Confession…Until recently, I was guilty of not washing most of my produce. Sure, I rinsed the dirt off, but that was about it. A client mentioned to me the other night that she keeps a spray bottle of vinegar by her sink for washing her fruits/veggies. (Thanks, Nancy!) Because this was the second time in a matter of weeks that this idea was mentioned to me, I decided I’d better get with the program!

Regular white, distilled vinegar is a proven anti-microbial; it kills most bacteria, molds and viruses. So no need to buy those veggie washes they sell at the store. Just get a spray bottle (I found this one at Lowe’s for about $2) and some regular ol’ white vinegar and mix them together in a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. (Don’t worry, your food won’t taste like vinegar, just be sure to rinse with water afterward!)

My client also mentioned that she uses the solution to spray down her sink from time to time, and I know others who use it for everything from countertops to toilet bowls.

I’ll be using these tips, as well, because I cannot stand the smell of most cleaning products. And, as far as household cleaners go, it doesn’t get less toxic than cleaning with something you can eat!  (Don’t worry, the smell dissipates quickly!) And with a cost of about $2 per jug, vinegar is way less costly than veggie wash and most cleaning sprays!