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Wash fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly under clean, running water, gently rubbing the surface as you rinse. Do this before eating, cutting, or peeling produce—even when you plan to discard the skin—so a knife does not carry dirt or bacteria from the outside into the food. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends this approach for produce from grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and home gardens. Washing can reduce bacteria on produce, but it does not make it sterile or eliminate every risk.
How to wash fresh produce
- Clean your hands and work area. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling fresh produce. Use clean utensils, counters, and cutting boards. FDA consumer guidance.
- Rinse under running water. Wash produce before eating, preparing, or peeling it. Gently rub the surface while rinsing. This applies even if the peel or rind will not be eaten. FDA consumer guidance.
- Brush only suitable firm produce. For firm produce such as melons and cucumbers, scrub under running water with a clean produce brush. FDA Food Code guidance for food-service settings specifies brushing tough-rind or peel produce that will not be bruised easily or penetrated by the bristles; do not apply that advice to delicate produce. FDA consumer guidance; FDA Food Code 2022.
- Trim or discard damaged parts. Cut away bruised or damaged areas, discard produce that looks rotten, and remove the outer leaves of lettuce or cabbage. FDA consumer guidance.
- Dry with a clean towel. Use a clean cloth towel or paper towel; drying can further reduce bacteria on the surface. FDA consumer guidance.
Should you wash produce with soap or produce wash?
No. The FDA advises against washing fruits and vegetables with soap, dish detergent, or commercial produce wash. Produce is porous, so soap or household detergent may be absorbed even if you rinse it off. The FDA also says the safety of residues from commercial produce washes is unknown and their effectiveness has not been tested. Do not use bleach or other household chemicals to wash food. FDA consumer guidance; FDA guidance on selecting and serving produce.
What if the package says pre-washed or ready-to-eat?
Produce labeled pre-washed or ready-to-eat does not need additional washing, according to the FDA. If you choose to rinse it, keep it away from unclean surfaces and utensils so it does not pick up contamination during handling. FDA consumer guidance.
Keep washed produce safe while preparing and storing it
- Keep produce that will be eaten raw separate from raw meat, poultry, seafood, and the utensils used with them. FDA consumer guidance.
- Refrigerate pre-cut or packaged produce. Store perishable fresh produce in a clean refrigerator at 40°F or below, as the FDA advises. FDA consumer guidance.
What washing can—and cannot—do
Rinsing and gently rubbing remove dirt and can reduce bacteria that may be on produce, but washing will not eliminate all bacteria. Treat it as one food-safety step alongside clean hands and tools, safe separation from raw animal foods, and proper refrigeration—not as disinfection. FDA consumer guidance.
#1 Best Overall
- REMOVES DIRT, WAX & RESIDUE: Washes away soil, wax coatings and surface residue from apples, berries, greens, peppers and everything in between, rinsing clean with no taste and no smell left behind.
- EASY TO USE: Spray directly on produce, rub gently or let sit 30 seconds, then rinse thoroughly under running water. One 27 fl oz bottle washes many weeks of groceries.
- CLEAN, FOOD-GRADE FORMULA: 98% naturally derived (ISO 16128), plant- and mineral-based, preserved with food-grade sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. Made without fragrance, artificial dyes, or MIT/CMIT preservatives. Not tested on animals.
- FRAGRANCE FREE: Unscented formula with no added fragrance, so nothing but clean produce is left on the plate.
- VEGAN & LESS WASTE: Made without animal-derived ingredients. Recyclable HDPE #2 bottle designed to be refilled from our FSC-certified bag-in-box refill, so you buy less plastic over time.
