Weekly Flylady Thread 24th August 202

Natty68

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 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 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- 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!

Monday Mayhem ~ Krazy Kitchen 

Level One..
Clear the floor of unnecessary gibble
Mop/hoover the floor
Level Two..
Shine the sink and draining board. Make those taps shine and twinkle..
Wipe down worktops and wipe down all small electricals.
Rehome anything that is out of place
Level Three...
Clean inside the microwave. A good tip is to heat up a cup of water in the microwave - the steam shifts all the yukky stuff on the microwave 

Clean the window and windowsill. Rehome anything that shouldn't be there 
Sort through your cookery books/magazines. Are there any that you don't need that are just taking up space? Rehome them to the local charity shop...
15 fling boogie

Extra challenge:

• Deweb, don't forget those corners

• Clean light fittings/switches

• Wipe down the doors

• Empty those smelly bins

• Clean that cupboard under the sink!!!

• HHI

Twinkling Tuesday ~ Bouncing Bedroom
Level One...
Clear the floor of anything that doesn't belong there..
Hoover the floor
Empty any bins
Level Two..
Strip the bed and remake with fresh clean bedding
Dust surfaces
Polish mirrors and any other shiny surfaces...
Level Three...
Turn and vacuum mattress - do NOT do it if you are unable to or pregnant..get a nice partner/hubby/child to do it for you.
Sort through the wardrobe - is there anything that you don't need or can be rehomed.
Clean the light switches

Extra challenge:

• Clear one drawer in the dressing table/chest of drawers

• Clean the window - make it sparkle in the sunshine

• Clear and clean the windowsill

• HHI

• Any last minute shopping for those with kiddies going back to school. Make a list of what you need so that you don't forget anything at the last minute.

Whimsical Wednesday ~ Barnacled Bathroom
Level One...
Empty bins
Clear all empty bottles/toothpaste tubes etc.. Do we really need to keep that empty box of q-tips.
Change flannels/sponges
Level Two..
Clean sink and bath
Shine the taps, don't forget to get underneath the taps with a toothbrush.
Clear floor of any stuff that shouldn't be there - towels if they are dirty should be in the laundry bin.
Level Three...
Hoover/mop floor
Clear out the medicine cabinet - if you have any out of date medicine make sure it's bagged up properly and either bin it securely or take to the nearest chemist for disposal.
Replace those manky towels for lovely fresh towels.
Clean windowsill
Last minute checks to see if you have everything for your little ones going back/starting school

Extra challenge:

• Clean windows

• Wash curtains

• HHI

Tantalizing Thursday ~ Luxurious Living Room, hall and stairs 
Level One....
Pick things up off the floor, make sure those stairs are safe.
Vacuum through the living room, hall and stairs
Level Two..
Dust standing objects including electrical items - no electrocutions please!
Turn over and plump sofa and chair cushions.
Water plants
Level Three...
27 fling boogie
Sort out one cupboard/drawer, even that cupboard under the stairs if you want...
Wash windows and nets
Sort the junk on the landing

Extras...

• Sort out any mending that needs doing and have a go at it..

• Replace any dead light bulbs

• Wash smelly pet beds

• Wash any cushions, throws or curtains that need it..

• Deflea pets

Final Friday ~ Frightening Kids rooms and Spare rooms 
Level One...
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Make an appointment for some ME-time.. hairdressers? manicure? night out with friends? .. whatever just do it!
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!!
Level Three...
Clean 2 windows
Sort through a cupboard/chest of drawers and get the clothes out which are no longer wearable, too small or out of season!
Wipe any sticky marks off walls and doors

Extras...

• Find 5 things to ebay/freecycle

• Wipe the radiators, skirtings and window & door frames!

• HHI

• Binbag dance!!! grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!

dancemum

Yoohoo I’m in. Thank you for the threads xx
ironing done
living room prepared for tomorrow’s birthday boy. 

ionafan

Thank you Natty.  I will do my best to join in.

I have had another 5-day migraine which has set me back a bit this week, but this evening I managed to move my desk, office chair, computer and all the gubbins into my bedroom (which is now beginning to resemble Steptoe's yard), leaving plenty of space in the study bedroom for DGS3+4 to sleep *and* have the zoo and wooden railway spread all over the floor .  They can have the Lego in the LR, but will have to keep it out of DH's way and leave him room to walk through to get to his chair without falling over things or standing barefoot on one of the little pieces.

Hope you and your DS2 all have a lovely day tomorrow, dancemum xx
Well done on decluttering OOD Easter eggs, asb

pigpen

TY for Fred

I have been compiling a list of options for the girls packed lunches this evening and finding out who likes what. I've got some great ideas for some loony ideas but it's going to cost a few quid to line that up I shall buy my first tub of coconut oil and a bag of pumpkin seeds and sunflower seed butter. My life will be such fun when they go back to school.

Monday Mayhem ~ Krazy Kitchen
Level Two..
Wipe down worktops and wipe down all small electricals.
Rehome anything that is out of place
Level Three...
Clean inside the microwave.

