# Does washing fruit actually do anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944 "2019-06-24T01:01:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/21 "2019-06-24T22:13:13Z")
When I was a kid almost all of our produce, and most of our fruit, came from our own crops or those of another relative/neighbor. That’s when it was drilled into me to wash everything. It could be anything from pesticides to stray dog urine to bird poop to plain old dust that you’re washing off. Even now, when I only grow tomatoes and peppers(and oranges, but that’s different), I still wash everything for the same reasons. Supermarket produce can still be dusty if the stuff you buy was in a carton on the top of a pallet, or get cigar ash from some guy on a loading dock, or mouse pee, or a booger from some grubby kid whose mother isn’t watching him in the store. Is it absolutely necessary? Of course not, and I wouldn’t turn down an unrinsed strawberry or ten, but as a general rule it’s good to do. Oh, and the spray/mist they use in produce departments doesn’t rinse anything except incidentally - it’s just to make what’s on the top layer stay fresh-looking, glossy, and appealing to shoppers. ---
**Author:** ![Dana\_Scully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Dana\_Scully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana_Scully)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/23 "2019-06-26T15:13:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A lot of grocery stores have sprayers in the display cases, that periodically spray down the produce. If all you’re doing is running your vegetables under the sink, you’re probably not doing anything the sprayers haven’t already done. I HATE those things; I don’t need a shower when I’m in the produce section.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/24 "2019-06-26T16:27:02Z")
I just picked some green beans from the garden the other day. No pesticides to worry about but they definitely needed a bit of a wash. Some dirt and cruft here and there. Did it while “snapping” them. I’ve been washing off garden produce for most of my life so it’s ingrained. I can’t imagine not doing this regardless of source. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/25 "2019-06-26T16:40:52Z")
_Rat lungworm?_ :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/26 "2019-06-26T17:09:38Z")
In [his memoir](https://www.amazon.com/Talk-Dirty-Influence-People-Autobiography-ebook/dp/B01DWVWES4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XOHNX5GKQLKD&keywords=lenny+bruce+how+to+talk+dirty+and+influence+people&qid=1561568755&s=gateway&sprefix=Lenny+Bruce%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-1), Lenny Bruce described picking produce one summer with migrant workers on Long Island. The outhouse wasn’t conveniently near. Long story short, he became a strong believer in rinsing your fruits and vegetables, always. ---
**Author:** ![a\_dudes\_thought\_s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@a\_dudes\_thought\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_dudes_thought_s)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/27 "2019-06-28T16:04:21Z")
Wow awesome question. I usually just run my fruit under cold water,but I think I will start washing it more thoroughly now. Is there something I can wash fruit with other than water? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/28 "2019-06-28T16:44:52Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > _Rat lungworm?_ > > :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: _cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/29 "2019-06-28T18:44:27Z")
> [@a\_dudes\_thought\_s](#): > > Wow awesome question. I usually just run my fruit under cold water,but I think I will start washing it more thoroughly now. Is there something I can wash fruit with other than water? There are vegetable washes. [Here’s one I believe is made by Proctor and Gamble (AKA Proctor and God to those of us in Cincinnati).](https://www.amazon.com/Fit-Organic-Produce-Vegetable-Pesticide/dp/B001E5DZQQ) I’ve never used one. My family used to own a small fruit and vegetable shop and while we never had pallets of vegetables on the floor as described above, I would still wash everything with water. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944/30 "2019-06-28T18:58:29Z")
> [@Kelevra](#): > > There are vegetable washes. [Here’s one I believe is made by Proctor and Gamble (AKA Proctor and God to those of us in Cincinnati).](https://www.amazon.com/Fit-Organic-Produce-Vegetable-Pesticide/dp/B001E5DZQQ) > > I’ve never used one. My family used to own a small fruit and vegetable shop and while we never had pallets of vegetables on the floor as described above, I would still wash everything with water. What’s up fellow Cincinnatian! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-washing-fruit-actually-do-anything/835944.md?page=1)