Weekly Flylady Thread 31st July 2017

Natty68

What is FLYLADY? Well, it's our version of the US flylady idea - but we work on the principle that housework is not fun, it's boring, can be time-consuming, is often thankless but, unfortunately, necessary. It's here on Old Style to provide the support we all need and to make the whole task easier and quicker. We also accept that, sometimes, life just gets on top of us and we can't keep up, maybe because we're time-poor, not in the best of health and/or we have littlies who need us. We are definitely NOT control freaks aiming for perfection and utterly spotless show-homes.

Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread. You're more than welcome to join us in the everlasting battle against dust, grime and gibble. The aim of our thread is to make those onerous tasks less daunting, and to support each other - and to make time for the finer things in life!

Right now the thread is looking very quiet...but please do remember we have to abide by MSE rules; each post should, ideally, include some mention of flying.

Thank you Valli for last week's thread

Every room comes back around next week so please don’t stress about catching up

These lists are only suggestions and not a must do list; you are more than welcome to post and follow your own lists.

Also adding a declutter mission each day will help to gradually clear the clutter and make flying easier.

A few of the basics before we start the week

Hotspots are areas where if one thing gets put there, loads of other things follow!

Daily routines are anything you need to do on a daily basis like washing, swish and swipe kitchen and bathroom, ironing, making beds, vacuuming high traffic areas, making meals etc.

Night-time routines are all things which make getting ready in the morning easier, preparing clothes for the next day, making lunches, swish & swipes of the kitchen and tidying the living room before you go to bed plus personals like shower/brush teeth etc.

Fling Boogie - stick on some loud music, grab a bin bag and whiz around the house finding items that can go out with the rubbish, recycling, for charity shop, basically anything that will stop it cluttering your home.

Swish and swipe/S&S means have a quick wipe over an area such as a sink or toilet to prevent the build up of dirt. This is usually done on a daily basis

HHE/HHC/HHI Half Hour exercise/challenge/ironing ... run around for 30 minutes to the Benny Hill music frantically cleaning exercising or ironing.. other music may be used if you prefer!

WM ~ Washing machine
TD ~ Tumble dryer
SC ~ Slowcooker
BM ~ Breadmaker
DW ~ Dishwasher
SOAADFA ~ Sit on 'bottom' and do 'nothing'
KH/XH/FW ~ Ex-husband and other not so polite versions
DH/DD/DS/DW/DP ~ Dear husband/daughter/son/wife/partner/whatever
OH/SO ~ Other half/significant other
NN ~ nice neighbour
Toxic (friend/mother/sister/whoever) ~ person in your life that seems to exist to make your life miserable
AF ~ Aunt Flo 'time of the month'.. nothing to do with flying but it comes up often.
ETA ~ Edited to add
Gibble ~ miscellaneous crap that appears forever homeless
Dot-to-dot ~ pick a small area (not a whole room) like a chair/coffee/table/shelf/worktop or wherever- thats your first 'dot' - totally clear it - clean it - and only put back what should be there - deal with what you have removed (not just move it somewhere else) then if you have time move on and do the same to another 'dot' -the idea is just like a dot to dot puzzle, you aim to join up all the dots and have a tidy room. The trick is to keep each dot tidy until you get them all joined up!
RoD ~ Room of Doom, the one room that feels like it is a permanent pit and cannot be used to its potential!

MAD half hour
- Mad is the abbreviation for Make A Difference.
The idea is that you have a Forth bridge (ie never-ending - or just huge) task but that you work on it in half-hour bursts. This way you know you ARE stooping, and that you won't get it finished but you will make a difference - so it might be clearing out - the garage or shed, or clothes sorting, or weeding - you get the picture - but rather than keep going until you've lost the will to live you do half an hour...but, eventually those half hours will get the job done!

Click here to read Toots wonderful welcome guide

Ok here goes this week!

