Weekly flylady thread 24 May

Valli

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

Level 1
Open some windows (not just in the kitchen!) for some fresh air 
Check fruit bowl - add to washing up if necessary!
Wash up, dry up and put away (or remove all pots to DW) 
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances and caddies etc.  Don't forget the splashbacks or tiles!  Is it time the tea/coffee/sugar caddies were washed out?
Empty bin and clean it out too - put it outside to dry in the sunshine, if you can.
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!
Glug some bleach down the plugholes.
Clean/polish table - wipe mats/change cloth - don't forget the legs and places where sticky fingers can reach.
Clean chairs/stools/high chairs - and don't forget legs and rails!
Throw away your manky dish cloth or sponge and replace with a new one!  Put out a new hand towel and a new tea towel too
Clean cruet, salt and pepper, wipe any sauce bottles that are used on the table

Level 2
Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts inside and out, 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 shelves etc and check running temperature  Honey Bear - you are excused this! 
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if needed
Clean WM , TD and DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.
Wipe inside of washer drawer and DW door paying particular attention to manky crevices

Level 3

Choose a drawer, shelf or cupboard for special attention.  Empty, clean out, replace what is needed or useful and fling what is unused and/or out of date
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean chairs (and highchairs) - don't forget under the seats where sticky fingers linger.
Clean windows in both rooms.  You could also wipe frames & sills inside and out!

EXTRAS

HHI
S&S bathroom 
Wipe all the handles/sockets/switches/banisters/grab rails especially if people are leaving the house

Tuesday -  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
Check smoke alarm batteries...ine of mine has failed

pigpen

TY for Fred.. I had thought you might pull a sicky this week, I wouldn't have blamed you.. Are you feeling any better?

I might be in, or out, or whatever.. winging it!

Wondrous Wednesday ~ A little bit of what you might not want to do!
Level One
Freezer inventory.. everyones favourite.. Get some defrosting done if you need to. Kill the Olafs!
Remove 10 items from your house.. it doesn't matter what they are or where they are from or where they go.. so long as they are extra to what you would normally fling! (I have some egg boxes for school! and some bits to go in the food donation box)
Sort through your main bag and coat pockets.. you don't need to give yourself a bad back lugging about mountains of rubbish nor are you a chipmunk!
Level Two ~ Pick a room.. any room..
Dust the webs in there
Clear one flat surface, wipe it all clean and shiny.
Sort a drawer or a shelf or a bag from that room
If you can be bothered drag the vacuum round.
Level Three
HHI
Fold and put away the stray clean laundry, clear the airers and radiators and tops of doors.. put it all away!
Wash any cushion covers or throws which need freshening up.
Extras
Check when the furry beasts were last flea'd etc, due jabs, wash their stinky beds. (I need to worm my bunch)
Dust behind radiators where you can.
Spend some time doing nothing, meditating, looking after your mental and physical health.. this is important and necessary. Even just 5 minutes to gather some calm.

Thrilling Thursday ~ It is ALL about you! With a little bit of this and that!
Level One
If you are due any appointments get those booked in.. hair, nails, dentist, nurse, dr's, gynae, whatever.. look after your bod! Look after your mind too.. those appointments are important.. reach out.. we are here, your friends and family are there and you are never ever a burden to those who love you.. sharing your pain is a treasure, knowing you trust them to help or just listen is the greatest gift.. If someone walks away in your time of need it is a reflection on their ability to cope not on your worthiness.. you are worthy, they are protecting themselves because they are afraid they will say the wrong thing or not know how to help you.
S&S the kitchen.. how do they get so grotty?!
Level Two ~ Pick a room.. any room..
Dust the 'hotspots', in the nooks and dusty crannies of the actual fires, behind radiators, lamps and lights.. anywhere there is heat.. I have webs in mine! And possibly half a cat!
Clear one bookcase of things which shouldn't live there (like the packet of starburst I have on mine!), wipe it all clean and shiny so you can see those beautiful books people put so much love into writing.
Things on your dressing table/bedroom mirror area.. put away the ones to rarely use, fling the empties and make it all tidy and neat.. I'm sick of knocking everything off!
Wash a cloudy window so you can see out!.. is it STILL raining???
Level Three
HHI.. or if the weather is nice or you are hardcore (pouring with rain here!).. sack this off and go have a dig in the garden or allotment, fresh air and vitamins!.
S&S the bathroom.. sluice the loo and twinkle the taps.
Change the bedding in your room if needed or another if it's not been done in a while.
Extras
It is nearly the end of the month, any budgeting or meal planning for next month needing to be done?
Toothbrushes.. have they been replaced recently? Are they gross and need a good clean themselves? Give hairbrushes a wash too. And make up brushes.. and throw away that grotty old sponge! Get a new one, they cost pennies!
Descale the taps, toilets and kettles

FINALLY it is FRIYAY!!!
Level ONE

Ring a friend or relative you've not heard from in a while. Reach out .. you have the time today because it is on the list! I think Rounds colleague and Valli being poorly has reminded us that life and loved ones are precious and we need to remind each other we are loved and we are enough and we are appreciated. I love and appreciate every single one of you.. whether you lurk or join in or are intermittent, it doesn't matter. You are the nicest, most generous, and excellent spellers I know..

