Mareike Schmidt

July 9, 2025, 9:05 am | Read time: 4 minutes

July and August are the peak seasons for blueberries. During this time, they are ripe and taste especially sweet. Whether in cereal, cake, smoothies, or just on their own–they are versatile and delicious. To ensure they are truly healthy, blueberries should be washed properly. Whether from the supermarket or the farmers market, they can be coated with pesticides and bacteria. Therefore, a quick rinse with water is not enough. Instead, they should be cleaned with vinegar or baking soda. This not only removes invisible residues but can also actively prevent mold growth.

Why Water Isn’t Enough

A quick rinse with water removes dust and coarse dirt, but it is not sufficient for a deeper clean. It’s better to wash blueberries with vinegar or baking soda. Both alter the pH level on the surface of the blueberries, which leads to a stronger inhibition of microbial growth than rinsing with pH-neutral water, says food scientist Bryan Quoc Le on marthastewart.com.

How Vinegar and Baking Soda Work

Both vinegar and baking soda are suitable for properly washing blueberries–items almost everyone has at home. However, these household remedies work in different ways.

The advantage of vinegar is its acidic effect. Due to its low pH level, some pesticide residues on the surface of the blueberries dissolve, and bacterial growth is inhibited. Both white household vinegar and apple cider vinegar serve the purpose, as it’s the pH level, not the type of vinegar, that is crucial, according to Le. However, white household vinegar is significantly cheaper than apple cider vinegar.

Baking soda, on the other hand, works differently. Its alkaline property can neutralize bacteria. However, if not rinsed thoroughly, it can leave a slightly bitter taste. Studies also show that both substances can effectively remove certain residues, but they are not a universal solution.

DIY Cleaning Solutions for Blueberries

Both vinegar and baking soda can be easily turned into a cleaning solution to effectively clean blueberries.

Cleaning with Vinegar

1. Mix three parts cold water with one part white vinegar in a large bowl.
2. Add blueberries and soak for five to ten minutes.
3. Gently move the berries with your hands to softly remove dirt.
4. Rinse under cold water and let dry spread out on a clean cloth or paper towel.

Cleaning with Baking Soda

1. Dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in two cups of cold water.
2. Soak the blueberries for five to ten minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
3. Also spread out on a paper towel or clean dish towel to dry.

Also interesting: 5 Practical Baking Soda Tricks for the Household

Caution: The soaking time should not exceed 15 minutes. Otherwise, the skin can disintegrate, and the aromatic substances can dissolve in the baking soda solution, warns food scientist Le.

More on the topic

Remove Pesticides Should You Wash Strawberries with Baking Soda?

Practical Cleaning Tips How to Clean Your Baking Sheet with Home Remedies

What to Consider When Washing and Storing Blueberries

Blueberries should ideally be washed just before consumption. Moisture on the skin can accelerate mold growth. If you don’t want to eat your washed blueberries immediately, make sure they are thoroughly dried before storing. Then they can be kept in a breathable container in the refrigerator.

If you want to freeze your blueberries, they should also be well dried after cleaning and then laid out in a single layer to freeze. They can then be transferred to a bag or container and stored in the freezer.

Are Special Products More Effective?

Special fruit and vegetable washing agents from the store offer little advantage, according to Le. Only cleaning agents with special peroxide compounds from the industry are more effective. However, these are not available to consumers. Household remedies are entirely sufficient for properly washing blueberries, says the scientist.