We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Weekly Flylady Thread 22nd June 2020

Valli
Posts: 25,506 Forumite


Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread.
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.
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 content! (i.e. it should be on-topic)
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 former Flylady 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 stopping, 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!
Frog (or other amphibian) ~ google 'eat that frog'
Spoons ~ google 'but you don't look sick' and/or 'The Spoon Theory'.
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
Marvellous Monday - Kitchen and Dining Room
Sorry to be so predictable but my kitchen is a tip - and cornflour was spilled. So there it is.
Level 1
Wash up (or remove all pots to DW) and clean the draining rack and board.
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances and caddies etc. Don't forget the splashbacks or tiles!
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
Empty bin and clean it out too - put it outside to dry in the sunshine, if you can.
Empty out caddies/storage jars or tins and wash them out.
Clear and clean sink and accessories - don't forget those out-of-sight places - under plugs and under draining racks - and shine those taps - or clean them!
Clean/polish table - wipe mats/change cloth
Check fruit and wash bowl
Throw away your manky dish cloth or sponge and replace with a new one! get a new hand towel and a new tea towel too
Level 2
Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts, not forgetting handles and tops and bottom as well as fronts!
Clean hob
Clean microwave
Sort fridge and wipe seals; weave stuff that needs using up into your meal plan; update shopping list as appropriate
Wash and wipe fridge shelves and baskets.
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if needed
Clean WM , TD and DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.
Level 3
Pick a cupboard or a drawer; empty it, clean it out and put back its contents tidily
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean chairs (and highchairs) - don't forget under the seats where sticky fingers linger.
Clean windows in both rooms.
Go round the whole house wiping door handles, light switches and banisters - we WILL be germ-free!
EXTRAS
HHI
S&S bathroom
Meal plan for the week.
Involve your small people according to their age/abilities/skill level
The rain and warmth will have activated weeds - hit them now with 15 minutes in the garden.
make sure that, sometime this week, there's some self care planned in.
Terrific Tuesday - Brighten that bathroom/shower room/en suite
Level 1
Fling open the windows
Clear the bins, remove empties
Flush the loo and squirt something down it to start the cleaning process
Fling the towels in the WM
Vacuum extractor cover and/or wipe
Clean windows and mirrors
Check for webs and flick 'em off
Level 2
Clear lotions and potions from around bath and scrub inside and out.
Prod a brush down the plughole to remove the ratty tails
Polish the taps
Slug of bleach down the drain
Scrub the loo inside and out - and bleach it
Thoroughly clean bath taps and plugs - especially hair traps - and don't forget under the plug
Wipe shower head or soak in lemon juice to clear scum/scale
Wash shower curtain/wipe screens
Level 3
Scrub the sink
Polish the taps
Dust sills and shelves
Wipe anywhere fingers linger with a clean cloth or an anti-bac wipe - don't forget the loo roll holder!
Mop the floor
Polish mirrors
Extras
HHI
S&S kitchen
15 minutes weed control in the garden - I need to be able to tick something off lol
Wipy Wednesday The Lounge
level 1
deal with flowers
water pot plants
empty bins/ashtrays
clear gibble
plump cushions
wipe sofas with leather wipes or vacuum
level 2
clean windows
vacuum floor
level 3
dust all round - don't forget sills and skirtings
extras
S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
thundery Thursday
its Hot
so S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
keep curtains closed
use a fan
drink plenty of water
dont go mad and stay out of the sun. UV unusually high.
if you do go out
dont forget the sun cream, hat, shades and stay cool.
stay safe x
Friday Finale
the boudoir
level 1
strip your bed
fling the window open
clear floordrobe/chairdrobe
empty bin
level 2
remake bed
dust and tidy bedside tables
vacuum/sweep/mop floor
level 3
dust all around
clean window
extras s&s bathroom
s&s kitchen
stay safe x
Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY
"I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily Dickinson
Janice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear


