Mother Stories
Spring Cleaning With Malika Pham & Grove Collaborative
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by
Photographed by Maria Del Rio
Apr 19, 2019
Spring has officially sprung! Which means “spring cleaning” sessions are top of mind for many of us. Of course, equally as important as purging all those possessions that don’t “spark joy” and scrubbing down your place in celebration of the new season are the actual cleaning supplies you’re using. That’s where Grove Collaborative comes in. The online hub for sustainable home and cleaning products is devoted to vetting high-quality brands (including Grove’s in-house label) that are healthy for your family and for the environment.
To give the Grove goods a test-drive, we asked one of our favorite Bay Area-based mothers, Malika Pham, to hand-pick her favorite Grove products and then show us how she and her family put them to work in their household. While her little helpers scrubbed down counter tops and windows, the mother of 3 (Sayid, 6, Amira, 5, and Jamila, 4 months) caught us up on her motherhood journey and her transition to a healthier, non-toxic lifestyle after her son’s Autism diagnosis 5 years ago. Click the slides below to get a tour of Malika’s abode and to get inspired on all things clean and green!
This post is brought to you by Mother x Grove Collaborative.
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- "My son Sayid is 6 years old, Amira is 5 years old, and Baby Jamila is 4 months."
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Using Grove's reusable glass bottles, filled with tap water and Grove's lightweight cleaning concentrates, helps reduce one-time plastic use, as well as the environmental impact of shipping heavy, water-filled cleaning supplies across the country.
Glass Spray Bottles with Silicone Sleeves, $12.95, Grove Collaborative.
Cleaning Concentrates, $7.95 for a 3-pack, Grove Collaborative.
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"I was always inspired here and there throughout the years, but ultimately it started when I became a mother. I became very conscious about what was going on in and around my son's body shortly after he was diagnosed with Autism."
Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve, $12.95, Grove Collaborative.
Cleaning Concentrates, $7.95 for a 3-pack, Grove Collaborative.
All-Purpose Microfiber Cloth, Set of 2, $7.95, Grove Collaborative.
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"For me personally it is extremely important. I've worked so hard to transition the eating habits and overall lifestyle of my children into healthier ones that serve them best. I didn’t realize how much cleaning products would play a role in our overall detox and reset. And for that reason I always prefer non-toxic cleaning products."
Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve, $12.95, Grove Collaborative.
Cleaning Concentrates, $7.95 for a 3-pack, Grove Collaborative.
All-Purpose Microfiber Cloth, Set of 2, $7.95, Grove Collaborative.
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- "Oh my baby Jamila! She makes us smile. After having my two little ones close in age, I knew I was due for a break. It was so much work. Despite all of that, I knew I’d want a bigger family. She was definitely a welcome surprise. Off the bat, I was reminded of my pregnancy woes. Once I started feeling nauseous and vomiting I couldn’t really stop. I remember vomiting while experiencing strong contractions moments before her arrival. I was so happy and surprised yet again that my baby was a girl. She came out as cute as can be with a few curls that remind me of Betty Boop. I think one of the best parts of having a new baby around is watching my kids enjoy her. After having a rough set of years under my motherhood belt, I really don’t sweat the small stuff."
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Ready to tackle those windows!
All-Purpose Microfiber Cloth, Set of 2, $7.95, Grove Collaborative.
Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve, $12.95, Grove Collaborative.
Cleaning Concentrates, $7.95 for a 3-pack, Grove Collaborative.
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"She makes me laugh, I adore her entire being. She is definitely into cleaning, being neat, and even organizing. I believe she 100% gets it from me, but enjoys it equally. Amira has invited me on plenty of occasions to join her in a game of ‘let's reorganize my (play) kitchen.' We both enjoy it way too much."
All-Purpose Microfiber Cloth, Set of 2, $7.95, Grove Collaborative.
Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve, $12.95, Grove Collaborative.
Cleaning Concentrates, $7.95 for a 3-pack, Grove Collaborative.
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"My son is the real life Mowgli. He’s always had a unique connection to animals. He’s currently obsessed with all things gorillas. King Kong and Koko—the signing gorilla—have to be his all-time favorites. He really enjoys recreating realistic animal habitats for his toy animals. His imagination is as wild as his hair, and I love them both."
Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve, $12.95, Grove Collaborative.
Cleaning Concentrates, $7.95 for a 3-pack, Grove Collaborative.
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Mommy's little helpers.
All-Purpose Microfiber Cloth, Set of 2, $7.95, Grove Collaborative.
Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve, $12.95, Grove Collaborative.
Cleaning Concentrates, $7.95 for a 3-pack, Grove Collaborative.
