Make Your Own Homemade Produce Cleaner {Green in 365: The Kitchen}

 

This is Day 51 of the Green in 365 series!

By Hilary from Accidentally Green

I really wish my family could afford to buy all organic, all the time – especially because I would love to avoid exposure to pesticides and genetically modified organisms. But unfortunately, our current grocery budget just doesn’t allow it.

Even with a limited budget I try to buy as much organic food as possible, lots of fresh produce – and I avoid buying produce listed on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen Plus.

Regardless of organic or non-organic produce, I make sure I thoroughly clean it before serving it.

Instead of buying pricey commercial cleaners, you can make your own produce cleaner with just a few all-natural ingredients: white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.

Make Your Own Homemade Produce Cleaner

Ingredients

• ½ cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup filtered or distilled water

Directions

If you choose to make a spray, pour the vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and water into a clean, empty spray bottle. Shake gently to mix before using. Spray on fruits and vegetable, and let the sprayed produce sit for ten minutes. Rinse with cold water. Serve or store in a refrigerator.

Or, if you’d rather soak your fruits and vegetables, simply double the recipe and mix the ingredients in a large bowl. Place an empty colander inside the bowl, and fill the colander with fruit and vegetables. Gently agitate the produce and soak for ten minutes. Lift the colander and rinse the soaked produce with cold water. Serve or store in a refrigerator. (Note: Do not soak mushrooms, because they’ll absorb extra water.)

*Don’t forget to clean the outside of citrus fruits and melons before cutting them – you’ll prevent contamination from bacteria and pesticides.

It’s easy to make your own produce cleaner at home to be sure you’re serving your family the cleanest fruits and veggies that you can!

Have you tried using produce cleaner for your fresh fruits and vegetables?

Hilary Kimes Bernstein from Accidentally Green is a Christ follower, wife, mama, and writer who blogs about making healthy decisions that honor God and happen to help the environment at Accidentally Green. She’s recently released her first eBook, First Bites: How To Instill Healthy Eating Habits During Your Baby’s First Year.

Find all the Green in 365 posts.

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