I think Anais mentioned cleaning greens with a peroxide solution, (in one of the videos or a post), but I can't find it. I would like to know the peroxide to water ratio and whether a "food grade" or general peroxide is used. Also, does anyone soak their veggies in a bleach solution to sanitize? I have telephone wire over my garden and the birds are more than happy to leave "gifts" on my produce.

Thanks,

Andrea

Hi Andrea,

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural alternative to bleach

“To help kill bacteria such as E. Coli on fruits and vegetables, add a quarter cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a sink full of cold water. immerse, rinse with cold water and drain. By killing bacteria this will also help keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. You can also use a spraybottle containing a 50/50 mix of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water - just spray and rinse.”

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/64/1/Hydrogen-peroxide-tips.html

Hope this helps and good luck!

Kudos for using H2O2! When exposed to bleach fumes, I have a severe asthmatic reaction, so I have been using hydrogen peroxide for years as a disinfectant. It surprises me that relatively few people realize its effectiveness. Thanks again!

I wish BLEACH would be BANNED! Awful, AWFULDIOXINS!!!
THANX for this rinse, Justin ~ I'm so EXCITED about this I wanna go rinse veges NOW!!

Thanks for the information, I had no idea about the Hydrogen peroxide. Awesome! I cannot be around much bleach either. I burned my lungs a few years ago from using it in a small space that kitty had peed in, bad mix. Bad Stuff.

Thank you, Justin!

Ick - bleach! Usually, when we travel, we hit the campsites but for our trip down south to San Diego County, they offered us a hotel room for free. Phew-wee! Those sheets reeked of bleach! Maybe I'm just not used to it... but wow... I felt like I need detoxification after.

I usually just go with a good rinse, I don't mind the bird poo, it's natural fertilizer. We're all just a bit too clean here!

I mostly don't have a bird poo problem, so I just rinse with plain water to take off dust & aphids. but good to know about the peroxide. I agree that people today are a little too germaphobic as a rule. Yeah, when dealing with people's blood and body fluids, especially people outside your own family you should follow all precautions, but just around your own home, where you know if anybody is sick, et. I think people are a little too too, if you know what I mean.

What a great thread and even greater tip.

Love it! Thanks!! :o)

THIS is why I sanitize my veggies ACK! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/arts/television/01monsters.html?_r=1

Does anyone here use a mixture of vinegar and water to wash their veggies? I saw a thing on t.v. about using vinegar and I've been using that.

Andy - that's why I don't watch TV. Having a background in civil/environmental engineering I've had fairly extensive exposure to the threats of parasites and the ways to treat them. They're icky enough WITHOUT the terrorism scare tactics, but usually highly manageable when folk bother to tell you HOW. Infuriating.