Weekly Flylady Thread 8th February 2021

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.
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 to Valli for last week's thread.
THESE LISTS ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS AND NOT A MUST DO LIST, YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO POST AND FOLLOW YOUR OWN.
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!
Some of our abbreviations: DH- dear husband, OH- other half, KH/CF- affectionate term for ex husband or partner  DS/DD- dear son/daughter, DGC- dear grandchild, WM- washing machine, DW- dishwasher, LR/DR- living/dining room, RoD- room of doom, Mr S/A/T/M/L/Al- supermarkets Sainsburys, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi. You get the picture!
Any more questions I bet are answered in the wonderful welcome guide which was produced by our much loved Toots

Monday ~ Kitchen and Dining Mess
Level One...
Make safe all paths to and from your house - either sweep or use cat litter on the area.
Sweep, vacuum and mop floors
Declutter and wipe worksurfaces
Oven and hob cleaning week... and it is level one so none of you can get out of it..
Level Two...
Wipe table replacing cloth if necessary..
Clear out a cupboard.. the larder unit if yyou jave one or just the general messiness of cupboard.. the one where you stuff all things useless.
Wipe and replace small appliances.. Clean one thoroughly!
Level Three...
Wipe units and large appliances.. don't forget kickboards!
Wipe the tops of the wall units.. lining them with old wallpaper or newspaper keeps them clean!
Dejunk window sills, dust blinds and wash windows!
Extras
Wash light shades and clean bulbs
Clean out the smelly fridge
Sort out and restock baking cupboards
Wash the vacuum cleaner innards and filters.. do not reassemble until completely dry!!

Tuesday ~ Living/Family/Reception room
Level One..
Keep warm and safe from the snow outside.

Declutter and vacuum floor!
Wipe sticky grubby marks from sofas
Level Two...
Wipe sticky grubby marks from walls and paintwork
Vacuum nuder furniture you can safely move.. we have bit of a baby boom on at the moment so please all be careful!!!
Wash any smelly soft furnishings (this may include pets and OH's)
Level Three...
Clear and wipe firesurround..
Decant all the miscellaneous papers and bits into a box
Polish any glass.. screens, pictures, ornaments mirrors etc
Don't forget to do your decluttering for today - you choose where...
Extras

• Wipe and water any plants

• Vacuum fluff from the fire and behind the radiator
• Sort through the box of miscellaneous belongings
• Binbag dance

Wednesday ~ Master bedroom
Level One...

Keep warm and stay safe during this cold/spell.

Strip, wash and replace the bedding.. leave the mattress and duvet to air!
Declutter the floor.. and vacuum it!
Level Two...
Put away all the shoes and clothes and bags and belts and ties lying around!
Wash the curtains/nets and clean th8e window before rehanging them!
Dust away the webs and fluff
Level Three...
Sort through a box of stuff... I have about a million to do!
If it hasn't been done in a while vacuum and turn the mattress
Tidy up a cupboard of clothing
Extras

• Sort some stuff to ebay

• HHI

• Wash any coats needed to be clean for school after half term..

Thursday ~ Bathroom, hall, stairs and landing!
Level One...
Declutter and vacuum/mop floors
Sort coats, bags, shoes and dead umbrellas!.. Get rid of any that are no longer needed.
Level Two...
Clean the bath, sinks, blah blah.. you know the list! don't forget the back of the toilet.. that gets gross.. and under the icky rim!
Empty out and clean a cupboard.. put back the necessaries neat and tidy!
Wash doormats, bathmats and shower curtains
Level Three...
Tidy the towel cupboard.. any manky towels can be donated to the PDSA or dog rescue.. they always need them!.. and blankets etc
Wipe the doors in the hallway and wash any curtains
Wipe radiators.. front and back!
Replace any dead sponges/toothbrushes!

Extras

• Binbag dance

•  HH doing something you want to do.. reading or whatever.

• Check where the car papers are and see when MOT/insurance/tax are due and put them in a file safely!! .. Ditto house insurance papers!

• Clean out the upstairs bins.

Friday ~ Chimps rooms!/Spare rooms..
Level One...