Monday Melee ~ Kitchen and Dining Room
Level One...
Clear and wipe kitchen surfaces
Clear 1 window sill
Open windows and let in that summer sun!!!!
Level Two...
Sweep and mop floors
Scrub out the sticky fridge!
Wipe dining table.. (clean table cloth if necessary)
Level Three...
Dust any extra furniture in dining area, checking for cobwebs on way round
Wipe and replace all those small appliances.. kettle, toaster etc
Clean cupboard door fronts and fronts of appliances .. don't forget those kick boards..
Clean out your mankiest kitchen cupboard..

Extras…

• MAD half hour..
• Clean the hob
• Wipe down any tiles and shine those taps.. a toothbrush is great for cleaning away the gunk!
• 32 fling boogie..
• Phone someone you love just to tell them so!
• Empty the bin.. wash it out.. and make it smell SWEET

Tuesday bluesday ~ Living Room, Hall and Stairs
Level One..
Vacuum through the living room, hall and stairs
Level Two..
Dusting, even if around everything
Remove clutter making sure stairs especially are safe
Clean windows and all glass.. including the tv screen
Clear the mantel and only put back the items which are supposed to be there.. and that doesn't include letters, keys or other treasure!
Level Three..
Open a drawer.. sort the junk within!
15 minutes sort of the junk on the landing!
Vacuum under furniture you can manage to move without hurting yourself

Extras..

• MAD half hour..
• Name all the school garments!!
• Wipe down any paintwork that needs it.
• Binbag dance.. Get a binbag.. fill it and bin it!!!
• Wash any cushions, throws or curtains that need it

Wednesday Thllliiing!- Master Bedroom & Landing
Level One..
Check fire alarms are working
Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.
Fling open the window and let in the rain/sunnyness
Level Two..
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..
Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..
Air the duvet
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level Three..
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort through a cupboard and find 10 things to get rid of!
Freshen up any curtains or bedding that needs doing!
Add a personal touch - flowers in a vase on a dresser, pretty bowl etc..

Extras..

• MAD half hour
• 34 fling boogie time, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Clean all the upstairs door frames
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Do half hour clearing of the place you hate doing the most..

Thursday twirls - Bathroom and Study/Pc Area
Level One...
Clear floors of guff and stuff
Level Two...
Clean baths, toilets, don't forget the outside! and sinks
Clear any clutter from desk
Dust PC and desk and wipe off those cup rings!!
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches and mousetc
Level Three...
Wash your bathroom mats, nets, clean blind/curtains, shower curtains etc
Wipe down tiles in bathroom.. defragment your pc while doing this.
Empty and clean out all the upstairs bins!
Sweep and mop and deslop the floors in these rooms.
Collect all the dirty laundry

Extras...

• MAD half hour...
• Wipe the skirtings, door and window frames in these rooms
• Empty the cupboard and clean it out.. colour ordered bottles inside!
• Fling all those empty bottles and tubes
• If you have a shelf.. empty and clean it
• Grab yourself a toothbrush and scrub the manky bits between the tiles

Friday Flyday- those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One...
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Spend at least half an hour doing something for yourself!!!!!
Level Two..
Vacuum the floor
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat fluffy surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!! Wash the curtains!
Level Three...
Clean 2 windows
Tidy a chest of drawers/wardrobe/floordrobe!
Wipe any sticky marks off walls and doors

Extras

• MAD half hour
• Find 5 things to ebay/freecycle
• Wipe the radiators, skirtings and window & door frames!
• HHI
• End of week fling!! grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!

Fayolle

Whoops, early in, that can't be right!

Thank you, Valli, for last week's lists. Big thanks and hugs to Natty for this week's, with everything that you and Dave are going through.