Thank you Honey Bear
12
Comments
-
Hi all
Thanks for the thread, I’m in. Not much flying been done here over the weekend, garden jobs were done, DH then had to work and I’m feeling a bit under the weather so have had a lazy day, not sure it has done me any good as I’m now thinking about all the jobs I haven’t done but there we go. Tomorrow is another day and all that!
Im off for a soak in the bath, see you all in the morning x9 -
TY for Fred I absolutely did not keep up last week despite my best intention.. the decorating simply took over. Hopefully it will be completed this week and I can do some actual cleaning rather than removing everything the dirt is stuck to and throwing it in the bin lol.
My aims this week..
ARRANGE OPTICIANS FOR DOT!!!!
FINISH the toilet decorating
FINISH the hall/stairs/landing decorating
OH Clean out Sarah (the fish!)
OH emulsion the kitchen ceiling.
Laundry catchup .. weather dependent
Tip run.. done one.. we need a second.
CS run
Drop off cast offs with DD1
List a box of gubbins on ebeast
Post 3 sold items
.. on top of the usual level of DW/TD/knitting (must finish Twinkles cardy)/ purchase yarn for friends blanket (400g plus 200g for matchy cardies!)/pay bills/everything else.)
my landing sounds very echoey and empty! I don't like it.. it makes me feel exposed ... and right there is the reason for my hoarding!
LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14Hope to be debt free until the day I dieMortgage-free Wannabee (05/08/30)6/6/14 £72,454.65 (5.65% int.)08/12/2023 £33602.00 (4.81% int.)10 -
I’ll try to be in again. Thanks for the lists and company x
just sorted some paperwork out so I can now renew my car tax. Just had my arm punched so I need to deal with that first.
9 -
Thank you cor the thread. I’m in again, and will try to keep up. I’m quite happy with a Kitchen Monday, as I am at work all day, so have the ideal excuse to keep skipping the kitchen clean! No, I didn’t really mean that, obviously....
(Hugs) all round, especially dancemum x
Fingers crossed for you tomorrow, Kaz x
9 -
I'm in again. Had an exhausting weekend sorting out housing arrangements for all the existing and planned chickens and I got a beautiful Ayam Cerami rooster for a bargain price, so I'm very chuffed! Said goodbye to our last two pygmy goat kids this year. We are keeping Lightning (son of Dexter) and have a new billy goat called Kevin, who us being very *ahem* attentive to the ladies. He's not liking DH going into his paddock when the girls are around though and has ripped four holes in hubby's tracksuit bottoms. I'm allowed in, which makes me laugh!
Got the electrician here tomorrow to sort out some annoying things that have needed doing for ages, DH has a meeting with a potential new business venture chap who is trying to head hunt him, I've got to get to the bank with small people in tow, plus I've got to transfer all the business paperwork and gubbins into the static caravan which we will now be using as a hatchery and home office. So many plans for the next 12 months....I just hope I've got enough energy to keep the momentum going. I have lost 6lbs in weight this week, which I'm delighted with, but shows how much running around I've been doing!
Two daycare dogs tomorrow plus acwalk at lunchtime with another, so I'll be getting my steps in for sure!
Hope this week is a good one for you all xxx10 -
Skinty reporting for duty Sir!
Thanks Natty and Valli for keeping me on the he straight and narrow.
Finished last week very strongly, approaching one of best ever since.
Back to my mum house tomorrow, will catch up with Fred in the morning...night night flyfriends XXX
The cold never bothered me anyway10 -
Thanks for all the lists xxDizzy I hope all goes to plan with your plans, I've just googled Ayam Cerami rooster it seems they are rare so keep it safe.For the first time in ages I slept until 6am!! I think I am going to have to resign from the wide awake clubI have made an additional list for this week, it all is stuff that needs doing for the house, but not flying as such, catches, blots, keys, weeds, veg patch, oil tank removal, car clean, kitchen clean, kitchen drain (yuk) needs sorting.Have a good week
Breast Cancer Now 100 miles October 2022 100 / 100miles
D- Day 80km June 2024 80/80km (10.06.24 all done)
Diabetic UK 1 million steps July 2024 to complete by end Sept 2024. 1,001,066/ 1,000,000 (20.09.24 all done)
Breast Cancer Now 100 miles 1st May 2025 (18.05.2025 all done)
Diabetic UK 1 million steps July 2025 to complete by end Sept 2025. 737,770 / 1,000,000Sun, Sea11 -
Morning xx
I wish I could say the same kazw (about WAC) - I was all set to get up this morning, then looked at the clock: 4.55 am. Nope - not happening. Maybe I should have just gone with the flow because two hours later I'm up but feeling fuzzy because I've been back to sleep - and had weird dreams too.
Anyway I'm up, my bed is made, airer has been stood outside in the sun (the clothes on it are dry but it was in my way) and WM is happily swishing away with the first load of the day. And it was nice to walk into the kitchen and see clear worktops - a testament to the fluttering that I did in there yesterday. First brew has been supped and savoured. I feel like me again - not sure who I was over the weekend. A fuzzy me but still me
Round 1 =
breakfast and a second brew
get washed and dressed
feed the birds
put out the recycling
WUDUPA a bowl of pots
peg out washing & set 2nd load swishing
And a reminder to me for later:
refill Sweetie's seed and water
recycle phone packaging
clean basin in bathroom
Hugs, spoons, sticks, fingers crossed, fluffy mules, flylady dust, and a whole load of love are waiting to be collected as required.
Take care
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme10 -
Morning, I'm in this week. At home all day today so no excuses not to get on with the kitchen and of course the dreaded admin (it is starting to build up again).
Bed made, clothes picked up
Weekend bags unpacked and put away
See you later11 -
Morning all,
Thank you for the lists I am in 😚 Mrs anxiety keeps threatening to overwhelm me so I need the distraction of flying!Dizzy - huge well done on the weight loss. I am weighing in on Wednesday and can't wait, I've been so good all week.
So first load is on to wash, kids fed and dressed, rubbish sorted, beds made etc. Off to school we go now, then need to nip to the bakery on our way home. Will walk the dog down to school so that ticks that job off for the morning at least. Have lovely days all xx12
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.8K Spending & Discounts
- 244.4K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.1K Life & Family
- 258K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards