh, lemon scent. While you’re at your sink, give your bottle a shake then spray each produce item on every side and scrub it gently with a vegetable scrub brush. Once clean, rinse it in cool water and let dry.

I like to keep separate brushes for my vegetables to limit cross contamination, so you’ll see in my video that those are labeled as well.

How to Make Produce Wash

Grab a large bowl and a colander, or a lettuce spinner if you’re working with loose greens. The spinner works great to get every drop of liquid off your clean greens to help extend their life in the fridge, so consider investing in one if you haven’t already.

To make your produce wash, combine:

  • ½ cup cold water
  • ½ cup distilled white vinegar,
  • 2 tablespoons salt

Let the produce sit in the bowl for a minute or two, swirling it a few times, then rinse them in your colander.  

The salt helps to pull out any bugs that might be hiding in your leafy greens or berries, but won’t make your produce taste salty. You can double or triple this recipe as needed to fit the amount of produce you have to clean.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are always a worthwhile addition to your diet; they boost your mood and improve your immunity. Taking a few quick steps to ensure they’re cleaned properly will help you enjoy your produce more and keep your family healthy.