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- "I love a good jar storage arrangement. It's so neat but very practical as well. I have white beans, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, lentils, kidney beans, and black beans. Below that are my oats, jasmine rice, quinoa, brown rice, farro, and wild rice. I like to display them like this because it simplifies my dry foods and always promotes a good meal." Full Circle Dust Whisperer Filament Duster, $9.99, Grove Collaborative.
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- Leaving no speck of dust behind. Full Circle Dust Whisperer Filament Duster, $9.99, Grove Collaborative.
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- "#myphamilyfridge happened very organically. I would clean out my fridge in an effort to stay organized and really eliminate waste. When you can’t see what you have, things often go to waste. I try to go shopping once a week, typically on Sundays so I can plan and prep before the school week starts. I like shopping at both grocery stores and the farmers' market. They both have things I cannot get from the other. My only rule is organic and fair trade when it's an option. If I can shop small or local, I usually do."
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A pretty sink-side scene.
Sinkside Accessory Set, $29.99, Grove Collaborative.
European Dishcloth in Limited-Edition Wildflower Print, $5.95 for 2, Grove Collaborative.
Bubble Up Dish Soap Dispenser & Brush Set in Limited-Edition Wildflower Print, $12.95, Grove Collaborative.
Dish Soap Starter Set, $17.95, Grove Collaborative.
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- “I really love the idea of the Grove Collaborative reusable glass bottles. The spray bottles for cleaning come with different colored silicone sleeves, which I've now designated one for each child (along with appropriate chores). I don’t like using plastic if I can eliminate it, so this is great. I also really love the coconut scrubbers. They smell great and are gentle enough on my pots.” Glass Room Spray Bottle and Essential Oil Set, $19.95, Grove Collaborative.
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- An instant natural home freshener: a beautiful Grove glass spray bottle, filled with tap water and 30 drops of essential oils. Glass Room Spray Bottle and Essential Oil Set, $19.95, Grove Collaborative.
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- “There is a new phenomenon with tidying up and purging, and I am all for it. However, I really don’t need spring to do some deep cleaning. If I experience something that moves me to reorganize or adjust a system, I will do just that. For example, in my first forty days postpartum I was moved to reduce my jar storage and create a visible display of my pantry goods in order to make some hearty, healing meals. That's how I rationalized it anyway.” Glass Room Spray Bottle and Essential Oil Set, $19.95, Grove Collaborative.
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- Some of Malika's go-to cookbooks: Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook, The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother, and Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul.
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- “It’s funny how things come full circle. I went to school to become a teacher for the deaf, but shortly after decided to pursue a raging passion for art—makeup art. As an artist, I was always reinventing myself (literally). Soon after having babies, I knew I wouldn’t return to that passion. Instead, I became a helicopter mom. Ha. But, really, after my son’s Austism diagnosis, I became heavily involved with the local school district and as a parent advocate for families with children with disabilities. That kind of work is far from my creative passions, but deeply rewarding and life changing. Being able to work with families, who are in some cases giving end-of-life care, has shifted my perspective while keeping me overflowing with gratitude.”
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- “It’s all very relative. I’ve personally loved and used a book called Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia by Dr. Natasha Cambell-McBride. This book helped me a ton when trying to manage my son’s gut health. Also, finding a support group. It’s very therapeutic to share highs and lows with people you don’t necessarily know, but are experiencing similar situations. I run a support group specifically for African American moms of children with disabilities, and from what I’ve seen, the experience is extremely healing.”
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“It’s the type of grief that has multiple layers and takes a lot of time. I can’t stress enough the importance of not going through that alone. Family and friends are great, but talking to and leaning on a mother who has walked a similar path is invaluable. Also, I would suggest she google ‘Welcome to Holland.’”
Wool Dryer Balls, Set of 3, $15.95, Grove Collaborative.
Laundry Starter Set, $24.95, Grove Collaborative.
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- “Thank you! My husband is Vietnamese, but born and raised in Oakland. We are very different culturally, but not in the way most would assume. My religious upbringing was extremely different from his upbringing in general. However, our children reflect a great collaboration of who we are. Food and spirituality are definitely the main way we all stay connected to our identities. My husband’s good childhood memories are always recounted when we are eating phở, bánh xèo, or making spring rolls as a family.” Wool Dryer Balls, Set of 3, $15.95, Grove Collaborative.
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- "I've been pleasantly surprised to see how motherhood has allowed me to show up for myself and others in ways I would have never imagined. It excites me to think about the ways I show up next. I love my kids so much that I've been inspired and reignited to love myself so much more." Cleaning Caddy, $14.95, Grove Collaborative.
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- For more on Malika and her family, be sure to follow along with her on Instagram. And for more green cleaning supplies—for spring and beyond!—head over to Grove Collaborative.
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