Fontana founders Katie and Eric sat down with Becky Rapinchuk, founder of Clean Mama, to talk all things candles, cleaning, and creating a truly fresh home. Together, they dive into the inspiration behind our collaboration candle and why ingredient transparency and non-toxic choices matter for healthier homes and families.
What does “Fresh Start” mean to you personally?
I love thinking about every day as a fresh start - a chance to start over and do a little better than the day before. It’s easy to feel discouraged, overwhelmed, and frustrated in our homes but I like to encourage my followers to concentrate on what you ‘can’ get done and to make your home (wherever it is), a haven.
When you set out to create this candle, what feeling were you hoping it would bring into someone’s home?
If I brought this candle into your home with a cleaning caddy and we were going to chat and tidy up together, I wanted this candle to feel like a warm hug but also invoke that ‘just cleaned’ feeling.
How does this scent reflect your version of a clean home?
Fresh Start feels like a bright, sunshine-y day, windows cracked open, cleaning, relaxing, and just enjoying your home.
You’re known for high standards when it comes to non-toxic living. Why was it important that this candle be made with beeswax, coconut oil, and pure essential oils only?
Instead of a traditional candle that contains harmful chemicals and artificial fragrances, beeswax offers a clean, natural alternative you can feel good about burning. I love that coconut oil is mixed with beeswax - it creates the perfect candle. Pure essential oils give you a soft scent that evokes the feeling of a cozy candle without any of the potential harmful ingredients. With three kids and two dogs, I love being able to rest assured that there aren’t any carcinogens or toxic ingredients coming from our candles.
When do you personally light Fresh Start in your home?
I am a mid-morning candle lighter. I typically do my cleaning routine in the morning and love the Fresh Start candle to help me feel like everything is fresh and clean!
Which of your Clean Mama products do you recommend pairing with Fresh Start?
I have a signature Sweet Mint scent in my cleaning and laundry products and Fresh Start pairs perfectly with them!
When is your favorite time to clean?
The morning - before I lose motivation and momentum and/or get distracted!
What is your favorite piece of advice that you give to someone who is just starting out on their low-tox journey?
My 3rd book is all about creating a healthy, no/low tox home and the first thing I suggest in there is to not focus on everything. If you focus on all the bad stuff, you’ll feel like the only option is to burn it all down. Start with your cleaning and laundry products and remove artificial fragrance. This is an easy swap and it has immediate results in your home and health. If you’re not sure about the safety of your cleaning products, soap (look for a non-petroleum dish or castile soap) and water can clean most things!
Fresh Start is available starting March 12th at www.fontanacandlecompany.com
Where to follow along:
Website: Home - Clean Mama
Instagram: Clean Mama® (@cleanmama) • Instagram photos and videos
About Becky:
Becky, founder of Clean Mama, created her signature cleaning routine out of a desire to keep her home consistently clean without spending entire weekends catching up. What began as a simple daily system proved effective through busy seasons of life, including raising three kids, managing changing work schedules, traveling, and running a business, and quickly resonated with others when she began sharing it online. Passionate about making homes feel cozy, calm, and manageable, Becky later launched Clean Mama in 2015 after struggling to find cleaning products that were both effective and made with safer, more natural ingredients, creating a line designed to be beautiful, practical, and better for families.
