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Valli
Posts: 24,805 Forumite
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
ok Here goes this Week.
Manic Monday Kitchen/dining room
Level 1
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
Empty bin and clean it out too
Wipe sill, sockets, door handles and switches
Clear and clean sink, taps and accessories - don't forget those out-of-sight places - under plugs and under draining racks
Clean/polish table - wipe mats/change cloth
Check fruit and wash bowl
Clean or replace dishcloth
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
Wash out 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 the oven
Clean windows in both rooms.
EXTRAS
Dig out your Toots list and update.
Update budget notebooks/spreadsheets.
S&S bathroom
Meal plan - and plan a cook double and freeze half meal - bank some free time!
If children are still on Easter hols give them a job or two too
Twinkly Tuesday Bathrooms, cloak rooms and en suites
Level 1
Open window
Remove towels and fling in WM
Scrub Loo inside and out, slug some bleach or descaler down afterwards. Pay special attention to under the rim.
Dust anywhere that needs dusting - wipe any 'on display' bottles down
Level 2
Clean out baths and/or showers
Clean shower heads and hoses
Clean handbasins including taps
Level 3
sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriate
clean windows
polish mirrors
dust and polish where necessary
Chuck any lurking potions that are not being used/are old
Clean light pull
Extras
Wash showercurtains (if any) and put outside to blow dry
HHI
S&S kitchen
Hump Day- Master Bedroom/Boudoir
Level 1
Open windows,
Clear the floordrobe/chairdrobe
Strip the bed and leave to air
Take out the rubbish
Bedding in WM
Wipe all switches, handles, rails, light pulls etc.
Level 2 (after breakfast/a period of time)
Remake the bed with clean, fresh linen
Dust/clear bedside tables
Clean windows, frames and sills - check everything closes/locks as it should
Level 3
Vacuum any soft furnishings - don't forget the headboard if it's fabric! Of not wipe/polish it
Dust everywhere else; as you remove lotions and potions from dressing tables wipe them over with a damp cloth.
Minimise clutter/organise essentials - in this time of stress your bedroom needs to be the cosiest, snuggliest place of peace, calm and refuge
Vacuum/mop floors
Extras
S&S kitchen
S&S bathrooms
Allocate stay-at-home children a job
Make sure PE kit and uniform/school clothing is ready for children who are back to school on Monday - we don't want any last minute panics.
In the same vein check holiday projects/homework has been completed or is on track.
Thursday Thrills - Kids Room(s)/Spare Room/Guest room
level 1
open windows
strip bed
clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
empty bin
level 2
make bed with fresh bedding
clean bedside tables
vacuum/sweep/mop floor
level 3
clean windows
dust all round
extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
Wash your make up brushes/applicators (shampoo/shower gel/washing up liquid) rinse VERY well. Shake off excess wet and put in a warm/airy place (indoors or out) to dry.
Hairbrushes and combs might also benefit too.
Friday Flourish - The Lounge, Hallway, stairs and landing
Level 1
Deal with cut flowers and pot plants - top up water/wipe leaves/remove drooping or dead blooms
Empty bins/ashtrays
If you have a woodburner/real fire attend to that first - and lay fire for lighting
Clear gibble
Plump and straighten cushions
Wipe sofas with leather wipes or vacuum - look for all those dust-catching crevices. Lift seat cushions if you can and vacuum underneath
Wipe/dust coffee tables and leave tidy
Level 2
Clean windows and mirrors
Vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies - and stairs!
Clean doormats
Dust/wipe electricals - use a just-damp cloth. Don't forget the remote controllers!
Level 3
Dust all round - don't forget sills, skirting boards, tops of curtain rails and/or battens and top and frame of door.
Wipe door handles, banisters, light switches and sockets - and the bits of the door where people hold to close it.
Check for cobwebs and eliminate!
Clean lightshades and lampshades; check all lighting is functioning as it should
Wipe lightbulbs (if cold)
Dust pictures/paintings on walls - and dust behind them too!
Stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean?
Extras
S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
HHI
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
ok Here goes this Week.
Manic Monday Kitchen/dining room
Level 1
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
Empty bin and clean it out too
Wipe sill, sockets, door handles and switches
Clear and clean sink, taps and accessories - don't forget those out-of-sight places - under plugs and under draining racks
Clean/polish table - wipe mats/change cloth
Check fruit and wash bowl
Clean or replace dishcloth
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
Wash out 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 the oven
Clean windows in both rooms.
