Weekly Flylady Thread 15th January 2018

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!


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

Please follow the forum rules on this thread as Flylady has been here a LONG time and is a fabulous support and resource for lots of us. All posts should have some Flylady-related (ooh a compound adjective) content!

The idea is that even if you are really busy you don't need to fall off the wagon!
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! All credit to AnW's Mum for this one
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!

Mr S/A/T/M/L/Al - supermarkets Sainsburys, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi. You get the picture!!

Click here to read Toots wonderful welcome guide

Here Goes This week...

Mushy Monday ~ Living room and other reception rooms!
Level One...
Declutter and vacuum floors
Wipe sofas and wash any smelly soft furnishings/nets
Level Two...
Dust all electrical appliances and polish screens
Wipe and water plants15 minutes filing and 15 minutes deleting rubbish off the computer.. useless emails, old files, updating spreadsheets etc
Level Two
Sort through a bookshelf.. a different one to the last time you did it!
Make any important phonecalls you have been putting off
Vacuum under furniture you can move safely, if you are injured, pregnant or a new mum then delegate someone else to do this for you..
Extras

• Check smoke alarms and if needed change batteries to new ones..
• Clean out pets
• Deflea pets
• Clear mantle of junk, wipe/polish and return all pretty things..
• Empty and wash out any bins
• MAD half hour..
  

Tempting Tuesday ~ Kitchen, Utility and Dining Area
Level One...
Wipe and replace small appliances
Declutter and wipe work surfaces
Level Two...
Sweep and mop floors
Wipe units/appliances
Clear and wipe a cluttered fluffy shelf, or two if you are feeling daring!!!!!!
Level Three...
Tidy, clear and wipe the top of the washing machines and dryer
Clean one small appliance thoroughly.. microwave, kettle, iron,
Clean detergent drawers
Extras

• MAD half hour..
• Clean paintwork
• Order and organise the packets and jars and tins.
• Sort the utensils.. half melted spatulas are not necessary!
• HHI.. then wash the ironing board cover, or change it!

Wishful Wednesday ~ Hall, Stairs and Landing!
Level One...
Tidy everything you can see when the front door is open! Coats and bird food stuff for me still!!!!!
Level Two...
Dust and deweb.. dnon't forget lightbulbs and shades!
Scrub front door.. inside and out!
Wash any curtains/draught excluders and doormats
Level Three...
Empty and declutter the cupboard under the stairs.. you do not need the junk that has been in there for a million years!
Degunk, dejunk and clean the porch.. how many pizza leaflets do you need to wipe your feet on?
Declutter the floors and vacuum them.
Empty Vacuum cleaner, wash filters and clean brushes once you have finished vaccing.. leave to fully dry before rebuilding machine!
Extras

• MAD half hour..
• Wash windows and nets/blinds
• Wipe and water any furry plants
• Wipe paintwork and door knobs
• HHI
• Sort coats and bags and shoes

Thrilling Thursday ~ Master bedroom/second room
Level One..
Strip, wash and replace the bedding
Clear the floordrobe!
Level Two...
Vacuum the floors.. and the cobwebs!
Tidy up drawers of clothing and the multitude of shoes
For those who have been hiding stuff... Tidy under the bed!!!
Level Three...
Wash curtains and nets and windows
Empty and wash out upstairs bins
Binbag dance!
Extras

• Sort through one box of stuff
• Find 5 items to sell/give away.. and list for sale if necessary
• Ring someone you love but haven't spoken to in a while.
• HHI
• 15 minute sort out of those random bits of gibble that are strewn about the flat surfaces in your room!

Friday ~ Barnacle Bathroom and WC
Level One...
Declutter and mop floors!
Scrub the bath/shower/basins/toilets/bidets etc.. don't forget the outside of the loo and under the scanky rim.. it gets naaaaaasty under there!!.. oh, and don't forget the top of the cistern!
Level Two...
Sling shower curtain/bathmats in the wash and scrub down the slimy tiles!
Wash away and mouldy black bits and furry webs
Polish up the taps so they shine!
Level Three...
Wash light pull strings! (Painting with neat bleach works then rinse in a jug of water)
Scrub down the paintwork and radiators.. back and front!
Clear and wipe window sills and frames and make the blinds/curtains nice and clean
Extras

• Clean out the toiletries cupboard and put back the stuff you use.. and fling the stuff you don't! Do any necessary decanting so you have fewer almost empties!
• Replace and curly toothbrushes
• Polish mirrors and shelves!
• Make a note of stuff you do need to stock up.. and stuff you already have stocked up for 10 years!

Natty68

Please shout out if I have this wrong...they're a bit like Topsy.

