Don't pay $$$$ - make your own fruit & veggie wash in seconds

If the young man at Dunks handles your cash, pours your ice coffee and pops an ice cube in it that he skims off the floor would you be excited to sip? Where do you think your that juicy little lemon in your water has been? Did I see you give that apple a quick rinse and wipe it on your shirt? According to the CDC, almost 50% of the 9 million annual cases of food borne illness comes from fruit and veggie pathogens. Besides produce kid’s grubby working hands (no shame in that game btw) stacking your herbivorous delights, there is also a layer of pesticide sprayed on pretty much all non-organic produce that would better be removed. You can get fruit and veggie wash at the store but read up; some of them contain chlorine and other toxins and are not super effective in lab tests.

In the ms.fresh tradition, I just make my own. There are 2 methods I use: 1. A quick spray and wipe solution for apples, pears, lemons, oranges, tomato, etc. Basically any fruit or veggie bigger than. 2. A soak for berries, lettuces, grapes, whatever.

Mix it:

2 Tablespoons white vinegar

1 Tablespoon of lemon juice

2 Cups distilled water (cold is fine)

Pour all ingredients into any clean spray bottle. Shake, use, repeat. This solution has a very long shelf life and it is effective in killing e coli, listeria, and salmonella - all for just pennies spent!

Why does it work:

It works because vinegar is 5% acetic acid, which gives it antimicrobial properties. Vinegar, along with our pals hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and castile soap are all you need to clean just about everything in your home.

Next up: my cleaning recipes along with a little science for you. Yes, my army of biology students ran a controlled experiment that pit DIY cleaners vs. commercial counterparts with clear results: DIY gets the job done every time.