Best for Busy Families
Water + brush for most items, with a quick baking soda soak for berries. Minimal effort, maximum coverage for the produce kids eat most.
Produce safety, decoded
FreshWash
The science-backed guide to washing fresh produce
Not all washing methods remove the same threats. Here's what actually works — and what to buy.
Wash Science
How the four methods actually compare
Scored out of 10 across the things that matter. Filter to find the method that fits your priority.
Produce Guide
12 produce types, ranked by wash priority
Higher priority means more residue or contamination risk. Each comes with its best method.
Quick Picks
Pick the routine that fits your life
Best for Pesticide Removal
A baking soda soak across all of the Dirty Dozen. The single most effective at-home method for breaking down surface pesticide residue.
Best on a Budget
Bulk baking soda plus a simple scrub brush — a complete setup for under $10 that handles the vast majority of produce.
Most Thorough
A baking soda soak followed by a brush finish for maximum removal of residue, soil, and surface microbes on firm produce.
The Gear
Products worth buying
A small, vetted kit covers nearly every washing job. Prices are approximate.
Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen
Know your highest and lowest risk produce
Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tests popular produce and ranks items by pesticide residue. The Dirty Dozen lists the most contaminated items — worth a thorough wash or buying organic. The Clean Fifteen lists the lowest-residue items, where a quick rinse is plenty.
Strawberries
Consistently top the Dirty Dozen with the most pesticide residue per sample. Soft, porous skin makes them a priority for a baking soda soak.
Spinach
High residue loads and a large leaf surface area. Soak and rinse in cold water, then spin dry to clear what clings to the leaves.
Kale
A recurring Dirty Dozen item with residue trapped in its curly, textured leaves. A cold water soak helps dislodge it.
Avocado
One of the cleanest picks — its thick, inedible skin shields the flesh. A quick rinse before cutting is all you need.
Pineapple
Tough outer skin keeps residue away from the fruit inside. Rinse the exterior so nothing transfers to the blade when slicing.
Sweet Corn
Among the lowest-residue crops, protected by its husk. Peel, and a brief rinse is more than enough.