Prepping for hosting season with queen of calm Chantel Mila

Whether it’s a scan over the For You page on TikTok or swipe through Instagram Reels, chances are a home styling, organising or cleaning hack by Chantel Mila, aka Mama Mila will have popped up and stopped your scroll at one point or another over the years.

An idea that emerged during the 2020 lockdowns with the aim of transforming her home into a more tranquil space, Chantel’s audience quickly grew, and today over 4.5 million people from across the globe tune into her DIY-style videos across both social platforms.

It’s Chantel's bubbly demeanour and simple, approachable hacks – there’s a focus on eco-friendliness, doing more with less and time saving – that have really resonated, along with the authentic connections she's made with her audience. More often than not you’ll find Chantel turning their requests into a piece of easy-to-follow content, and this is what inspired her best-selling book, The Dream Clean. There’s another on the way next year too…

With the festive season around the corner, we couldn’t think of a better person to quiz when it comes to hosting, styling, and getting organised for this time of year, and below Chantel shares some of her tips with us, reflects on her journey from property manager to full time content creator, and how she approaches the concept of "working smarter, not harder."

What inspired you to start sharing your styling, organising and cleaning hacks online?

My channel started really organically in 2020. Like many of us in Melbourne, we were confined to our homes during lockdown, while working from home with two young kids – they were aged one and three at the time.

The home was a mess – it was our workplace and the kids playroom and it was that same place that we had to wind down and relax in at the end of a busy day. So I started doing little things everyday to make my home feel like a relaxing space that would only take me five minutes, but make a big impact.

Things like softening my linen to get a better night's sleep or rolling my towels and making the bathroom feel like a spa. I started sharing these videos to an audience of 14 and slowly people started tuning in, following along and posting their own requests for future videos. I never imagined it would grow into the amazing community we have today, and I’m so grateful.

You’ve built a community of millions and have appeared on screens and publications across the nation. Why do you think your content resonates with so many of us?

A lot of what I share is eco-friendly DIYs and tips, and I have been playing around with these recipes and ratios for years to perfect the right ones. Most of them use household ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry right now and take under five minutes to do – and I think it’s the approachability that really works.

People can watch a video and – although it looks super satisfying online – it goes beyond that as they can put the video into practice in their own home. It’s cost-effective, eco-friendly and practical ways to make your home feel beautiful without spending all day cleaning.

I also listen to my audience and base my next videos on their top requests, whether it’s in my comments section, or via DMs or story replies. For example, during the Sydney storms a few years ago, I had a lot of requests for DIY mould sprays and have recently had a lot of requests for linen organisation videos.

What were you doing before this, and when did you know it was time to focus on content creation full-time?

Before starting my channel I worked in property management. As soon as I started creating and realised that the videos were helping so many people all around the world, that was motivation enough to take the leap into full time content creation.

Do you have any tips for others looking to pursue a path like yours?

Just post the video! So many times we hold ourselves back because we think something isn’t perfect enough. But just post – you never know where life can take you!

How did the idea for your now best-selling book, The Dream Clean come about, and what can readers expect from it?

It came from my audience! I had so many requests from people saying that they loved the tips but would love a place where they could refer back to them in a written format, and so The Dream Clean was created.

The Dream Clean is a compilation of all my favourite low tox cleaning recipes, organisation hacks and styling tips categorised room by room and by cleaning level. So if you have 15 minutes to clean one room, or a full day for a thorough deep clean there is an option for you. It’s basically a home cleaning bible with tips from cleaning your oven to table styling!

How do you decide when a product, tool, gadget or other is right for you?

When reviewing or sharing a product or gadget, I make sure it’s good quality and something that makes life a little easier. Like a telescopic electronic scrubber for example, to make bathroom cleaning quicker and easier, or a Dyson vacuum cleaner which makes vacuuming so much easier and faster.

To me, there’s no better feeling than coming home to a clean and calm space after a busy day, and your home should become that retreat and oasis. So I love sharing different products and gadgets that help achieve that feeling.

What are your top everyday cleaning hacks?

I’m all about saving time and working smarter not harder when it comes to cleaning. A few of my favourite everyday tips are:

The Clean in 15: This was the name of my very first ebook from 2022 and it’s an ethos I still use today! Just set a timer for 15 minutes and see how much cleaning you can get done in that time. If you have two people helping out, you can get half an hour's worth of cleaning done in 15 minutes per day. It’s amazing how much you can get done and by doing a little per day, it prevents it from building up.
‍
Multi-purpose scrubbing paste: This scrubbing paste is one of my favourites as it can be used in so many places around the home – like your stovetop, sink and even your shower screens. Just mix 1 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of dishwashing liquid and 1 tablespoon of water to form a paste. It’s so easy to make and you can store it in an airtight container and use it as you need.

Bathroom cleaning using a dish brush: Nobody enjoys bathroom cleaning, but you can mix equal parts white vinegar and dishwashing liquid in a dish brush and use this to clean your bathroom. It cuts through soap scum and makes bathroom cleaning so much easier!

How about hosting tips, especially with the festive season approaching?

Christmas is my favourite time of year and a little bit of planning goes a long way to reframe it from an overwhelming to joyful time of year. Here are some of my top tips:
‍
Prep early: The earlier you start the better. I like to start gift planning and buying on or before Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and start cleaning and preparing in the weeks leading up to the entertaining season. Get the whole household involved too so it feels more manageable, it can become overwhelming if everything falls on one person.
‍
Think about a signature scent: Every year I have a festive scent to mark the season. This could be a stovetop simmer of orange, cinnamon, clove, rosemary and vanilla, or anything that makes your home feel warm and inviting.
‍
Keep your dishwasher empty before hosting: My mum is a hosting queen and this is a simple trick I learnt from her. Anytime she hosts, she makes sure the dishwasher is completely empty before the event so things can be loaded up and cleaned easily. It’s such a simple tip but so often overlooked.

Do you have any other festive season "musts" or "no-nos"?

A must: When hosting any party – even my daughter's ninth birthday recently – I love creating self-serve stations to make hosting easier. Whether that’s a candy bar at a kids party or a drinks station at Christmas, it takes the pressure off and adds a fun touch to your festivities!

A no: Overcommitting – I used to be so guilty of this and have now learnt my boundaries. Only set up catch ups and gatherings that are within your social battery and never try new recipes under pressure. Be kind to yourself and enjoy the holiday season as your much needed break.

What’s next for Mama Mila?

There are some big and exciting projects that I’ve been busy working on this year that will be launching in 2026 – including my second book, The Fair Share, which is out in March. I cannot wait to share everything!
‍
I’m very excited about the Christmas season and have so many new Christmas DIYs and tips to share. And of course, I’ll be posting more quick tips and cleaning routines on socials to help people feel more in control of their homes and transform them into their own sanctuaries. Stay tuned, there’s lots more to come.

Elevate your home

Tune into Mila’s tips on Instagram and TikTok
Prep for the entertaining season ahead with Mila’s book
Visit her website for more hacks, to ebooks