How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables Properly at Home

Quick answer: Wash fruits and vegetables just before you eat or cook them. Rinse them under clean running water, then soak them for 10 to 15 minutes in water with a natural, plant-based fruit and vegetable wash. This helps lift dust, grime, wax and surface pesticide residue. Rinse again under running water and dry. Don't use regular soap, dishwashing liquid or detergent on produce, because they are made for dishes, not food. Wash your hands, the sink and the chopping board too.

Your sabzi has been on a long journey before it reaches your kitchen: the farm, the mandi, a cart, a crate, a vegetable vendor's hands and a carry bag. Along the way it picks up mud, dust, germs and, often, traces of pesticides sprayed on the crop. A quick splash under the tap removes some of it, but not all. Here is a simple routine that works for Indian kitchens.

Why washing produce matters

• Dirt and germs. Soil and handling can carry bacteria that cause stomach upsets, especially on produce you eat raw, like salad leaves, cucumbers, tomatoes and fruits.
• Pesticide residue. Some pesticides stay on the surface of fruits and vegetables. Proper washing reduces this residue, though no home method removes every trace.
• Wax and coatings. Some fruits, like apples, are coated with wax to keep them shiny. Dust and grime stick to it, and plain water alone doesn't lift it well.

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The basic method: running water

1. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
2. Remove damaged parts and the outer leaves of cabbage and lettuce.
3. Rinse under clean running water, rubbing the surface with your hands. Running water works better than dipping in a still bowl, because it carries dirt away.
4. Scrub firm produce like potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, melons and lemons with a clean vegetable brush.
5. Dry with a clean cloth or kitchen towel. Drying removes more of what's left on the surface.

Wash even fruits you peel, like oranges, melons and bananas. Your knife and fingers carry dirt from the peel to the part you eat.

Use a natural fruit and vegetable wash

Water alone rinses off loose mud, but it struggles with oily dust, wax and the residue pesticides leave on the skin. That's where a natural fruit and vegetable wash helps. Look for one that is:

• Made and labelled for food, specifically for washing fruits and vegetables, not a general cleaner.
• Plant-based, using ingredients such as plant-derived surfactants, citrus or fruit extracts, or natural minerals.
• Free from synthetic fragrance, colours and harsh chemicals, since whatever touches your produce can end up on your plate.
• Easy to rinse off, with clear dilution and rinsing instructions on the label.

Add the wash to a bowl of water as the label says, soak your produce for the recommended time (usually 5 to 15 minutes), rub gently, then rinse well under running water. This removes far more dust, grime and surface residue than a quick rinse.

Our Fruit & Veggie Wash is made for exactly this. Add 5 to 10 ml to 1 to 2 litres of clean water, soak your fruits and vegetables for 3 to 5 minutes, rub each piece gently and rinse under running water. It is plant-based, lifts dirt, surface wax and pesticide residue, and leaves no smell or aftertaste.

Home alternatives: baking soda or salt water

If you don't have a fruit and vegetable wash at hand, these natural soaks also help:

• Baking soda: about 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a litre of water, for 10 to 15 minutes. Research has found baking soda solutions remove some surface pesticides from fruit better than plain water.
• Salt water: about 2 teaspoons of salt in a litre of water, for 10 to 15 minutes. A common practice in Indian homes.

Always rinse again under running water after soaking.

How to wash leafy greens

Palak, methi, dhaniya, pudina and lettuce trap mud between their leaves. Separate the leaves or bunches, drop them in a large bowl of water, swish them around, and lift them out with your hands so the mud stays at the bottom. Change the water and repeat until no grit is left, usually two or three times. A final soak in a natural produce wash or baking soda water helps with residue. Then rinse under running water and spin or pat them dry.

Washing guide by type of produce

Why not soap or dishwashing liquid?

Regular soap, dishwashing liquid and laundry detergent are made for dishes, hands and clothes, not for food. They can soak into porous produce and are hard to rinse off completely. Stick to a natural wash made for fruits and vegetables, or baking soda or salt water.

Don't forget the kitchen

Clean produce on a dirty board picks up germs all over again. After washing vegetables:

• Wash chopping boards and knives with hot water and dishwashing liquid, especially after cutting raw meat or fish.
• Keep a separate board for raw meat if you can.
• Clean the sink where muddy vegetables were rinsed. Our guide to cleaning a smelly kitchen sink helps.
• Wipe the counter with a surface cleaner and then plain water.

Mistakes to avoid

• Washing before storing. Wet produce spoils faster in the fridge. Wash just before use, except for very muddy greens, which you can rinse and dry fully before storing.
• Soaking cut vegetables. Once cut, vegetables lose water-soluble vitamins in a long soak. Wash first, then cut.
• Relying on a quick rinse only. For produce you eat raw or with the skin on, use a natural wash or baking soda soak.
• Using regular soap or detergent. Use a natural produce wash, baking soda or salt instead.
• Skipping the final rinse. Always rinse under running water after any soak.
• Re-using the same soak water. Change the water for each batch.

What we use

For the produce itself, we use our Fruit & Veggie Wash, a plant-based soak-and-rinse wash that lifts dirt, wax and pesticide residue and leaves no smell or aftertaste. For everything around it, our Plant Based Dishwashing Liquid cleans chopping boards, knives, colanders and bowls, and our Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner keeps kitchen counters clean. Those two are plant-based, 100% biodegradable and independently lab tested. Read more about what your dishwash liquid leaves on your plates.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to wash vegetables?

Rinse under clean running water, soak for 10 to 15 minutes in a natural fruit and vegetable wash or baking soda water, rinse again and dry. Scrub firm vegetables with a brush.

How do I remove pesticides from fruits and vegetables?

Soak them in a natural, plant-based fruit and vegetable wash or in baking soda water for 10 to 15 minutes, rub gently, and rinse under running water. This reduces surface residue, though no home method removes every trace.

Is a fruit and vegetable wash better than water?

Yes, for dust, grime, wax and surface residue. Water alone rinses off loose dirt but doesn't lift oily residue as well. Choose a natural wash made and labelled for food.

Does baking soda remove pesticides from fruits?

A baking soda soak removes more surface pesticide residue than plain water, according to research. Rinse under running water afterwards.

Can I wash fruits with dishwashing liquid?

No. Dishwashing liquid and soap are not made for food and can leave residue on produce. Use a natural fruit and vegetable wash, baking soda or salt water.

Should I wash fruits before putting them in the fridge?

It's better to wash just before eating. Moisture makes fruits and vegetables spoil faster in the fridge.

How do I clean palak and dhaniya properly?

Soak in a large bowl of water, swish, and lift the leaves out so the mud settles at the bottom. Repeat with fresh water two or three times, finish with a natural wash or baking soda soak, then rinse under running water.