SLINKIES - weight loss challenge

Lynnejk - 9lb
Narcolepsy *some*
Valli 2st/28lb
Dizzy Imp 2st/28lb
FurryBeastOz 2st/28lb
nannygladys 3st/42lb
Fayolle 2st/28lb
atypicalblonde 2st/28lb
Princess Money Penny
Ionafan
Lil_me 5st/70lb
JojotheTightfisted
LameWolf 2st/28lb
Roundtuit 56lb
Jazee 2st/28lb
Pigpen *some*
MrsMoneypenny 1st at least
Froddington 2st
Dancemum 3st
Mademoiselle about 2 st
Ionafan 1st 11lb
donnajt 3 st
Rosemary7391
Mrs Chaos 16lb
Faete 2st
Natty


Flymarketeers

FurryBeastOz
Pigpen
Valli
Mumof2
donnjt - £1k for hols

H2H (hovel to haven)

HoneyBear
Froddington
Roundtuit
Mumof2
FurryBeastOz
funfairprincess
Mrs Moneypenny
hex2
Fayolle
lynnejk
riotlady
donnajt - by Summer
Mrs Chaos
Natty

Honey_Bear

Thanks Natty and Valli for the lists. I'm in.

pigpen

me, my nausea and Twinkle mashed crisps are in.. kinda, sorta..

lil_me

Thank you shiny new Fred making headway at home but lots and lots of accounts stuff to do hence I wanted to go into the week better

I’m at 4 over loads of washing that aren’t dry, stuff isn’t drying in the house well so I’m going to have to slow down the washer loads as I hate wet washing standing more than a full dirty basket


Mushy Monday ~ Living room and other reception rooms!
Level One...
Declutter and vacuum floors
Wipe sofas and wash any smelly soft furnishings/nets
Level Two...
Dust all electrical appliances and polish screens
15 minutes filing and 15 minutes deleting rubbish off the computer.. useless emails, old files, updating spreadsheets etc
Level Two
Sort through a bookshelf.. a different one to the last time you did it!
Make any important phonecalls you have been putting off
Extras
Check smoke alarms and if needed change batteries to new ones..
Clean out pet
Empty and wash out any bins
MAD half hour..

Deleted the bits we don’t have .... none of the current furniture is easy moved

Natty68

Hoping to get a bit more done this week than I did last week. Although I still don't feel any better after this flu has knocked me sideways. I'm not getting any sleep either as I fall asleep for 1 or 2 hours at night, then wake up coughing my guts up. So it's down to the sofa and watch whatever is on the Tivo until I start to feel better.

I'm also pleased that my cleaner is back on Tuesday after a fortnight off over Christmas. Unfortunately you can tell she hasn't been here.. oops!!!

Oh and we are finally getting our taps replaced on the sinks and bath in the house after not having any working taps on bathroom sink for about 3 years now. The poor bath taps have taken a battering with being used for everything now..lol And a dripping mixer tap in the kitchen that will insist on dripping from the middle of the mixer bit.. Anyway our plumber friend is coming to put new ones in for us, and do a couple of little cosmetic jobs in the bathrooom, tomorrow which I can't wait for. It will be so nice to have a sink that works...lol

Welcome to all the newbies, hope you are finding the thread helpful

Fayolle

Thank you Natty and Valli for the lists, this week and last. I'm in.

HB - ahh if only I hadn't been so quick off the mark, you could have had a mountain of old cards. My mother was a careful hoarder.. I'll PM you later.

ETA - GWS vibes to you Natty x

Dizzy_Imp

Hello all :wave:

I'm in again this week - thanks for the lists Natty and Valli x

My lounge and middle room are both looking fairly clear, so I might add a bit of painting to my list, after I've flown. The rear hallway and lobby area needs decorating. Got a soft pink for the walls and a warm cream for the ceiling, so I'm hoping it will make this area a bit more inviting. I am expecting the chippie chap to turn up in the morning though, and I'll be right in his way there....hmmm...

And today we spent big on new oak bedroom furniture :eek:

Mumof2_2

Many thanks for the lists Natty and Valli - I'm in as much as I can be please.

Valli

I am here...and in after a fashion

ionafan

Thanks for the lists, Valli and Natty.

Last week sort of disappeared, and I somehow don't expect that the coming week will be much better I need to do some serious reading over the next few days as DS1 has asked m to look after DGD1+2 on Saturday, when DH is working on the railway, so that's my one day of uninterrupted peace gone and I shall be shattered on Sunday - but in my book family comes first every time.

My study is still a tip because I've only just finished version 1 of the service sheet. I'm just about to try version 2 - I need to see if I can condense everything onto one sheet of paper, rather than three.

Yesterday I bought a new duvet set for our bed, so tomorrow I shall concentrate on getting the bedrooms tidy.

No meeces trapped so far in the eaves loft off the bathroom. I haven't yet checked the other loft because it involves moving our bed again.

Hope everyone has a good week. (((Hugs))) spoons and sticks all round, as needed, and GWS to all poorlies. Lame Wolf, I'm sure at least one of your doggy visitors will want to make a booking - they'd be stupid not to! I'm sending a few extra spoons your way.