EXTRAS
Dig out your Toots list and update.
Update budget notebooks/spreadsheets.
S&S bathroom
Meal plan - and plan a cook double and freeze half meal - bank some free time!
If children are still on Easter hols give them a job or two too
Twinkly Tuesday Bathrooms, cloak rooms and en suites
Level 1
Open window
Remove towels and fling in WM
Scrub Loo inside and out, slug some bleach or descaler down afterwards. Pay special attention to under the rim.
Dust anywhere that needs dusting - wipe any 'on display' bottles down
Level 2
Clean out baths and/or showers
Clean shower heads and hoses
Clean handbasins including taps
Level 3
sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriate
clean windows
polish mirrors
dust and polish where necessary
Chuck any lurking potions that are not being used/are old
Clean light pull
Extras
Wash showercurtains (if any) and put outside to blow dry
HHI
S&S kitchen
Hump Day- Master Bedroom/Boudoir
Level 1
Open windows,
Clear the floordrobe/chairdrobe
Strip the bed and leave to air
Take out the rubbish
Bedding in WM
Wipe all switches, handles, rails, light pulls etc.
Level 2 (after breakfast/a period of time)
Remake the bed with clean, fresh linen
Dust/clear bedside tables
Clean windows, frames and sills - check everything closes/locks as it should
Level 3
Vacuum any soft furnishings - don't forget the headboard if it's fabric! Of not wipe/polish it
Dust everywhere else; as you remove lotions and potions from dressing tables wipe them over with a damp cloth.
Minimise clutter/organise essentials - in this time of stress your bedroom needs to be the cosiest, snuggliest place of peace, calm and refuge
Vacuum/mop floors
Extras
S&S kitchen
S&S bathrooms
Allocate stay-at-home children a job
Make sure PE kit and uniform/school clothing is ready for children who are back to school on Monday - we don't want any last minute panics.
In the same vein check holiday projects/homework has been completed or is on track.
Thursday Thrills - Kids Room(s)/Spare Room/Guest room
level 1
open windows
strip bed
clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
empty bin
level 2
make bed with fresh bedding
clean bedside tables
vacuum/sweep/mop floor
level 3
clean windows
dust all round
extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
Wash your make up brushes/applicators (shampoo/shower gel/washing up liquid) rinse VERY well. Shake off excess wet and put in a warm/airy place (indoors or out) to dry.
Hairbrushes and combs might also benefit too.
Friday Flourish - The Lounge, Hallway, stairs and landing
Level 1
Deal with cut flowers and pot plants - top up water/wipe leaves/remove drooping or dead blooms
Empty bins/ashtrays
If you have a woodburner/real fire attend to that first - and lay fire for lighting
Clear gibble
Plump and straighten cushions
Wipe sofas with leather wipes or vacuum - look for all those dust-catching crevices. Lift seat cushions if you can and vacuum underneath
Wipe/dust coffee tables and leave tidy
Level 2
Clean windows and mirrors
Vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies - and stairs!
Clean doormats
Dust/wipe electricals - use a just-damp cloth. Don't forget the remote controllers!
Level 3
Dust all round - don't forget sills, skirting boards, tops of curtain rails and/or battens and top and frame of door.
Wipe door handles, banisters, light switches and sockets - and the bits of the door where people hold to close it.
Check for cobwebs and eliminate!
Clean lightshades and lampshades; check all lighting is functioning as it should
Wipe lightbulbs (if cold)
Dust pictures/paintings on walls - and dust behind them too!
Stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean?