Keep warm and stay safe during this cold/spell.
Strip, wash and replace with clean, any bedding
Spend half an hour doing something that makes you happy.. and I do NOT want details!! 
Level Two...
Rope children in and declutter the floors and quickly vacuum them
Straighten cupboards of clothing/shoes
Make sure school stuff is ready for next week.. inc. homework done!
Level Three...
Tidy up a bookcase or a toy box.. or just a box of junk!
Wash any smelly curtains and wash windows
Clean out any pongy pets

Extras

• Go spend some time with your little people!!!!
• Binbag dance
• HHI
• Spend weekend slobbing!

ionafan

Thank you Natty.  I might actually hoover this week, as my twisted knee is feeling a lot better after resting it as much as possible for the past few days.  I spent most of yesterday asleep - could have been reaction to the jab, but more likely catching up with zzz after 5 rotten nights.

Today I have finally found the marriage of an elusive ancestor who I've been chasing for about 30 years - I was about 20 years out in my estimation of the date, and for some reason he got married in Liverpool when he was born in Hampshire and lived in mid-Wales.  But it's definitely him - his home address is absolutely clear in the parish register!   

GWS to Jazee, (((hugs))) to Fayolle and asb (well done on getting onto your MP ), and spoons to all in need.  Hope everyone has some good times in the coming week xx

toochoosey

ionafan, which jab did you have?
Dishes done, I'm off to bed shortly x

ionafan

toochoosey said:

ionafan, which jab did you have?

AZ.  I know one of the possible side effects is fatigue - though I don't need the jab as an excuse!  My knee was hurting badly at the start of the week, and I've had to "sleep" propped up on my pillows to find the most comfortable position for it.

Just found the wills of the ancestral couple, together with the burial record of the wife.  I really ought to stop, now that I've completed that line - they married late in life and didn't have any children, but the wills confirm all the relationships for numerous nephews and nieces.  I like ancestors who do that   It's been a good research day.

G'night all xx

pigpen

My left ear is on FIRE... I have 'red ear syndrome' I developed it when I was pregnant with Twinkle and it's somewhat better but still a thing.. it's the weirdest sensation.. It's not usually the left ear but today it is. My cold is on the mend so hopefully I can summon some energy to do something tomorrow while Dot is at school. She is actually keen to go! It's very very strange. Pixie is gutted they won't let her go too, she is desperate to be anywhere but here.

Anyway.. bed time or my alarm will go off before I am asleep and my phone will not be charged by the morning.

kazwookie

Morning

I'm in thankyou for the lists

Quite a bit if snow

Mademoiselle

Morning everyone, I'm in again this week.  Working Tuesday and Thursday but I will try and be in the other days.  Once we get through this week we will be half way through February, it's a month I find very very long.  Not helped by waking up to very cold weather this morning and the news announcing it won't get above freezing even during the day until the end of the week when it will get to 1°C.  I don't mind when it's dry and sunny but it's so grey.   OK best smile on and let's get going, I have lessons to plan, ironing to catch up on and a house to clean. 

Bed made, clothes picked up
WM on

YORKSHIRELASS

Morning all

A dusting of snow here, more forecast.  Guess that means DH will be home.  Iona it sounds fascinating, just the thing to keep the brain occupied during lockdown.

Kettlebell class done, off for a coffee and shower next.  Lots to do at the paid stuff and a meeting tonight.  Supposed to be doing a site inspection but might get someone else to do it if we get more snow. 

Will set DH on flying if he is not at the paid stuff.

Fayolle

Morning all,
Thank you for the lists, I’ll do my best to keep up. Wm on, recycling out for collection. It’s my turn from the office to wfh today. Not sorry about that as it’s bitterly cold out there and it’s snowed a bit in the night.
Round - are you ok? I missed Weekend Willi, hope your eye is alright xx
Have a good day, all x

Valli

Mademoiselle said:

Morning everyone, I'm in again this week.  Working Tuesday and Thursday but I will try to be in the other days.
 I have lessons to plan and a house to clean. 

Ooh moi aussi!
Snow here but not as much as last Tuesday.  In bed until house warms up.  I love that I can control it from my phone.  Oh and I want to try the fossil activity.
WM, TD and DW x 1

BadCat18

Morning all

Thanks for the lists, I will be in as much as I can around the paid stuff.

Started paid stuff at 5:45am as I was awake and I figured I would try and get a head start! I’ve just had a 30min break to shower and dress, brekkie, cuppa, wm on to swish. Also tidied the lounge quickly and opened the bedroom windows on my way back up to my office, don’t think they will be open for long lol, it’s freezing!

Just a dusting of snow here, not sure if we will get more, I have a couple of errands to run but will wait until a little later when it has warmed up as much as it’s going to!

Have a good one all, take care if going out and it’s icy xx