This is U.S. FDA guidance for general produce handling. The FDA Food Code’s detailed brushing language is model guidance for food-service settings, not a separate household regulation. If a specific fruit or vegetable is covered by a public-health alert, follow the current alert’s instructions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- WASH WELL, BE WELL: safely removes wax, soil, agricultural chemicals, and handling residue found on both standard and organic fruits and veggies
- ZERO AFTERTASTE: easily breaks down waxes and removes contaminants without leaving behind any aftertaste or scent
- SAFE INGREDIENTS: Kosher Certified and Vegan, made with vegetable-derived ingredients containing no parabens, no preservatives, and no harsh surfactants
- EASY-TO-USE: Keeping your produce safe and healthy to eat is as simple as spraying or soaking your fruits and veggies with Veggie Wash, rinsing, and then enjoying
- 16 OZ SPRAY: Great for spraying on firm produce & soaking soft or leafy produce
Rank #4
- EFFECTIVE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CLEAN WASH: This natural produce wash stands out for its quality and effectiveness. It uses clean ingredients you can trust to refresh produce from delicate berries to crisp apples, ensuring each bite is pure and fresh.
- LEAVES NO AFTERTASTE: Unlike ordinary vegetable wash formulas, our vegetable and fruit cleaner rinses away more dirt, grime, & oil than washing with water alone, all while preserving flavor. Enjoy crisp, clean produce with zero aftertaste.
- NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Our kosher, plant-derived fruit wash is made with pure citrus extract. This natural, food-safe formula contains no parabens, preservatives, or other harsh ingredients, ensuring your fruits and veggies are cleaned safely.
- REFILL: Refill your Rebel Green Fruit & Veggie Clean Spray with one of our three refill sizes (32oz, 64oz, or Gallon) or simply follow the Soak & Rinse instructions to enjoy crisp, clean produce every time!
- SOAK & RINSE: When preparing berries, grapes, greens, or produce dilute 2 ounces (¼ cup) of Rebel Green Fruit & Veggie Clean with water in a large bowl. Use a 1:10 produce wash-to-water ratio. Soak and whirl for 30 seconds, rinse with cold water.
Rank #3
- SAFE, NATURAL & EFFECTIVE fruit and vegetable washer that rinses clean and is proven to remove surface pesticides, waxes, and chemicals - fit for both conventional and organic produces
- PLANT BASED FORMULA is Certified Kosher and made with organic extracts of lemon and lime, giving it a subtle aromatic citrus scent. Alcohol-free with no harsh chemicals, no parabens, no phthalates, no petroleum based ingredients, no formaldehyde, no chlorine, and no synthetic fragrances
- NO AFTERTASTE OR SMELL, washes clean so you're able to eat your carefully chosen fruits and veggies as if you picked them straight from your garden
- EARTH FRIENDLY, RECYCLABLE PACKAGING. We are dedicated to wrapping healthy, safe, and responsible options in minimal, eco-chic packaging you just can't wait to place next to your kitchen sink
- INCLUDES a single pack of our 34 Ounce refill bottle. Made in the USA from responsibly sustainable materials that are Bisphenol-A-Free, comprised of 25 percent recycled plastic.
Rank #2
- EFFECTIVE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CLEAN WASH: This natural produce wash stands out for its quality and effectiveness. It uses clean ingredients you can trust to refresh produce from delicate berries to crisp apples, ensuring each bite is pure and fresh.
- LEAVES NO AFTERTASTE: Unlike ordinary vegetable wash formulas, our vegetable and fruit cleaner rinses away more dirt, grime, & oil than washing with water alone, all while preserving flavor. Enjoy crisp, clean produce with zero aftertaste.
- NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Our kosher, plant-derived fruit wash is made with pure citrus extract. This natural, food-safe formula contains no parabens, preservatives, or other harsh ingredients, ensuring your fruits and veggies are cleaned safely.
- REFILL: Refill your Rebel Green Fruit & Veggie Clean Spray with one of our three refill sizes (32oz, 64oz, or Gallon) or simply follow the Soak & Rinse instructions to enjoy crisp, clean produce every time!
- SOAK & RINSE: When preparing berries, grapes, greens, or produce dilute 2 ounces (¼ cup) of Rebel Green Fruit & Veggie Clean with water in a large bowl. Use a 1:10 produce wash-to-water ratio. Soak and whirl for 30 seconds, rinse with cold water.
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