Extras
S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
HHI
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
Thank you Honey Bear
Janice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear
10
Comments
-
MorningThe day is sunny but cold here, so after yesterdays snow and hail, I am gratefulThank you for all the lists.I am in but got a bit of odd other stuff to do this weekBreast Cancer Now 2022 100 miles October 100 / 100milesSun, Sea
2024 7/28 lbs to go.11 -
Thank you for the list Valli, count me in this week even if I'll be flapping my wings rather than flying..lol
Piggers I'm going to tell my BPD support group this, below, they'll all be so happy to know we are all normal and sane...😜 (I don't mean this how it sounds, snippy, just can't convey it properly)
Actually I wish I could deal with it but as it's my Bipolar and BPD that sort of floors me I kind of have to go with the flow, so to speak. I try not to let it rule me, or take over, but sometimes it's too much and I just have to give in and deal with it as best I can without harming myself or causing pain anyone else around me - I basically disappear for a while and sleep a lot..pigpen said:I am starting to think normal and sane IS having mental health issues and it is how we deal with them and acknowledging them and giving them time out of our lives to heal a little before real life drags us back in. The minute we let them win or take over or rule our life that is when we lose control. I have so much control over my head it is life a prison. I am actually scared of myself.Mortgage Free as of 20.9.17Declutter challenge 2023, 2024 🏅 🏅⭐️⭐️
DH declutter challenge award 🏅⭐️11 -
Morning all. Thanks for the list.
So far today, I have dusted the dusty bits in the living room/ dining room.Spend less now, work less later.12 -
Morning all,
Thanks for the lists. So far chickens fed, children fed, bed made and DW unloaded. Wood chopping and walking are the order of the day for me x10 -
Thank you Natty and Valli for giving us targets to aim for xx
I hope to do a quick clean all through downstairs this morning. Yesterday I spotted dust around the Easter cards on the LR bookshelves but didn't do anything about it; Rosie has started her Spring moult; and the lilies which DH bought me last week are beginning to shed petals (I've already cut off the stamens to prevent the pollen falling everywhere).
Glad to hear that the hens are settling in well, asb.
(((Hugs))) to Fayolle, YL and Natty. Thank you pigpen.
Unfortunately, somebody - not a family member - said something yesterday that has upset me greatly, but I am trying to pick up the pieces and move forward, even though it will probably mean first going several steps back, IYSWIM
Yesterday evening I returned at last to tracking down one of my most elusive ancestors and managed to establish a possible relationship between his wife and one of the witnesses at their wedding. Small victory
Hope everyone has a good day xx10 -
Morning all xx
dancemum - there's a box for old specs in my optician's. I don't know if that's what all opticians do, but it may be worth a try? ❤
ionafan - hugs xx Words can be dreadful weapons. I'm sending you much love. And thank you for sharing as it hadn't occurred to me that it's ok to take a few steps back sometimes. But that makes so much sense now you've said it ❤
Fayolle - I know it sounds trite but keep on keeping on, my lovely. Rest when you can- the dust will keep for another day. (Probably shouldn't say that in front of flylady central 🤣) ❤
Natty, YL, asb, piggers, Badcat ❤❤❤❤❤. And for all flyladies everywhere ((((hugs)))). Don't know what's got into me this morning- I'm suddenly wanting to wrap you all up and take you home. Fishfinger sandwich anyone?
No milk- so I've had a black coffee as I can't handle black tea. I'm going to get dressed and then:
Round 1=
feed the birds
put out the rubbish and recycling
laundry shuffle
WUDUPA
HH Admin
Have a good day
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme10 -
Morning all
Paid stuff for me today, I made an early start as I have a lot to get through, just taken a break to take the cats to the cattery, DH is going up to visit FIL and we have decorator arriving so wanted the furries out of the way for a few days.
Kitchen has been swished over, that might be all I will manage from the list but will see how I go, dailies are done and wm x 1 has been run.Still need to make a cake, didn’t get round to it yesterday and regretting being lazy now, will have to get to it later on....
Right, paid stuff beckons, need to shift a tail feather!
byeeee10 -
WM x 2 done all out on line whirly.Bins doneWhole house hooveredBed stripped and remadeCucumber plants look a little sick today, I guess the conservatory got too cold last nightBreast Cancer Now 2022 100 miles October 100 / 100milesSun, Sea
2024 7/28 lbs to go.11 -
Round 1=
feed the birds
put out the rubbish and recycling
laundry shuffle
WUDUPA
HH Admin
I've also:
got dressed
sprayed a new perfume on
sloshed bleach down the loo
changed the towels in bathroom
fitted new shower head
binned old shower head
set towels & tea towels swishing
I'm having ten minutes with Daniel (O'Donnell) before I tackle the WU.
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme10 -
Ooh, get you Round with your new perfume, lucky thing.
I have done the dailies, walked the dogs, changed the bedding, dusted dusty bits in the bedroom, quickly Hoovered through and refilled the dogs treat pots and done a little training with them.Spend less now, work less later.12
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