Home Base Clean Reset: The Planned-ish Guide to Cleaner Swaps in 2026
If you’ve ever cleaned the same spot 14 times in one day and still ended up stepping in something sticky barefoot… welcome. You’re my people.
In 2026, we’re doing things a little differently in the Marziello home — not because we’re trying to become perfectly “non-toxic,” but because I’ve officially reached the stage of motherhood where I’m like:
Okay… what exactly are we spraying around two tiny humans who lick furniture and eat snacks they found in the couch?
Between twin toddler chaos, Tate’s egg allergy (which makes cleaning surfaces a whole thing), and pregnancy being the moment I started waking up to what’s actually in some of our everyday products, I decided we needed a reset.
Not a dramatic “throw everything away and become a crunchy homesteader overnight” reset…A Planned-ish reset.
That’s how The Home Base Clean Reset was born.
This is a beginner-friendly, realistic guide to cleaner swaps that still works when you’re tired, busy, and parenting kids who treat your house like a personal obstacle course.
Let’s get into it.
What is the Home Base Clean Reset?
The Home Base Clean Reset is a simple way to make cleaner swaps without overwhelm. It’s not about spending $400 on glass bottles that look pretty on Pinterest.
It’s about making small, intentional changes that help you feel like your home is:
- cleaner
- safer
- less chemically chaotic
- and honestly… just more peaceful
Because when your home feels good, your routines feel easier. And that’s literally the heartbeat of Back Two Home Base.
Why I Started Doing Cleaner Swaps:
There were a few moments that pushed me over the edge:
1) Pregnancy & awareness
When I was pregnant with the twins, I started researching everything (as one does when you’re growing two humans and spiraling on Google at 2 a.m.).
I learned how much stuff we use daily—cleaners, fragrance, laundry detergent—can build up over time and impact the air quality in your home.
And once you notice it… you can’t un-notice it.
2) Toddlers live on the floor
This one is simple.
My toddlers:
eat snacks off the floor
crawl where shoes have been
touch EVERYTHING
put their hands in their mouths every 11 seconds
So yes… I care deeply what’s living on the floor now.
3) Tate’s egg allergy
If you’ve never cleaned up for a kid with an allergy… it’s a whole other level.
It made me take cleaning surfaces more seriously and create an actual plan.
Not just a “wipe it and hope” plan.
The BIG Mindset Shift: Clean vs Disinfect
Okay this is important — and it’s where Joe and I had to get on the same page.
Because Joe is what I call: BLEACH BOY™
He believes if something doesn’t smell like chemicals and wipe away your will to live… then it’s not clean.
Me? I’m more: Clean Girl Reset Era
I want cleaner ingredients, fewer harsh chemicals, and products that don’t make me feel like my lungs are filing a complaint.
So here’s the compromise that saved our marriage and our baseboards: CLEAN ≠ DISINFECT. They are not the same.
Daily cleaning = keeping the house clean-ish
(crumbs, counters, sticky hands, normal mess)
Disinfecting = when we need to kill germs
(illness, vomit, poop disasters, raw egg, allergy exposure)
That means: we’re not fully removing bleach.
We’re just removing bleach as a personality trait.
Our Planned-ish Rules for Clean Swaps
I call these the Home Base Clean Reset Rules:
1. Replace as you run out
We’re not tossing half-used products. We’re not wasting money. We’re swapping as things finish.
2. Start with one category
If you try to swap everything at once, you will:
spend too much
get overwhelmed
quit
Start with kitchen. Or laundry. Or bathrooms. One at a time.
3. Clean-ish is the goal
You don’t need a spotless house. You need a functional home.
4. Systems over motivation
If your clean reset depends on you being motivated…it will fail by Day 3.
The Beginner Clean Swap Starter Kit
If you’re new here, start with these. They’re the highest-impact + easiest swaps:
Top 10 swaps to start with (in this order):
All-purpose cleaner
Hand soap
Dish soap
Dishwasher pods/tablets
Laundry detergent
Dryer sheets → dryer balls
Everyday disinfecting spray/wipes (not bleach)
Floor cleaner (safe for crawlers)
Fruit + veggie wash (optional but amazing)
Air fresheners → swap for cleaner scent options
Planned-ish Tip: Choose THREE. Start there.
What We Still Use Bleach For (Yes Really)
Because I know you’re wondering…
Bleach stays for:
- vomit incidents
- poop disasters
- sickness in the house
- raw egg cleanup
- Tate’s allergy messes
- anything that makes you say, “Oh absolutely not.”
Everything else? We’re swapping. And yes I am still on the hunt for more natural disinfectants like vinegar or hydrogen peroxide! (Once I have done my own research, I will update!!)
The Marriage Mental Load Part (aka the real topic)
Cleaner swaps are great… but you know what else this reset did? It forced us to talk about: Who actually cleans what. And more importantly…Who is THINKING about it.
Because mental load is real. It’s not just cleaning.
It’s:
noticing we’re out of detergent
remembering we need more dishwasher pods
tracking what cleaner works on what surface
knowing what’s safe for the kids
ordering it
and restocking it
So for this reset to work, Joe and I had to divide it up in a way that felt fair.
Our Home Base Cleaning Split: This will vary for everyone, but here’s an example:
Alexandra handles:
restocking products
choosing swaps
kitchen resets + laundry rhythm
Joe handles:
floors (especially after meals)
trash / dump runs
deep clean moments (aka biohazard cleaning)
And yes, we still argue about bleach once a week. It’s fine. LOL
Back Two Home Base has never been about being perfect. It’s about making life feel easier — through routines, systems, planning, and realistic resets. Cleaner swaps fall into that exact category.
Because when your home feels:
cleaner
calmer
less chaotic
less mentally heavy
You show up as a better mom, partner, business owner, human. That’s what Home Base is. And this reset is just another way to build it.
Your Home Base Clean Reset Plan (Do This First)
Here’s the simplest way to start:
Step 1: Choose one category: Kitchen / Laundry / Bathroom
Step 2: Replace only ONE product: Like dish soap or all-purpose spray.
Step 3: Set up a “Bleach Zone”
One shelf/bin for:
disinfect products
allergy cleaning products
sickness cleanup essentials
Step 4: Create your Weekly Reset
15–30 minutes once a week:
- refill soaps
- restock pods
- quick wipe-down
- swap towels
- floor run
This is the secret sauce.
Final Thoughts: This Is Not a 180 Lifestyle Change. It’s about awareness + small changes that feel good for your family.
And if you start your reset, tag me: @backtwohomebase — I want to see your swaps + your chaotic before/afters.
