Weekly Flylady Thread 8th July 2019

Valli

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 Natty 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'
WUDUPA ~ washed up, dried up, put away
WUALTD ~ washed up and left to dry
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


ok Here goes this Week...

Manic Monday - Kitchen Kapers

Level 1

Clear sides and wipe down
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
Empty bin
Wipe sill, sockets, and switches
Clear and clean sink and accessories

Level 2
Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts, not forgetting handles
Clean hob
Sort fridge and wipe seals; weave stuff that needs using up into your meal plan
Wipe table/change cloth
Dust dining area/room

level 3
Clean oven
Sweep/mop floor

Extras
S&S bathroom
HHI
Summer holidays loom - plan to cook a double meal and put it in the freezer for a lazy day.

Terrific Tuesday Bathroom Blitz

Level 1

Shine the sink
Clean the loo inside and out - scrub that rim
Slug some bleach down
Wipe the light pull
Empty the bin

level 2

Clear the bath and clean it completely
Clear the shower cubicle/screen
Fling towels and bathmats in the WM

Level 3

Wash the windows
Scrub the floor
Replace the towels
Wash out the toothbrush holder
Check bottles and throw out anything not being used/empty/that's been open for longer for 24months
Wipe down any units
remove all plugs - shove a brush down plugholes and twist and pull out all that hair and grime
Polish all taps with a fluffy cloth

Extras

S&S kitchen
MAD half hour
HHI

Wonderful Wednesday

Kids' Rooms/ Spare rooms/guest rooms

Level 1
Open the windows wide
Binbag dance
Strip the bed and turn the mattress - if you can
Clean under the bed if accessible
Remake the bed

Level 2
Dust any shelves and sills and flat surfaces
Check the lighting is fully-functional
Wipe switches/sockets/skirtings

Level 3
Clean the windows
vacuum curtains/dust blinds
Deal with the floor

Extras
Peg out some washing
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
HHI
Book out some me time - nail or hair appointment/coffee with a friend - something to look forward to!

Thursday Thrills - lounge/reception rooms

Level 1

Open the windows
Empty the bins
Clear out old newspapers and magazines
Rehome any gibble
Wipe plants/water flowers
Wipe sills and clean windows

Level 2

Dust everywhere - don't forget skirting boards, light fittings, curtain tracks
Dust/vacuum drapes and blinds
Wipe switches, sockets and handles

Level 3

Vacuum chairs/sofas inc under cushions and rotate so they wear out evenly
Sweep and mop floors/vacuum as appropriate

Extras

Have a MAD half hour on an onerous task
S&S bathroom(s)
S&S kitchen
HHI
Check your smoke alarms

Friday Fling - the Boudoir

Level 1

Open the windows wide
Strip the bed
Take out any rubbish
Clear the Floordrobe/chairdrobe
Make the bed with fresh linen

Level 2

Dust everywhere- including curtain tracks, light fittings. lamp shades, skirting
With a just damp cloth wipe where sticky fingers linger inc. light switches

Level 3

Thorough vacuum/floor sweep
Move any furniture you can and vacuum under and behind
Polish windows and mirrors

Extras

Peg out some washing
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom


Thursday Thrills - lounge/reception rooms

Level 1

Open the windows
Empty the bin and/or ashtrays
Clear out old newspapers and magazines
Rehome any gibble
Wipe plants/water flowers
Wipe sills and clean windows

Level 2

Dust everywhere - don't forget skirting boards, light fittings, curtain tracks
Dust/vacuum drapes and blinds
Wipe switches, sockets and handles and anywhere sticky fingers linger with a damp cloth

Level 3

Vacuum chairs/sofas inc under cushions and rotate so they wear out evenly
Sweep and mop floors/vacuum as appropriate

Extras

Have a MAD half hour on an onerous task
S&S bathroom(s)
S&S kitchen
HHI
If you have littlies check uniform/PE kit fits and is labelled

[Deleted User]

I'm in ladies, thanks Valli, it's 2019 though mind

In bed now with a cuppa. I cleaned the oven today *polishes halo*

Busy day at work tomorrow so better get some beauty sleep x

nicki_2

Evening all

Thanks Valli!

