ME…. AND MY HOUSEKEEPING!

Singer Melanie C on silk pillowcases, the joy of a good bath and her mummy superpowers

Singer Melanie C talks home life

A hot bath and a candle really does the business

Melanie Chisholm, 46, lives in north London with her partner, Joe, and daughter, Scarlet, 11.

How would you describe your

home? I have this fantasy of having a show home. Sometimes, I have a lovely cleaner who comes in. When she’s been here and everyone’s been out, I get home and it’s bliss. Then the whole family comes back and within 20 minutes it’s like a bomb site.

How tidy is it? I don’t want to say it’s organised chaos, but my chaos is organised! I seem to know where everyone’s things are, even if I didn’t put them where they’ve been put. My little girl rolls her eyes at this, but I call it ‘mummy magic’. I think when you become a mum, you gain this superpower that enables you to know where everything is.

Cook for friends or eat out? I think there’s room for both. I love being at home and being able to slob out and not worry about getting all dolled up. But then I hate cleaning up, too.

What’s your signature dish? I used to do a really nice wild mushroom risotto. It’s quite rich, so it’s a bit of a wintery dish. It’s nice with some roasted tomatoes and a rosemary focaccia. What food can you not live without?

I’m a bit of a crisp monster, which kind of goes against my healthy lifestyle. You have to have balance. Maybe on a Friday evening there’ll be a big bag of Kettle Chips on the go with a nice cold beer. What do you always have in the fridge?

Eggs. I work out a lot and do a lot of strength training, so I have to make sure I’m getting enough protein. They’re so quick, easy and versatile. If I’m running low on eggs, I start getting panicky. Who are your dream dinner party guests? My close friends. I don’t find enough time to just hang out with my mates.

Are you a saver or a spender? When it comes to the home, I’m a spender. My car is ancient and I could really do with a new one, but I would much rather spend money on making my home cosy. What’s the best bargain you’ve ever found? I’m not very good at finding bargains, but being northern I should be a bit thrifty by nature! What keeps you awake at night?

Like most people, it’s the extraordinary amount of things that you have to remember to do. If I wake up in the middle of the night, it’s because I’ve forgotten to do something. What’s at the top of your to-do list?

I’m travelling to Berlin tomorrow, so I have to pack. I’m also signing copies of my new album; that will take up my next two weekends. It’s going to be a bit of a production line, so I need to get myself in a comfy space and get into a rhythm. What’s your favourite household task? I find doing the washing quite rewarding. I do like getting a wash out and it smelling fresh, and I’m quite fastidious about how I like it to be hung, whether it’s on the washing line or on the clothes horse. But I cannot bear ironing! How do you keep calm?

I’m a pretty calm person. I can get a little overwrought sometimes, so I try to practise mindfulness. I love aromatherapy. I’ll burn a little bit of lavender, sit down with a cup of tea and collect my thoughts. What’s your favourite home comfort? A hot bath with Epsom salts and a candle. If it’s the weekend, add a cheeky glass of wine. It really does the business. I always feel a bit smug in the bath. What’s your biggest extravagance?

Body oils and candles. Those little extravagances make your home really nice. You come home from a tough day working, you light a candle and put your feet up and it’s lovely. I love my silk pillowcase, too. It’s so smooth.

What simple thing sparks joy? If my daughter has tidied her room. Most of the time I don’t even know how she sleeps there; it gives me anxiety. But every now and then – and I get like this, too – she gets super-inspired to sort everything out. She’ll fold away all of her clothes precisely and that gives me joy.

Melanie’s new album, Melanie C, is out on 2 October.