Clean the window and windowsill. .

Twinkling Tuesday ~ Bouncing Bedroom
Level One...
Clear the floor of anything that doesn't belong there..
Hoover the floor
Empty any bins
Level Two..
Strip the bed and remake with fresh clean bedding
Dust surfaces
Polish mirrors
Extra challenge:

• Clear one drawer in a chest of drawers

[Deleted User]

Morning all,

Thank you for the thread xx
I was fast asleep by 9pm so it's not surprising I'm awake now! I am enjoying my first cuppa of the day in peace whilst browsing on here, it's too noisy to unload DW etc 😉 (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!) 
Written a list of admin jobs to get through today, I will be really pleased if I get them all done. Also the forecast here for tomorrow is awful so need to get the kids into the fresh air as much as possible today. Lots more blackberry picking on the cards!

Dancemum I hope you all have the best day possible. You're in my thoughts.

Have lovely days all xx

Mademoiselle

Bonjour, I'm back from my holidays and need to join you all again if you'll have me back.

OH has gone back to work this morning, DD2 is at home for aother week but has a presentation to prepare and plenty of stuff to sort out.  I have a whole bath full of dirty washing to work my way through.  And it's been 3 full weeks of no admin, banking or finances and in fact no real admin since end of June.  Slinky and better eating habits need to be on the menu too.  Also need to come up with a plan and motivation to tackle the garden (huge and very very overgrown).  

Kitchen seems a good place to start, thanks Natty.  

Enjoy the blackberry picking ASB, and hope birthday celebrations go well dancemum.

Off to eat a sensible breakfast as a good start to the day.

Bed is made and clothes picked up (probably the only good habit that has stuck)

Fayolle

Good morning
Thank you for the lists, Natty, and Valli for last week. I’ll be in, but today will be a busy one at paid stuff, so I might not show my face until tomorrow.
Happy birthday to your DS, dancemum.
Welcome back. Mademoiselle.
I hope the migraine has well and truly gone, and that you can enjoy your DGSs, Iona.
Have a lovely day all x

[Deleted User]

Quick update from me, the dog has been walked, poo picked, rubbish, recycling and food waste out, kids eating brekkie, DW unloaded and laundry put away. Swimming lessons very shortly x

roundtuit

Morning xx
Welcome back Mademoiselle xx Happy birthday to dancemum's DS - I hope that you all have a good day xx
Thank you to Valli and Natty for the lists and trying to keep keeping us on the flylady wagon xx

Yesterday I got three loads of washing done and dried outside - thanks to a mad dash when I heard thunder and grabbed washing and pegs from the line..splashed but not soaked. I got in just as the heavens opened and artfully arranged it all on the airer to dry off whilst the deluge continued outside. I also read a book from cover to cover - it is now in he teetering cs pile, and completed an online shop to be delivered today.

I still feel tired but I think that may be due to eating too much bread over the weekend...oh but I do love toast. Now that I am less tired I am overwhelmed by what needs doing. I can't win! 

I'm up, my bed is made, WM is swishing and I've slurped my first brew. I've binned the incredibly ood date eggs that I spied in the fridge and put the box to one side for recycling. And spotted a bag of potatoes sprouting nicely so they need to go out too. Not very mse but better than food poisoning!

I can sit here feeling slightly panicked or I can pick up my spoon and start to eat the elephant!

Round 1 =
brew 2 and breakfast - porridge
get dressed
feed the birds
put out the rubbish & recycling
put away the pots that were LTD at some point in the past

Got to start somewhere! Going to check the weather forecast too - someone needs to tell that big black cloud that it is meant to be somewhere else!

Wishing you all a healthy and happy week,
Rxx
What's going on? It said I didn't have permission to post. Copied. Signed off. Signed back on. Pasted. Try again. Fingers crossed xx

BadCat18

Morning all

Thank you for the new thread, count me in! I’m ahead of the game as I did all those kitchen jobs last night apart from the cleaning out of the cupboard under the sink. WAC again this morning, I’ve been awake since 3:30, bleuurghh.

Anyway, dailies are done, wm is swishing, I need to pop out and post a birthday card so will do that in a mo, 2 hours of paid stuff already done so am really hoping to finish early, if I do I might need an afternoon snooze but will see how I go.

Have a good day all, take care x

kazwookie

Thank you for the lists xx

Iona, I know that 'steptoe's yard' feeling, the first lot of builders left everything on the ground, I asked them to do that, so I could see what size skip I needed,  then I got a skip, the second lot of builders brought a skip with them it is on my driveway, and nearly full, I just cannot believe how much 'stuff' has come out of here, but the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight and getting stronger by the day it 'should' be very very bright by Wednesday night!!! then it will be a major clean and dust, re jigging of belongings etc. The far end of the house is clean, but it has all the 'stuff' from else where in it.............................

Today:-

Hearing aid appointment

Front lawn to cut