I'll do my best to keep in line this week, but miracles not expected! X

SunnyGirl

Thank you for last weeks thread Valli and more hugs and love to Natty68

I've done most of the kitchen tonight after work but will do what's on the list that I haven't. Also need to give the oven a clean. It's not bad at all inside but the glass in the door is bad. Might have to see if I can unscrew it to give both sides a good clean with a Brillo pad:eek::)

froddington

Right, I'm in this week - thanks Natty :A Thinking of you and Dave and sending gentle hugs for you both xx

LW - there is 'glitter jelly' powder that's veggie friendly - if you g00gle Hartley's vegetarian jelly you'll see it on their website. I've bought the raspberry one in Mr A and Mr T so I think most supermarkets sell it. Also most, if not all, of their ready made jelly pots are suitable for vegetarians but I only buy them when they're on offer! HTH x

Hugs and 'go for it' vibes for all those making positive changes in their lives xx

Ok, listy for the week - I have to pop to town tomorrow and am going to the cinema on Tues (with Dad) and Weds (with Mum). Apart from that, the week is pretty empty so I have no excuse for not completing some lists!!

Monday Melee ~ Kitchen

Level One...
Clear and wipe kitchen surfaces
Clear window sill

Level Two...
Vacuum floors

Level Three...
Wipe and replace all those small appliances.. kettle, toaster etc
Clean cupboard door fronts and fronts of appliances .. don't forget those kick boards..
Clean out your mankiest kitchen cupboard..

Extras…
MAD half hour..
Clean the hob
32 fling boogie..

mummyyof5

Just popping on to send lots of hugs to Natty and her OH..you are doing so well coping xx

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

You're doing brilliantly, Natty.

Beginning to wish Himself was still talking at me. He's snored solidly for over an hour, other than a brief period where he was dreaming and making garbled hooting sounds.

He reacts so strongly to touch, I can't risk elbowing him in case he thrashes his arms and legs round and clocks me one in his sleep. Happened once and I walloped him so hard back, I hurt my hand, but he slept through until morning. Was mortified when I told him about it, but I tend to avoid him by about three foot when he's dreaming just in case.

Maybe I should declutter myself to the spare room?

embb

Morning lovelies :wave:

Dont know what happened to last week it went by in a flash, lots of life planning been going on in chez embb which has culminated in me having a job interview on friday, if i get the job ill have to let go of my lovely customers but i wont miss the cleaning haha. Its all good.

Got a plan of action for today which may or may not involve cleaning, barring the dailies obvs, got a 4 hr job today but then need to spend this avo doing some admin and making some scary mary phone calls eek.

Havent read any thread since i last posted so hope everyones alright, will try and catch up.

Laters xx

YORKSHIRELASS

Morning all. Both paid stuff today and a meeting tonight. Gave kitchen a bit of a going over last night but there a few extras to do, including oven.

Me time is the gym after job no. 1. DS starts his new job today. Best get moving!

Fayolle

Morning all,

Good luck to your DS today, YL.

Towels washed and now blowing on the line. That weather forecast had better be right as I'm off to work shortly. DW emptied, everything else will have to wait until later.

Have lovely days everyone.

atypicalblonde

V quick visit to say good luck to your DS YL xx

greent

I'm in! Firstly - thanks to Valli for last week's and to Natty for this week's threads. Secondly - huge hugs for Natty & Dave. And thirdly - good luck wishes to YL's DS

Monday Melee ~ Kitchen
Level One...
Clear and wipe kitchen surfaces
Clear 1 window sill
Open windows and let in that summer sun!!!!

Level Two...
Vacuum and mop floors
Scrub out the sticky fridge!
Wipe kitchen table..

Level Three...
Wipe and replace all those small appliances.. kettle, toaster etc
Clean cupboard door fronts and fronts of appliances ..

Extras…

• MAD half hour..
• Clean the hob
• Empty the bin.. wash it out.. and make it smell SWEET (will be left until Weds, ready for black bin collection day)

No massive plans for today. New phones for OH, myself and DD arriving shortly. DD not here until later (I need to go and collect her from train station) and OH now away until Thurs night. Weather looks ok (although it rained a lot overnight) but I don't have enough to do a WM load until DD is back.
x