Is it really necessary to wash salad leaves?

[Inastate]

I was just wondering if it is really necessary to wash salad leaves? I have gotten into the habit of not washing them, because I hate the leaves getting soggy.

Do people consider it a big deal? Obviously I remover any obvious dirt etc.

Thanks

[PyreneesPlot]

Having seen the huge number of slugs crawling over the leaves at night, I would say yes! I drop mine into a bowl of water for a few minutes which also gives things like aphids, tiny spiders, caterpillars and hoverfly larvae to come to the surface and be rescued or not.

[Guest]

I wash and put in a salad spinner they seem to stay happier longer

[Thelma Sanders]

I'm always munching stuff straight from the plot - and I'm still alive

I only wash stuff if it's obviously dirty/got bugs on...... would be different if I used pesticides that needed rinsing off

[alldigging]

I just ate a huge lettuce leaf in the greenhouse.

I do wash salad for him indoors as he is very adverse to insects on his plate.

[Bren In Pots]

After seeing a rat in next doors garden it put me of eating things while wondering around the garden so now everything gets a rinse.

[Kristen]

My salad leaves get splattered with soil, by the rain, so I wash them.

[Spunky]

I drown mine for about ten minutes before I go near them, likes been said it's all the creepy crawlies and aphids plus I use a bit of wee as fertiliser !

[Nicos]

The idea of mice/voles weeing on them makes me always wash ours before eating!

[Guest]

The idea of mice/voles weeing on them makes me always wash ours before eating!

foxes, cats, hedgehogs......

[Potstubsdustbins]

Always wash and spin mine. I am adverse to eating caterpillar poo, or any other poo come to that!!

[Alison]

Quick rinse and spin just before eating here. Find it stores much better unwashed though.

[VolesAteMyPeas]

I rarely wash mine. If there's a caterpillar in there....well, I could do with the protein anyway!

[Alison]

I rarely wash mine. If there's a caterpillar in there....well, I could do with the protein anyway!

It's more to rinse the soil off for me, hate a gritty salad

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Quick rinse and check for additional protein, pat dry with kitchen roll and that's me.

Big problem with voles this year and caterpillars and, if I accidentally had slug or slug trail in my lunch.....oooooh that does not bear thinking about.