Weekly Flylady Thread 18th November 2019

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- that’s 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


Don't forget, for those wanting to be involved in the Flyladies Christmas card swap, you have until the 25th November to get your details to me

ok Here goes this Week...

FLYLADY THREAD PICK'N'MIX

I'm not going to list the rooms by day, just by room but you are free to either do a whole room (all three levels) or mix up the levels across the week - so, for example, you might pick level 1 to do for all rooms. Just post what you HAVE achieved! Sharp-eyed flyladies will notice there are six lists...because YOU are picking and mixing. You might choose the worst room to really make a difference (and because you have the time) or the least minging because you're short of time.

Lovely Living Room, Happy Hall and Safe Stairs
Level One...
Declutter all these areas
Vacuum these areas
Level Two...
Wipe/vacuum sofas
Clean windows in these areas, check curtains/nets/blinds while you are there, do they need a clean?
Dust any areas below eye level
Level Three...
Dust anything above eye level (if safe to do so)
Clear anything that shouldn't be where it is, should the magazines really be on the floor?
Wash any soft furnishings in need
Binbag dance
Tidy coats/shoes bags etc

Extra Mission Tasks~ if you want to do more

• Clean windows in these areas, check curtains/nets/blinds while you are there, do they need a clean?
  
• Check you have your Christmas card list done, if it's not done at least spend 10 minutes on it
• Spend 15 minutes sorting paperwork, dealing with anything urgent NOW
• Spend half an hour doing something for yourself
• 27 Fling Boogie, you know the routine, grab a bag and clear that clutter!
• Clean out the vacuum cleaner, empty the bag/bucket, clean filters if they are washable MAKE SURE YOU DON'T PUT THEM BACK UNTIL THEY ARE DRY!

Kitchen and dining room
Level One...
Clear and wipe work surfaces
Wipe down all the major appliances.. clean filters/drawers/seals etc
Wipe over the cupboards fronts and kickboards
Level Two...
Wipe the tables and replace the cloth if necessary
Sweep and mop the floors
Run appliances through a 'clean' wash
Deweb and defluff these rooms
Level Three...
Clear and mop/vacuum the floors
Scrub down the dining chairs..
Binbag dance! Grab a binbag.. fill it up.. and chuck it out!
Clean the oven.. and the shelves!

Extras - help yourself!

• Wipe and replace ALL the small appliances
• Empty and wash out bins
• S&S the fridge
• Clear out a manky cupboard
• Check the freezer, see what needs using up..
• If you want a christmas supermarket delivery you need to book it this week, if you haven't already done it!

Master Bedrooms and Landings
Level One..
Remove floordrobe, make sure all clothes are put away neatly
Level Two...
Strip bed linen and wash, replace with clean linen
Vacuum floors in these areas
Level Three...
Vacuum mattress
Clean tops of drawers

Extra mission tasks, as always if you fancy an extra challenge try one or more of these

• Clean windows in these areas
• Check through drawers, anything that should have been thrown out ages ago?
• Cobweb removal upstairs, go on grab a duster and swipe them down
• Clean a set of curtains, nets or blinds
• Clean light fittings and light switches in any room, more than one if you like
• Plan your shopping list for your christmas goodies.. don't forget the turkey! If you are ordering stuff from local shops.. pork pies/meat etc get it done this week!

Study/PC area and Bathrooms
Level One...
Clean floors in these rooms
Level Two...
Clean baths, toilets and sinks
Clear any clutter from desk
Dust PC and desk and wipe off those cup rings!!
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches and mouse etc
Level Three...
Wash your bathroom mats
Wipe down tiles in bathroom
Delete 10 links in your favourites which you no longer use or don't work
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required

Extra tasks list, as usual choose one or more

• Write those christmas cards and sort stamps for those to be posted
• Clear a hotspot, if it's bad at least spend 10 minutes on it
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Check house for places where draughts are getting in such as doors, windows etc and see if there are ways to stop it
• Clean out that airing cupboard, get rid of those things you don't need, you can use dead towels as cleaning cloths etc be ruthless! Yes this means parting with the 'just in case' things you have kept and you'll never use!
• Clean the toilet bowl on the outside and the floor in front of it, especially for those with little boys!

Those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms!
Level One...
Declutter the floors
Level Two...
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
Put all the discs in their boxes and the books on the shelves and the toys in the chests!
Sort through a chest of drawers/wardrobe and fling anything that no longer fits.
Vacuum the floor, even if it's just where you can see
Level Three...
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!!
Wipe any sticky marks off walls and doors
Drag the junk from under the bed and put it in its proper homes.
Fill a binbag for charity shop.. Santa will be here in 30 days so make some space!
Dust and vacuum and wipe of sticky grotty bits.
Tidy a box of 'stuff'
Binbag dance!.. See how many toys you can fling before the large guy in red arrives.

Extras

• HHI
• Check through what decorations etc you have and what needs replacing/buying/finding, check lights etc
• Catch up on yesterdays list! We keep getting behind!
• Update spreadsheets.. meal plans, finances etc
• Scrub your grill pan..
• Clean where your Christmas tree and any other decorations are going.
• Contact anyone you don't have address for for Christmas cards
• Check what else you need to buy or make for Christmas presents
• Wipe over ALL the upstairs doors!!

