No, you do not need to wash any vanilla bean pods you purchase from our store. This includes vanilla used for cooking and baking as well as vanilla that is used for making vanilla extract. All vanilla beans are carefully sorted, by hand, and examined for mold and overall quality upon importation. The vanilla is once again sorted by hand and examined prior to packaging. Vanilla beans are also randomly tested for water activity, yeast, mold and other contaminants by independent third-party labs. While users may at times find wool fibers, from wool blankets stuck to their vanilla bean pods, no additional cleaning is need. Wool blankets are commonly used for the sweating and sun drying of vanilla. Finding these fibers does not constitute any need for cleaning with water, sanitizing agent or alcohol based chemicals.All vanilla beans or other ingredients sold in our shop do undergo formal clearance and inspection by regulatory agencies such as CBP, FDA and the USDA upon importation and when otherwise applicable. As a food manufacturer, Slofoodgroup does maintain a robust food safety and preventive controls plan in accordance to US food and drug administration standards to ensure the safety of the products sold in our shop. Washing vanilla is never recommended. If you are concerned about contaminants or bacteria on your vanilla beans, and making vanilla extract, the use of alcohol itself during extract process, does act as sanitizing agent. The use of ethanol alcohol does take care of any bacteria that may be present on the vanilla beans. This should be of little concern to consumers.