Marcela Barraza is the founder and owner of MB Green Cleaning. She is a graduate of the hospitality administration and hotel management program. After working for an airline for more than 10 years, Marcela started in the cleaning industry in 2004 and she was inspired to switch to “green” cleaning after experiencing a series of maladies, including irritated skin and debilitating migraines, that she traced to the harmful chemicals in the cleaning products she used in her home. She then made it her mission to help others safeguard their environment so they can enjoy the comfort and contentment that comes with a clean and healthy home.

We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show.

While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• What led to Marcela’s start in the home cleaning business

• The idea of Green cleaning and the benefits of going green

• Learning why cleaning is such a challenge for most people

• How cleaning and organizing differ and why someone who is well organized may not necessarily be good at cleaning and vice versa!

• Discovering the cleaning style or schedule that will work best for you

• Spring cleaning as a way to welcome the season

• Managing cleaning with children. Teaching them good habits and skills

• When it makes sense to hire help for your cleaning needs

Marcela's favorite cleaning tip:
“Clean as you go and make sure you have the right tools.”
“Use concentrated products and refillable bottles because they waste less packaging.”

What sparks joy for Marcela
“Being on the Spark Joy Podcast! It’s such a joy to share my passion for green cleaning with others.”

To connect with Marcela, visit her website at MB Green Cleaning. You can find lots of cleaning tips on her blog MB Cleaning Blog and YouTube channel MB Green Cleaning YouTubeand her Instagram:@mbcleaning.

Gems:
"When deciding which products to use, you have to try several to find the ones that work best for you."

"Cleaning is not a super fun thing to do. It's not like anyone wakes up and says, 'Yea, it's cleaning day!'"

"Asking for help is not a bad thing. It can be anything from a cleaning person every week to just a few times a year."

"Get rid of the clutter first and then do the cleaning. No matter how much time we spend cleaning it won't help is there so much stuff."

"If you commit to only one thing, make your bed every day."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Marcela Barraza.

We call these items “unfinished business” or “maybe someday items.” Things that represent an ideal, aspiration or a dream that you had about the kind of person you wanted to be.

We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show.

While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast.

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• Learning what unfinished business looks like KonMari category by KonMari Category.

• Understanding why and how unfinished business accumulates and why it’s so hard to let it go.

• How the unfinished business in the Clothing category can fill your closet with things that need to be mended, tailored or ironed and what to do about it.

• We revisit Ep 75 | Exploring the KonMari Book Controversy with Robin Mitchell Cranfield to discuss letting go of unread or unfinished books.

• Three additional categories of paper to consider.

• How hobbies and aspirational do it yourself projects can cause us to purchase supplies that are often never used or partially used. These items are classic “maybe someday” items that pile up in drawers and closets.

• How to use sentimental items so that they are not just hidden in boxes and never appreciated. We encourage you to get creative and either use these items or consider why you are holding onto them.

• How donations and discards are unfinished business until they are out of your home. Your tidying is not finished until things are on their way to their next life.

• The importance and value of your time when deciding whether to reduce, reuse or recycle items. This can be a stumbling block toward getting things on their way.

• A solution! Consider the Five D’s:
  - Do
  - Diminish
  - Delegate
  - Defer
  - Delete

We all have unfinished business. It’s just a part of life!

• Here are Karin’s:
  • Deciding about some closet storage upgrades. “I can’t decide!"
  • Doing some home maintenance. “There’s always something that needs to be done."
  • Recycling used candle jars.
• And, Kristyn’s:
  • Photography organization project. “I’m committed to get this done in the next decade.”
  • Recipe compilation project. “My friends want some of my great family recipes!”

Gems:

• "When your KonMari tidying journey is over, you’ll have the time, resources, and energy to pursue these passions. So, it’s important to make sure every second of that time counts by filling it with high value activities edited down to just the things you love and intended to complete in your lifetime."
• "Buying craft supplies can become the hobby. Those yarn and fabric stores are so tempting!"
• "It’s really ok to decide something is just not for you or maybe what you DID accomplish with a hobby was just the right amount."
• "What is the point of keeping those things hidden away and could you make a different plan? What are some of the options?"
• "Sometimes your unfinished business and “someday aspirations can literally stand in between you and your goal of a clutter free lifestyle."
• "We’re human and it’s ok to make mistakes. We’ve all invested our time, energy, and money on things that didn’t work out for whatever reason. Trial and error is a necessary part of learning, growing and adulting."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy