How to Clean Fresh Lettuce, Herbs and Vegetables

By Maryanne Ackershoek
Published 7/14/2026
In This Article

Cleaning fresh lettuce, herbs, and vegetables under cool running water has always been wise. But given the recent outbreak of diarrhea linked to the cyclospora parasite on leafy greens, you may now want to do more than simply splash water over lettuce leaves.

Certified Food Safety Educator Mike McCombe, CEC, CCE shares these easy tips on how to thoroughly clean lettuce with vinegar. This Health eCooks Test Kitchen technique will also help your lettuce stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week!

You can also use a vinegar wash like the one in this video to clean herbs, other leafy greens, and vegetables. These tips aren’t just useful for the current cyclospora outbreak; they’ll help you ensure your fresh veggies are clean and reduce your risk of food-borne illness all year round.

Why Wash Leafy Greens?

There are three excellent reasons to thoroughly wash your leafy greens:

  • Dirt and Sand: To remove any gritty soil.
  • Pesticides: To clear away chemical residues.
  • Bacteria & Parasites: To minimize harmful pathogens and parasites like cyclospora.
Photo Credit: Jessica Kielman, Baldwin Publishing

Step-by-Step: How to Clean Lettuce with Vinegar

With these quick tips, it’s easy to learn how to wash lettuce with vinegar. Follow this simple method to ensure your salad or cooking greens are perfectly clean and stay fresh:

1. Prepare the Wash

  • Fill a large bowl with cold water.
  • Add about 1 teaspoon of vinegar per gallon of water. This helps knock down any bacteria present on the leaves.

2. Prep the Greens

  • Take your lettuce, salad greens, or cooking greens.
  • Pick off and prune any bruised, brown, or unappealing areas, as well as any damaged outer leaves.

3. Soak

  • Hold the leaves gently in your hands so you do not bruise them.
  • Submerge the leaves in the cold vinegar-water mixture.
  • Let them sit undisturbed for about 1 minute. This allows any sand and dirt to settle to the bottom of the bowl.
    Note: If you are using organic greens, they tend to be a bit dirtier, so make sure to wash them extra thoroughly!

4. Rinse and Drain

  • Carefully lift the leaves out of the water.
  • Bring them over to the sink and rinse them under running cold water. Be gentle so you don't damage the leaves.
  • Place the rinsed greens into a colander.
  • If you don't have a salad spinner, shake the colander vigorously to remove the excess water.

5. Dry and Store

  • Lay the damp leaves flat onto a paper towel (about 2 or 3 leaves at a time).
  • Gently roll the leaves up in the paper towel.
  • Place the wrapped greens inside an airtight bag.
  • Store the bag in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator. Stored this way, your greens will stay fresh for 5 to 7 days!

 

Pro Food Safety Tip: This mild vinegar dilution is great for a gentle, everyday rinse. Vinegar's natural acidity is a well-known household trick for breaking down organic residue. If you want a stronger wash (especially for non-organic produce) it’s perfectly safe to increase the mixture to a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio of vinegar to water. Just be sure to give the greens a thorough rinse with cold, fresh water afterward so the strong acidity doesn't affect the delicate flavor or crisp texture of your lettuce!

Summer Veggie Recipes with Greens

Now that you know how to wash your lettuce, greens, herbs and veggies, stir up some delicious summer salads and veggie dishes. Enjoy!

Summer Spike: Knowing the Signs of a Cyclospora Infection

The US Department of Health and Human services says cyclosporiasis cases are expected to rise over the summer months. Symptoms such as watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, nausea, and fatigue typically begin about a week after exposure, but can appear as quickly as two days post infection. Call your health provider if you think you may be infected.

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