Simple Green Smoothies
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  • Recipes
    • All Green Beauty Green Healing Green Meals Green Smoothies Green Snacks
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      Green Healing

      Southern Charm Cantaloupe Smoothie

      2.2.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Cabbage Smoothie That Helps Fight Colds

      2.1.2019

      Green Meals

      Mediterranean Recipes for Beginners (vegan-friendly)

      2.1.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Cauliflower Smoothie Bowl

      1.30.2019

      Green Healing

      Chamomile Lavender Tea that Helps you Sleep

      1.30.2019

      Green Snacks

      Plant-Based Warrior Bars

      1.25.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Strawberry Mango Smoothie

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      1.8.2013

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      12.11.2012

      Green Healing

      Southern Charm Cantaloupe Smoothie

      2.2.2019

      Green Healing

      Chamomile Lavender Tea that Helps you Sleep

      1.30.2019

      Green Healing

      Avocado Banana Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Healing

      Carrot Cake Smoothie

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      Green Healing

      Cherry Smoothie

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      How to make Turmeric tea (and detox daily)

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      Food sensitivity test — is it worth it?

      6.20.2018

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      Explaining the Adrenal Fatigue Diet (plus recipe!)

      1.16.2018

      Green Meals

      Mediterranean Recipes for Beginners (vegan-friendly)

      2.1.2019

      Green Meals

      Vegan Tacos (Inspired By Austin, TX)

      11.2.2018

      Green Meals

      Coconut Thai Soup

      10.22.2018

      Green Meals

      Upgraded Vegetable Soup Recipe : Dr. Bieler’s Broth

      10.16.2018

      Green Meals

      Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup Recipe

      9.28.2018

      Green Meals

      Plant-Based Thai Lettuce Wraps

      9.12.2018

      Green Meals

      Simple Vegan Coleslaw

      8.23.2018

      Green Meals

      Sweet Potato Noodles with Thai Sauce

      8.23.2018

      Green Smoothies

      Gazpacho Recipe: A veggie smoothie bowl

      2.3.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Southern Charm Cantaloupe Smoothie

      2.2.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Cabbage Smoothie That Helps Fight Colds

      2.1.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Cauliflower Smoothie Bowl

      1.30.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Strawberry Mango Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Smoothies

      Kale Banana Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Smoothies

      Banana Chocolate Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Smoothies

      Avocado Banana Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Snacks

      Plant-Based Warrior Bars

      1.25.2019

      Green Snacks

      Almond Butter and Jam Muffins

      10.29.2018

      Green Snacks

      Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

      10.9.2018

      Green Snacks

      Roasted Cauliflower Recipe – Popcorn Snack!

      9.20.2018

      Green Snacks

      Healthy Rice Crispy Treat Recipe (Vegan)

      9.14.2018

      Green Snacks

      Tasty Turmeric Tea Recipe

      9.6.2018

      Green Snacks

      Lemon Fat Bomb Treats

      9.5.2018

      Green Snacks

      Homemade Granola Bars

      8.22.2018

  • 7-DAY RESET
  • Shop

Simple Green Smoothies

  • Start Here
    • Best Green Smoothie Recipe
    • Green Smoothie 101
    • The Blender Guide
    • Smoothie Supplies
  • Explore
    • The Rawkstar Way
    • Ultimate Smoothie App
    • Smoothie Superfoods
    • The Mushroom Project
  • FREE CHALLENGE
  • Recipes
    • All Green Beauty Green Healing Green Meals Green Smoothies Green Snacks
      Green Smoothies

      Gazpacho Recipe: A veggie smoothie bowl

      2.3.2019

      Green Healing

      Southern Charm Cantaloupe Smoothie

      2.2.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Cabbage Smoothie That Helps Fight Colds

      2.1.2019

      Green Meals

      Mediterranean Recipes for Beginners (vegan-friendly)

      2.1.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Cauliflower Smoothie Bowl

