If your diet usually consists of making a run to the drive-thru or ordering take-out, you’re probably not getting your fair-share of fruits and veggies (and no, the lettuce and tomato on your burger don’t count). Eating healthy means leaving the junk behind and incorporating fresh produce as a staple in your diet, so it’s important that you know how to clean it. Unlike packaged/processed foods that require no work before you eat it, there is some work involved when it comes to your fruits and vegetables. Here’s a quick guide to getting all your produce clean so it’s ready for you to use. I recommend doing this right when you get home from the grocery store (there are a few exceptions to this) so that you don’t have to worry about doing it when you’re hungry and you want to eat.

Rule #1 - Wash everything! There really is no exception to this rule except maybe for mushrooms which I’ll explain below. If it came from the produce department, wash it!

How to wash nearly all vegetables: For most vegetables, you can fill up a clean sink or a large bowl with cool water and place your veggies right in the water and swish them around. For root vegetables like potatoes or carrots, you’ll need to get a vegetable scrubber and scrub them well before peeling. Just because you’re peeling the veggie doesn’t mean that you don’t need to wash it.  If there is bacteria on the vegetable, it can get on the peeler and spread to the part you’d eat.

Rule #2 - Always peel cucumbers unless you buy an organic cucumber that’s wrapped, or you grow your own.  There’s no way to get the wax off of regular cucumbers, and you don’t want to ingest it.

Rule #3 - Dry everything! Once it’s all washed, you’ll want to dry it unless you’re going to be cooking it immediately. For lettuce and greens, a salad spinner is a great way to dry them.  For other vegetables, just use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to dry them well.

About mushrooms: Mushrooms are extremely delicate.  Use a damp paper towel or a damp kitchen towel to carefully get any dirt off of the mushrooms. Never run them under water.

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How to wash nearly all fruits: Most fruits should be washed similar to the way you wash vegetables.  Fill a sink will water and let them soak even if you’re going to end up peeling it or cutting it.

Rule #4 - Do not pre-wash berries.  When you bring berries home from the store, do not pre-wash them because they’ll get soggy, and they’ll mold quicker. When you’re ready to use your berries, give them a quick rinse before using them.

Rule #5 - If you plan on using the zest from citrus fruits like lemons, limes, or oranges, be sure to give them a good scrub.