How to Clean Vegetables and Fruits with Vinegar?

What are pesticides used for, and what dangers do they represent?

Composed by the words pest, which means harmful, and Vida, which translates to kill, a pesticide is a chemical solution used in growing fruits and vegetables. Its main role is to eliminate all organisms harmful to the proper development of plants. However, long after harvest, pesticide residues are still present in fruits or vegetables. The amount of products absorbed is different from one plant to another. Despite the current craze for organic, many crops still use pesticides. Among the most infested foods are:

• Apple ;
• The strawberry ;
• The celery ;
• The Peach ;
• Apricots;
• The grape ;
• Spinach ;
• The pepper ;
• Potato ;
• The cabbage ;
• The lettuce.

Of course, the least polluted are the plants that have not been treated with a chemical substance. By way of example, it is possible to cite:

• The lawyer;
• The corn ;
• Asparagus ;
• Papaya.

Basically, pesticides are easily embedded in fruits and vegetables with thinner and more fragile skins. It goes without saying that these chemicals have devastating effects on health. Poisoning can also be fatal. Other symptoms of pesticide poisoning include:

• Nausea ;
• Dizziness;
• Mouth ulcers ;
• Tonsillitis.

When the intoxication is moderate, the user can suffer from serious visual disturbances, suffocation, and palpitations. If the exposure is more severe, the victim presents with skin irritation, loss of reflex, and other conditions that lead to death.

Why does vinegar work effectively on pesticides?

Vinegar has always been used in grandmother’s recipes to solve certain problems:

• Remove unsightly grease stains from  furniture;
• Make mirrors shine;
• Free the blocked pipes;
• Make the hair shine;
• Remove lice;
• etc.

It is a versatile product but also an excellent ally for removing chemicals from plants after harvest. Vinegar acts as an anti-pollutant that deeply cleanses fruits and vegetables. It eliminates all traces of bacteria. It thus plays the role of disinfectant. In addition to eliminating pesticides, this miracle product eliminates all the insects that contaminate ripe fruits or vegetables. To disinfect, vinegar kills mold and germs on the surface and in the plant.

How to use vinegar to clean fruits and vegetables?

White vinegar is used in many homemade food cleaning recipes.

• Disinfect fruits and vegetables with white vinegar and lemon

The combination of white vinegar and lemon makes an excellent disinfectant and cleaning agent for food be consumed. To prepare and use this solution:

1. Pour 2 tablespoons of white vinegar into a container;
2. Add lime juice;
3. Pour in this solution a cup of lukewarm water;
4. Stir with a small spoon;
5. Pour everything into an empty bottle fitted with a spray system;
6. Shake vigorously;
7. Sprinkle each vegetable or fruit.

It is also possible to put the solution in a bowl and let the food soak for 5 minutes. Then, preferably use absorbent paper to wipe them off, then rinse. Thus, any risk of contamination or intoxication will be avoided. To be sure you eat fresh foods, remember to keep them in the refrigerator.

• Purify with apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is also effective when mixed with salt. To use it, take a full cup of this solution and mix it with 3 tablespoons of fine salt. Stir everything in a salad bowl and put the food there. Let sit for 30 minutes to get a certain result. This solution is not dangerous because a simple rinse without soap is enough to polish the cleaning.

• Disinfect with white vinegar and baking soda

This method allows food to be thoroughly disinfected. Take a basin and pour 1 L of water into it. Add half a glass of white vinegar and a tablespoon of soda vinegar. Let the fruit stand in this solution for a good fifteen minutes. For many fruits and vegetables, it is sufficient to increase the amount of each ingredient proportionally. To remove the baking soda, which can affect the taste of food, a simple rinse with water is sufficient.

• Using white vinegar and water

White vinegar has the ability to remove all chemicals. The simplest recipe to take advantage of its virtues is to prepare a mixture of white vinegar and water. You need 10 cl of vinegar for 90 cl of clear water. Let the fruits and vegetables sit in it for 15 to 20 minutes. A small passage under fresh water is enough to finalize the cleaning. Remember to dry with absorbent paper so that they remain crunchy. To disinfect fragile fruits such as strawberries, grapes, or blueberries, it is better to let them soak in a salad bowl or a container before putting them in a colander. No need to worry, the vinegar does not alter their flavor in any way. In the case of fruits with thicker skin, such as apples or papayas, it is advisable to rub them with a sponge after the 20-minute break in the vinegar solution. Cleaning food, especially fruits and vegetables, is essential to eliminate any risk of exposure to pesticides. This precaution is all the more important if children or a pregnant woman consumes them. Vegetables and fruits that are eaten raw or with their skin on, in juice or smoothie, require special attention. No need to peel them; a good cleaning with vinegar is enough. Indeed, the skin is known to contain many nutrients and vitamins.