      1.30.2019

      Green Healing

      Chamomile Lavender Tea that Helps you Sleep

      1.30.2019

      Green Snacks

      Plant-Based Warrior Bars

      1.25.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Strawberry Mango Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Beauty

      Why I Use Natural Deodorant (and give it…

      8.29.2017

      Green Beauty

      6 Ways to Get Youthful, Glowing Skin

      5.11.2016

      Green Beauty

      Homemade Toothpaste with Coconut Oil

      1.8.2013

      Green Beauty

      Homemade deodorant that really works

      12.11.2012

      Green Healing

      Southern Charm Cantaloupe Smoothie

      2.2.2019

      Green Healing

      Chamomile Lavender Tea that Helps you Sleep

      1.30.2019

      Green Healing

      Avocado Banana Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Healing

      Carrot Cake Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Healing

      Cherry Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Healing

      How to make Turmeric tea (and detox daily)

      6.28.2018

      Green Healing

      Food sensitivity test — is it worth it?

      6.20.2018

      Green Healing

      Explaining the Adrenal Fatigue Diet (plus recipe!)

      1.16.2018

      Green Meals

      Mediterranean Recipes for Beginners (vegan-friendly)

      2.1.2019

      Green Meals

      Vegan Tacos (Inspired By Austin, TX)

      11.2.2018

      Green Meals

      Coconut Thai Soup

      10.22.2018

      Green Meals

      Upgraded Vegetable Soup Recipe : Dr. Bieler’s Broth

      10.16.2018

      Green Meals

      Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup Recipe

      9.28.2018

      Green Meals

      Plant-Based Thai Lettuce Wraps

      9.12.2018

      Green Meals

      Simple Vegan Coleslaw

      8.23.2018

      Green Meals

      Sweet Potato Noodles with Thai Sauce

      8.23.2018

      Green Smoothies

      Gazpacho Recipe: A veggie smoothie bowl

      2.3.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Southern Charm Cantaloupe Smoothie

      2.2.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Cabbage Smoothie That Helps Fight Colds

      2.1.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Cauliflower Smoothie Bowl

      1.30.2019

      Green Smoothies

      Strawberry Mango Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Smoothies

      Kale Banana Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Smoothies

      Banana Chocolate Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Smoothies

      Avocado Banana Smoothie

      12.17.2018

      Green Snacks

      Plant-Based Warrior Bars

      1.25.2019

      Green Snacks

      Almond Butter and Jam Muffins

      10.29.2018

      Green Snacks

      Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

      10.9.2018

      Green Snacks

      Roasted Cauliflower Recipe – Popcorn Snack!

      9.20.2018

      Green Snacks

      Healthy Rice Crispy Treat Recipe (Vegan)

      9.14.2018

      Green Snacks

      Tasty Turmeric Tea Recipe

      9.6.2018

      Green Snacks

      Lemon Fat Bomb Treats

      9.5.2018

      Green Snacks

      Homemade Granola Bars

      8.22.2018

  • 7-DAY RESET
  • Shop
Green Living

Natural Kitchen-Cleaning Hacks (That WORK!)

Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 3.12.45 PM

The kitchen is one of my favorite and most used rooms in our house— I think it’s safe to say we live in it! Not only is it the place where I blend my daily green smoothie and teach my kids about food and cooking, it’s also where we fold laundry, do homework after school, pay bills, drink coffee, play Dutch Blitz, and have late night discussions.

Because the kitchen is like the heart of our home, it’s also the room that needs to be cleaned and picked-up most often. 

I try to limit the amount of chemical products I use in our home, so I’m always on the hunt to find/create recipes for natural kitchen cleaning products. Yet they have to work! After all, this is the place where we store, prepare, and eat our food.

The more chemical products I can keep out of the kitchen, the better!

I’ve tried tons of natural kitchen-cleaning products and other natural kitchen-hacks, and now have a pretty good idea about which ones work best for my home and my family. Here are some of my favorites!