Daily little tasks that keep the whole house running smoothly

S&S kitchen (unless it's kitchen day)
S&S bathroom(s) (unless.. you get the idea)
HHI

Other key tasks
Pick and choose if/as necessary

Check smoke/CO detectors
If you're posting cards/gifts overseas check last posting dates.
Inventory freezer - use up what you can to make space.
Write your xmas grocery shopping list and start some advance buying.
Make sure drains/gutters aren't blocked with leaves

Christmas posting dates:

International Standard and International tracking and signature services

Monday 9 December Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Far and Middle East
Tuesday 10 December Cyprus, Malta
Wednesday 11 December Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia)
Thursday 12 December Australia, Greece, New Zealand and Turkey
Saturday 14 December Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA
Monday 16 December Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
Wednesday 18 December Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg

UK Inland Services

Wednesday 18 December 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For
Friday 20 December 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For and Royal Mail Tracked 48*
Saturday 21 December Royal Mail Tracked 24*
Monday 23 December Special Delivery Guaranteed

pigpen

TY for Fred.. I am off piste and probably not doing very much because I am a lazy thing.

Picking up a cat carrier from some weirdo on FB.. Asked me if I have any single friends.. not sure if he had one gallon of beer too much but I am taking 6ft 4 OH and Black Belt DS1 with me.. a little bit of back up won't hurt right?! He probably wouldn't answer the door with us all there and tiny little me flanked by those two.. and DS1 will probably end up as his best mate, he collects weirdos.

I cooked 2 pasties, 20 sausages, 4 sausage rolls and 2 fish portions for 7 of us and for OH when he got in from work. When he got home it had ALL gone!! I am NOT happy!

ionafan

Thank you Natty for the new thread and Valli for last week's list. I will fly as much as I can.

Sorry about your DS's job, Round. You have coped marvellously with everything that has been thrown at you this week :T

Thumbs up to the mended TD, pigpen

Hope you've been fed today, Jojo.

This evening I started doing my annual review and totted up the hours I've worked this past year - no wonder I'm tired! I'm doing all this in addition to much of what I did when I first retired (and first joined the Flyladies)! Resolution for next year: make sure I get my full quota of days off, and pace myself more diligently. I agree with you, Valli - I need to spend more time with family (especially DH) and friends.

My Snuggler is already warming my PJs, so I will take myself off to bed now. Got to be up and dressed by 8.00 for the windows people to come and put a new lock on my front door...

Hope everyone has a good week xx

Narc0lepsy

Thanks for lists, I'm lurking and doing my own thing as a) it's my busiest time of year at work b) I'm lazy and too embarrassed how little proper flying I do; thank goodness for Mr N.
I'm pretty much keeping up with stuff like filling bird feeders, washing, filling/emptying DW and keeping general clutter under control. Have been doing a fair bit in the garden lately which is a never-ending job especially as we're re-vamping the front garden.

Anyway looking at this week's list, I already updated and printed off Xmas card list so that's one thing.
Best wishes to all for a good week.

Valli

Thanks Natty

I NEED to be in this week, house is a tip. Though, in my defence I did start the weekend full of a cold. Today, however, I am at work all day.

Anyway, I've started by stripping and remaking my bed. Which I'm now in. Love a freshly made bed.

Dizzy_Imp

Morning all! I'm in again this week.

Stressing over my annual boarding inspection (which is tomorrow) as the garden is horrific, mainly as a result of the dreadful weather, but I can see me being told it's all not good enough and having my licence refused.

Two more chickens died this weekend - the poor things just cant stay warm and dry. We have moved the smallest into the indoor stable to try and help. Not ideal as they cant free-range, but honestly the paddock is a paddy field...

Valli

Fingers crossed Dizzy - and hoping common sense prevails.

Shower time.

[Deleted User]

Morning friends

I am of course in, thank you so much for the lists.
Meant to say in my last post a huge hug to Dancemum xxx

Stressful week ahead, I haven't slept well and my anxiety is creeping back up. Going to put my warpaint on now and face the day. Have super days all xx

Ps laundry over airer with dehumidifier on (I can't live without this now!), DW loaded to go on and bed and made xxx

Jazee

Morning all. Thanks for the list. I'm in and about to tackle the living room first. Will be out for most of the day but planning a relaxing evening in with DH.

Have a great day everyone.

roundtuit

Morning :wave:

Thank you for the lists - my Christmas card list is written tick :T So that just leaves the other billionty-one things to do

I'm happy (and frankly amazed) to say that I have once again woken up without that sense of impending doom and without a headache - and no MM blues (even though she will be back from leave today). I wish I knew what I was doing right.

I've made my bed, showered and dressed, packed my lunch, breakfasted and I will feed the birds and put out the recycling before I set off for the paid stuff.

Ooo I just remembered - I'm going to see Elvis (tribute obviously ) tomorrow night. Better message L and see what time I need to be where.

Have a good week ladies
Rxx

Mademoiselle

Morning all, no excuses not to be in this week, I'm only working my regular hours, and have no other appointments. The house needs it too, big style.

Weekend was very busy, out most of it flying on the boat (if that makes any sense). Basically we brought all the sail, cushions, bedding, clothing, lifejackets etc back home so they can get thoroughly dried over the winter. We are lucky enough to a very big spare room, think dormitory which we put everything in and then leave with a bit of heating and dehumidifier on. Sunday evening I defrosted the freezer, been on the list for several weeks and OH kept me company in the kitchen and got rid of at least 3 admin tasks one of which could easily have become a frog if left to me.

Pellet stove cleaned this morning and is now back on.
Bed made
Clothes off the bedroom floor

Off to study electricity cosumption and bills whilst I have another coffee

Hugs to all, see you later