I'm going to be in this week of sorts. We have dentist appointments this week as well as a full day of work on Thursday plus individual customers to see a couple of times in the evenings, DS will be at his youth clubs Wednesday and Thursday evening then getting ready to go away on the 15th! I was supposed to be at the doctors for a smear Monday but I've eaten something today which hasn't agreed with me (yet another trigger food for my ibs part of fibro. Now I'll have to try and work out what it was through the inclusion/elimination process ) so again I'm going to have to postpone it :mad: I can't even rebook it for later in the week as there's no appointments left

Manic Monday - Kitchen Kapers
Level 1
Clear sides and wipe down
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
Empty bin
Wipe sill, sockets, and switches
Clear and clean sink and accessories
Level 2
Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts, not forgetting handles
Clean hob
Sort fridge and wipe seals; weave stuff that needs using up into your meal plan
level 3
Sweep/mop floor
Extras
S&S bathroom
HHI

Well that's not too bad a list to be getting on with. I might leave it for DS so I can concentrate on admin again tomorrow

Time for me to go to bed. Hopefully I can get some sleep. :wave:

ionafan

Thank you Valli and Natty for the lists. I hope to achieve at least Level 1 from the list each day this week. Most daytimes are fairly free, but most evenings are booked up. My personal to-do list has gained several items and lost very few this week

However, the baptism was lovely, the party afterwards (arranged by the godparents) was enjoyed by everyone, and the cake - which I had thrown together between hospital visits - was delicious! I now have about 60 photos to transfer from my phone to my PC so that I can create a photo book for my new goddaughter.

DH is making some progress at last. Hopefully he will see his consultant tomorrow and we shall have a clearer idea of what is to happen next.

asb, I agree with roundtuit's idea of paying the lender back directly in monthly instalments. I would just add that you should set up a spreadsheet to keep track of payments made, especially if you don't pay back the same amount each month. Try to avoid taking out another loan on which you will pay interest. Or, if you really want to pay back all of the loan in one go, set up a savings account in your own name with the highest possible interest rate, transfer your monthly payments into that, and don't use the money in that account for any other purpose except repaying your friend.

Hope everyone has a good week xx

wishingthemortgaheaway

Morning all, I soooo need to be in this week.

I should have two child free, work free days this week, and need to use them to get the house ready to go away for three weeks on Saturday.

It's workman central here this week.
Today: boiler engineer & plumber to install outside tap (ridiculously excited by the prospect of an outside tap)
Tomorrow: plasterer starts.

Today I've got the pickle all day, and cant make any plans until the engineer tells us what time he's coming.
There is mountains of dry washing to put away must do that today.

Thanks all.

Wish.

FrankieM

Hi everyone :wave::wave:

I hope you don't mind me joining you.

I used to be a regular Flylady a very long time ago, then popped back in a while ago saying I wanted to join, but nothing much happened.

Anyway, something has got to give...it's now just me, DD3 lives with me but is rarely home so doesn't make any mess and I'm working full time.

I have this wonderful idea that I'll get the house done on a Saturday morning but it seems to take me all weekend! Which is crazy for a little 2 bedroom house.

So, I'm hoping getting back to Flylady will mean things get done and then my weekends are free

BadCat18

Morning all and welcome FrankieM

I’m showered and dressed, early start at the paid stuff needed this morning as I have an early meeting.

I cleaned out the fridge (polishes halo) yesterday and my menu plan is done so those are off the list. I will try for level one and two in the kitchen today but it will be later on. I need to pop to the shop at some stage as I am having people over this evening and forgot to buy any cookies or biscuits to go with coffee.
Dishes put away
WM swishing, will hopefully put out when done although it’s rather grey here again
Just having tea and breakfast and will be on to it.

Have a good day all x

[Deleted User]

Morning all,

V quick one from me, DW unloaded, I am showered and about to get ready. Ate waaaay too much at the weekend so Slinky is very much back on!

Have fab days all xx

Mademoiselle

Morning all, I must be in this week. The house is a pit. No excuses this week, I'm working first thing on Tuesday so that will make me get up and dressed and going early but I'll be done by 10 and have another lesson Wednesday lunchtime so again won't really eat into my FLYing time.

There are 4 main rooms/areas to be done thoroughly so one a day should be possible and then a bit of admin and banking. Looking at it like that I should also find time to catalogue some of the books, I'm fed up of OH buying books that he has already read and even worse that we already have on the shelves so am looking at putting everything in 'Goodreads' and putting app on his phone so he can check when he's in the shop at the airport.

Sounds easy so better go and get on with it. First task will be put radio on,

So off to do HHC1, see you all later

Mademoiselle

HHC1 done.

Whilst making coffee I have made a list of the different parts of the kitchen that need to be done.

Here it is:

Sink
LH side of sink
RH side of sink
Table
Island
Alcove
Cooker
Woodstove
Dresser
Big dresser
TV trolley
Window sill road
Window sill garden
Bin & recycling
Fridge
Vacuum floor
Wash floor

Will change items to red once they've been done.

Mademoiselle

HHC 1 done (actually more like 45 mins)

Sink
LH side of sink
RH side of sink
Table
Island
Alcove
Cooker
Woodstove
Dresser
Big dresser
TV trolley
Window sill road
Window sill garden
Bin & recycling
Fridge
Vacuum floor
Wash floor

]Non kitchen items done


Blood test booked for OH
Diaries updated with OH travel until October
WM 1
TD 1[/COLOR]

Now having a quick cup of tea

[/COLOR]