 

8 NATURAL KITCHEN-CLEANING PRODUCTS I LOVE:

DrBronner

1) ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER

I’m a huge fan of Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap. Although his soaps come in a variety of scents, I specifically use Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Oil Pure-Castile Liquid Soap because Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, which means it contains anti-microbial agents that kill off bad bacteria. I use this all-purpose cleaner to wipe down my kitchen counters and any other surfaces that come into contact with food.

Lately I’ve been adding essential oils to enhance the scent of the cleaner even more. Orange is a great one and I also loooove spruce— to make me feel like I’m in the forest.

• 2 tsp Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Oil Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
• 2 cups water
• Essential oils (optional, but lovely)

 

Coconut Oil

2) STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER + POLISHER

Ah, coconut oil. It’s great for cooking, baking and blending into green smoothies, making homemade deodorant, conditioner, lotion… the list goes on. But one of my fav uses lately is a stainless steel cleaner + polisher. Who woulda thought?!

Well, just take 1 TBSP coconut oil and apply to a microfiber cloth to wipe off grime and fingerprints. Then buff. It’ll make your stainless steel kitchen appliances shine like new!

 

BakingSoda

3) SINK CLEANER

I used to use Comet to clean my kitchen sink, but after finding out that baking soda is just as effective, I’ve never gone back! To get the tough gunk off the of the kitchen sink, just mix your baking soda with a little water and use a sponge to scrub. Works like a charm!

 

WindowCleaner

4) WINDOW CLEANER

To clean window, I love this simple homemade recipe by Crunchy Betty. Mix it up, pour it into a spray bottle, and voila! Streak-free windows here we come!

• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 1 ½ cups water
• ¼ cup rubbing alcohol
• 1 TBSP cornstarch
• 10 drops essential oil

 

LemonBakingSoda

5) GARBAGE DISPOSAL

When my garbage disposal starts smelling a little funky, I throw a couple lemon halves and ¼ cup baking soda in there and let it run for a minute. This helps clean out the gunk buildup and definitely helps with the smell.

 

Vinegar for dishwasher

6) INSIDE DISHWASHER

I love having the outside of my dishwasher look clean and sparkly, but what about the inside? This kitchen-hack from Katie over at Wellness Mama is one of my favorites for removing soap-scum and helping my dishwasher run more efficiently. The things we learn from our friends, right? 

1. Fill a bowl or two with undiluted white vinegar, and place them right-side-up on the top shelf of your dishwasher.
2. Run the dishwasher as usual, but without any other dishes in it.

 

MicrowaveCleaner

7) MICROWAVE CLEANER

I don’t have a microwave (yep, I’m that friend), but I know how often they can be used. If they’re not cleaned regularly, they can get yucky pretty quick. This easy-peasy kitchen hack from thekitchn helps dissolve food splatters and loosen any stubborn gunk without using harsh chemicals.

• ½ cup water
• 1 lemon (sliced in half)
• Microwave safe bowl

1. Pour water into bowl, and then squeeze the juice from the lemon into the water.
2. Toss the lemon halves in, and place bowl in microwave.
3. Microwave on high for 3 minutes (so the water comes to a boil), and then let it stand for 5 minutes without opening the door.
4. After 5 minutes, carefully remove the bowl, and wipe down the microwave with a kitchen cloth or paper towel.

 

HandSoap

8) HOMEMADE HAND SOAP

After reading all the buzz about how the use of traditional anti-bacterial soaps are contributing to antibiotic resistance, why not make my own! Here’s a great recipe by The Humbled Homemaker. Feel free to use any essential oil, but tea tree and lavender are two of my favorites, as they both have natural antimicrobial properties.

• ¼ cup Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
• ¾ cup water
• 3 drops essential oil

Pour into a half pint-sized mason jar (or any old foaming soap dispenser!), add a pump, and you’re good to go!

 


SHARE YOUR OWN CLEANING HACK!

