The conversations around exactly how to wash your produce are contentious. There are camps that think a rinse in water is enough, while others think the only way to truly clean the dirt, wax and chemicals off your fruits and vegetables is with a store-bought produce wash , soapy taste be damned.

The jury may still be out on that one, but one thing is clear: We need to rinse our fruits and vegetables with water (and give them a good scrub). However, its not always clear how important it is , or how to do it properly. Thats why we asked the experts. Heres everything you need to know about washing your fruits and vegetables.

Why do you need to wash your fruits and veggies in the first place?

There are a few reasons its important to rinse every fruit and vegetable you consume with water. First, theres often dirt on them before theyre washed, and no one likes eating dirt. And more pressing, many fruits and vegetables are sprayed with pesticides , which arent necessarily safe for consumption .

But according to nutritionist Karina Heinrich , the most important reason for rinsing and scrubbing fruits and vegetables is to protect yourself from foodborne illnesses. In fact, according to the Food and Drug Administration, 48 million people get sick from contaminated food each year .

The goal with washing well is to decrease bacteria and prevent any illness, such as E. Coli, she said.

FDA attorney Marc Sanchez added that we only hear about some of the foodborne illnesses that occur, such as salmonella or E. Coli so people getting sick from unwashed fruits and vegetables is actually more common than we think. Often we only hear about the big outbreaks, but contamination can occur on any scale, he explained.

Heinrich also noted that timing matters a lot more than most people think both to avoid getting sick and because your produce will last longer. The best time to wash produce is immediately before eating or cooking the product, she said. You should avoid rinsing and then storing produce because it creates a perfect, wet habitat for bacteria to grow. Too much moisture can cause fruits and vegetables to go bad more quickly.

Heres how to wash your fruits and vegetables.

Heres the big question: Can you get away with running water over your fruits and vegetables and call it a day? Sanchez says yes; Heinrich says no.

Start by properly washing your hands with soap or water, which ensures that no microbes are transferred from your hands to the fresh produce, Sanchez said. When actually washing, use running water and rub fruits and vegetables briskly with your hands to remove dirt and surface microorganisms. For something with a hard rind or firm skin, a vegetable brush can be used to scrub the surface. A good tip is to avoid using hot water, which can allow microorganisms to enter the stem or blossom end of the produce.