The Decluttered Mom Podcast

On this week’s episode, Diana chats with laundry expert and author Melissa Dilkes Pateras all about laundry myths, best practices, and so much more.

You can find her on TikTok here: Laundrytok | Melissa Pateras (@melissadilkespateras) Official | TikTok

You can find her new book here: A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home: Housekeeping Hacks You Can't Live Without
In this episode, we cover:
Homemade laundry detergent is not effective and can damage your washing machine. The guest explained that commercial detergents are specifically formulated for high-efficiency machines and properly cleaning clothes. Homemade detergents often do not clean well and leave residue on clothes. As the host said, “Homemade laundry detergent is often not effective and can leave residue on your clothes. It's best to stick with commercial detergents that are specifically formulated for high-efficiency machines.”

1. Look for natural, eco-friendly detergent options if you want to avoid harsh chemicals. Many major brands like Tide and Persil offer fragrance-free, dye-free options that work well. Check the ingredients to find simple, natural options.
   
2. For most stains, pretreat with liquid laundry detergent and let it sit before washing. Dish soap like Dawn also works great for grease and oil stains. Hydrogen peroxide is excellent for whitening and brightening stains on white clothes. These methods avoid the need for most commercial stain removers. As the host recommended, “For most stains, pretreat with liquid laundry detergent and let it sit before washing. Dish soap like Dawn also works great for grease and oil stains.”
   
3. Hot water is not necessary for most loads and can fade and damage clothes. Use cold water for the majority of loads to prolong the life of your clothes. Hot water is only needed for whites and when using oxygen bleach. According to the host, “Hot water is not necessary for most loads and can fade and damage clothes. Use cold water for the majority of loads to prolong the life of your clothes.”
   
4. Disinfecting and sanitizing clothing is usually unnecessary and the products are often used incorrectly. Only disinfect when someone in the household is ill. Be sure to follow the directions carefully regarding water temperature, sit time, and rinsing. For general cleaning, hot water and detergent are sufficient. As the host explained, “Disinfecting and sanitizing clothing is usually unnecessary and the products are often used incorrectly. Only disinfect when someone in the household is ill.”

What can you expect from this podcast and future episodes?

• 15-20 minute episodes to help you tackle your to-do list
• How to declutter in an effective and efficient way
• Guest interviews
• Deep dives on specific topics

Find Diana Rene on social media:
Instagram: @the.decluttered.mom
Facebook: @the.decluttered.mom
Pinterest: @DianaRene

Are you ready for a peaceful and clutter-free home? Watch my FREE training video “Chaos to Calm” to learn how it’s possible! And find all of my resources here.

Ever find yourself staring blankly into the fridge each morning, wondering what to pack for lunch?

Or struggling to find the time to prepare a healthy meal that your kids will actually eat? Been there, and it's not fun!

So tune in to this episode as Diana shares her journey and all the practical tips she picked up along the way to make lunch packing a stress-free part of your daily routine.

Get ready for:

• The Power of Meal Planning: Diana will walk you through how a little bit of planning goes a long way in saving time, money, and your sanity.
• Monthly Lunch Rotation: Discover how having a set rotation of lunch options can simplify your grocery list and make prep a breeze.
• Getting Kids Involved: Diana will share some fun ideas for involving your kids in the lunch-packing process, making it a learning experience for them and a huge help for you.

Bonus: Get your free one-week lunch plan with a shopping list here to get you started!

Find Diana Rene on social media:
Instagram: @the.decluttered.mom
Facebook: @the.decluttered.mom
Pinterest: @DianaRene

Are you ready for a peaceful and clutter-free home? Watch my FREE training video “Chaos to Calm” to learn how it’s possible! And find all of my resources here.

Today Diana answers a question that she gets pretty often. How do I get people to stop buying so many gifts? It’s a tricky question and situation to navigate. People like showing love to others through gift gifting, and they get excited to see your kids happy opening the gift. No one wants to offend someone or create other issues. But you also don’t want more stress than needed when you’re on your journey to simplify.

In this episode, Diana shares how to address gift givers and the amount, or types, of gifts your loved ones give to your children.

We’ll also discuss:

• How to have the tough conversation in a non-confrontational way while remembering why they are giving our kids gifts in the first place
• How to recommend experience gifts and how to introduce them to your kids. Here’s a blog post from last Christmas that includes a FREE experience gift guide!
• One great tip that will let gift givers still buy toys, but they won’t end up in your home.

If you want to be Decluttered by the Holidays, join Minimal-ish Starts Here to be included in our LIVE decluttering round that starts September 18. Click here to become a member!

What can you expect from this podcast and future episodes?

• 15-20 minute episodes to help you tackle your to-do list
• How to declutter in an effective and efficient way
• Guest interviews
• Deep dives on specific topics

Get the show notes and transcription here: http://www.dianarene.com/podcast/ep017

Find Diana Rene on social media:
Instagram: @the.decluttered.mom
Facebook: @the.decluttered.mom
Pinterest: @DianaRene

Are you ready for a peaceful and clutter-free home? Watch my FREE training video “Chaos to Calm” to learn how it’s possible! And find all of my resources here.

Do you love the idea of decorating, but hate all the mess it makes?

It's easy to go crazy with decorations during the holidays. But what if you could decorate and still have space to, you know, live in your house?

Diana will share easy tips to make your home look awesome without buying too much stuff.

You'll learn how to:

• Use what you already have before you go shopping!
• Organize your decorations so it's easy to find what you need.
• Get rid of decorations you don't like anymore.
• Make a list so you don't buy too much when you shop.
• Swap decorations instead of just adding more.

So tune in and get ready for a fun, clutter-free holiday!

What can you expect from this podcast and future episodes?

• 15-20 minute episodes to help you tackle your to-do list
• How to declutter in an effective and efficient way
• Guest interviews
• Deep dives on specific topics

Find Diana Rene on social media:
Instagram: @the.decluttered.mom
Facebook: @the.decluttered.mom
Pinterest: @DianaRene

Are you ready for a peaceful and clutter-free home? Watch my FREE training video “Chaos to Calm” to learn how it’s possible! And find all of my resources here.

Think your kids are too young to learn about money? Think again!

Tune in to this episode as Mel Abraham a CPA and entrepreneur shares his invaluable experience in teaching kids essential money values, balancing personal finance, business, and parenting.

Discover his playful, age-appropriate methods for raising kids who are financially confident and responsible. It's never too early to start!
To purchase Mel's new book 'Building Your Money Machine Machine' visit yourmoneymachinebook.com

In this episode, we explore:

• Practical Strategies and Tips: Learn how to make complex financial concepts accessible for all ages, integrate investing into allowances, and use simple calculations to demonstrate long-term benefits.
• Early Financial Education: Discover the importance of instilling financial responsibility and investment skills in children from a young age, with real-life examples like funding a Roth IRA.
• Challenges and Rewards: Understand the challenges and rewards of teaching kids about money in today's social media-driven world, and explore the psychological and tactical aspects of money management, including building a financial safety net.

Don't miss our giveaway of Mel's new book! Listen to find out how you can win one of 20 signed copies.
Get the show notes and transcription here: https://www.dianarene.com/podcast/ep098

What can you expect from this podcast and future episodes?

• 15-20 minute episodes to help you tackle your to-do list
• How to declutter in an effective and efficient way
• Guest interviews
• Deep dives on specific topics

Find Diana Rene on social media:
Instagram: @the.decluttered.mom
Facebook: @the.decluttered.mom
Pinterest: @DianaRene

Are you ready for a peaceful and clutter-free home? Watch my FREE training video “Chaos to Calm” to learn how it’s possible! And find all of my resources here.