Do you have a favorite kitchen-cleaning hack? Leave a comment below and help us get squeaky clean in no time! xoxoxo 

 

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18 comments

Pia 9.20.2018 - 3:43 pm

I simply wanted to give Jen a big shout out of genuine thanks for not only these wonderful cleaning hacks, but for ALL the ongoing ways she gives of herself so generously to the world’s community. ♡♡

Reply
SGS Rawkstar Amanda 9.21.2018 - 12:56 pm

Hey Pia!

Awe thank you so much for that amazing comment. It truly melts my heart to hear how much people love what Jen is sharing with our rawkstar community!

She has plenty more to share too so stay tuned! 🙂

Reply
Deborah Schaub 3.23.2018 - 1:03 pm

What is recommended for the oven 2 clean it without odors and chemicals? TIA

Reply
SGS Rawkstar Amanda 3.26.2018 - 12:32 pm

Hi Deborah,

I love these tips from our friend Becky, over at Clean Mama! Check out her natural oven cleaning tips here…

https://www.cleanmama.net/2017/12/naturally-clean-oven.html

Reply
Jen 10.11.2016 - 7:12 pm

Not all natural, but I the only thing I can find to keep my frameless shower door/wall soap scum free is a mixture of Dawn and white vinegar.

Clogged drain – vinegar and baking soda

Odors – baking soda or vinegar

Floors – vinegar and hot water (can add essential oils)

Reply
SGS Rawkstar 10.12.2016 - 11:46 am

Thanks for sharing, Jen!

Reply
de 9.9.2016 - 9:28 am

If you have a natural stone or granite counter top you have to be very careful not to use anything acidic on them such as vinegar. THat is why many homemade cleaners for granite use rubbing alcohol instead. What ever product you use make sure it is safe specificly for granite or natural stone if that is what you have.

Reply
SGS Rawkstar 9.10.2016 - 4:52 pm

Hi De,

Great reminder! It’s always important to do your research and find the right cleaner for your countertop!

Reply
Robin H 9.2.2016 - 11:21 am

Do use your all purpose cleaner on granite? Great post!

Reply
Jen @ Simple Green Smoothies 9.2.2016 - 11:57 am

I have concrete countertops and I use it on that. I feel like it would also work on granite— just stay away from citrus essential oils because that can wear off the sealer.

Reply
Eileen 9.1.2016 - 9:42 pm

I love cleaning with all natural Melaleuca products. Tough & Tender you only mix with water. Cleans almost everything in the kitchen. Tub & Tile is my go to stainless steel sink cleaner Clear power is my window cleaner. I used to make my cleaners, but with these 12Xconcentrated cleaners, I just add water and love the clean I can trust

Reply
SGS Rawkstar 9.2.2016 - 7:21 am

Thanks for sharing, Eileen!

Reply
Heather Allard 9.1.2016 - 4:42 pm

These are great recipes! Thank you so much for sharing.

Just a little side note – don’t forget to read the labels on the essential oils you’re using to make sure they’re ok to use topically in things like hand soap. Many of them are for aromatic use only and can cause reactions when used on sensitive skin. 🙂

Reply
SGS Rawkstar 9.2.2016 - 7:21 am

Hi Heather,

Great reminder! Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Jaime 9.1.2016 - 3:03 pm

Jenny – Have you tried Grove Collaborative?

Reply
SGS Rawkstar 9.2.2016 - 7:21 am

We’ll have to check it out, Jaime!

Reply
Kathy R 9.1.2016 - 12:53 pm

My favorite cleaner for the granite countertops in our house is Seventh Generation All Purpose Natural Cleaner. They look shiny and there is no streaking. Just spray and wipe with clean old washcloth.

Reply
SGS Rawkstar 9.2.2016 - 7:20 am

Thanks for sharing, Kathy!

Reply

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Well, hi there!

I’m Jen Hansard, best selling author on a mission to make plant-based foods tasty + affordable for families around the world. It starts with our Green Smoothie Challenge.

 

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