Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is a smart way to get key nutrients such as fiber, potassium, iron and vitamins A and C. Before loading your plate with these highly nutritious foods, however, you should always wash them first. Washing your produce removes germs, bacteria and parasites that could make you quite sick. While most supermarkets sell commercial produce washes, you can make your own using lemon juice and several other common ingredients. In the end, this will retain the nutritional value of your fruits and vegetables without compromising your health.

Slice a fresh lemon in half. Squeeze the lemon to release the juice. You need 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Place the tablespoon of lemon juice in a small bowl.

Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the lemon juice.

Pour 1 cup of plain water into the lemon juice and baking soda mixture.

Whisk the lemon juice, baking soda and water together until the baking soda is completely incorporated and dissolved into the liquid.

Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle.

Arrange your fresh fruits and vegetables in a colander and set it in your kitchen sink.

Spray the produce with your homemade lemon juice produce wash. Use enough to completely coat the outside of each piece of produce.

Let the fruits and vegetables sit for about five minutes and then rinse the produce well.