Give yourself a 'June goal!! (How is it June next week?!) Anything from decorating or a garden task or saving of sorting a cupboard or a weight target.. anything at all.. put it on your noticeboard as a daily reminder of what you hope to achieve.. Share with us or keep it private that's fine.
Empty ALL the bins in the house!

Level TWO

Wipe the front and back doors.. insides and if it's not raining the outsides could be done too if you have time
HHC in the childrens rooms or spare room.. not each, just one room and one half hour!

Can you find 5 items in each room to put away? (throwing them out counts too!)

Level THREE
How fast can you vacuum all the floor you can see??

Wash all the windows in one room.. don't be cheating and choose a tiny one in the bathroom!! I'm watching!

Gather up all the paperwork strewn about and sort through it as you sit with a cuppa

Wipe/dust all the screens .. tv's, monitors, phones.

Clean and anti-bac the remotes and house phones.

EXTRAS, EXTRAS, DO THEM IF YOU WANT TO!

Book any of the house or car appointments due or make a note of when they are due, I need phone reminders for EVERYTHING.. boiler service, MOT, Take meter readings and update those, extended warranties, etc.. make sure they are all up to date and get policies all up in one place! Most can be stored on laptop etc now.
HHI
Sort all the lunch bags and coats and shoes and uniforms you need for next week.. then RELAX the whole weekend knowing it is all done.
Wipe sticky marks off the walls.. the ones which have been driving you mad for weeks and every time you see thm you remind yourself you need to clean it.. do it now!

Goodintentions

Thanks Valli for the lists, and thanks Natty for last week. I hope you are feeling a bit better Valli 
Re the podcast - it is my DH and DS wittering on and making themselves laugh. I hear it all the time in RL, so don't need to listen to the podcast! 😂 https://fatherandsondays.com/episodes for those interested (I don't know if the link works - I am rubbish at these things! 🤦‍♀️)
I spent a few hours at the allotment and several quids at the supermarket. Roast dinner eaten & most of the WU done, table wiped. I have finished my basket, so I am now going to start one for DD1, in the hope that it is finished by the end of the week! 
YL Your weekend sounds perfect. I hope are well rested.
Have a good week everyone 😘

Jazee

Thanks for the thread.  Hope you feel better.
Jobs for tomorrow include cutting DHs hair, changing bedding, dusting bedroom, walking dogs, getting all washing up to date and community and council admin.  Am meeting with friends in the afternoon.

dancemum

Thanks for the thread Ladies. x

Hope you are feeling better Valli x
I still feel shocking, test still negative. We managed a short visit to DS2 who was busy with college work.
Bathroom cleaned
DH has ironed
Pigpen we have only ever managed to get melatonin from the paediatrician and not the GP. It could be different in your area though x

pigpen

dancemum said:

Pigpen we have only ever managed to get melatonin from the paediatrician and not the GP. It could be different in your area though x

Same here but we need to speak to the idiot GP for the referral.. they won't do the referral despite having a letter from the sleep service requesting they do it without wasting time speaking to me.. utterly ridiculous waste of an appointment. But they have had the letter since November. They are just hoping people can not manage to get an appointment so they don't have to do it I'm sure. They have been asked to do referrals for me and Boog too and not done those either because we can't get appointments. I'm still trying to get an appintment for bloods since December but they are ridiculous.

TBH I am considering just buying it to try.. between the drs surgery and the senco I'm surprised we have got anywhere at all!

I'm going to put the kettle on, find uniform, make a cuppa and think of all the things I could be doing which I am not.

ionafan

Thank you Valli and Natty for the threads.  I have re-homed several items this past week and hope for more success in the coming week - at last the utility worktop is beginning to show through the piles of unwanted stuff.

Hope you are taking care of yourself, Valli x
Glad you had a restful break, YL.
Well done on the sorting front, round.  As regards talking to your GP, I have also been told to make another appointment, so if you will, I will
Dancemum, it sounds as if your DS is studying hard.  Does he find some subjects particularly fascinating?
GI, when you've finished weeding your allotment and have nothing else to do, you would be very welcome to come and help me with my jungly garden

Here's wishing everyone a good week.  If you've got children at school, make the most of the peace before the madness of half term; if you haven't, get as much as you can of your shopping and sorting done this week rather than next;  and if you're a teacher you can start the countdown to Friday now! xx

Goodintentions

Iona I would love to help with your garden, but you will be in for a very long wait! Half of my allotment resembles a meadow 😱😭 
WU done, DW on. DD1's basket started. DH is snoring, so I won't be falling asleep for a little while yet! We are off to the big yellow Swedish shop tomorrow as there are some bits we need. I am a little excited 😁 😆 
Night night all

[Deleted User]

Morning All,

Thank you for the thread, Valli - how are you feeling this morning? 
YL - your trip sounds like a tonic. Lovely to read xx
Fayolle - how was DD last night? Hope you both got some sleep. xx
It's an odd feeling here as the children have broken up but I havent! They are relaxing in PJs and I am rushing around to get jobs done as per usual on a work morning. I had my first vaccine yesterday so felt as if I spent the day "waiting" for some side effects, thankfully none other than a slightly achey arm. Such efficient service as well, was most impressed.
I have unloaded the DW, set the WM going, fed the chickens and tidied up a bit. Roll on Friday - not only do we break up but I have three child free days in which I intend to do very, very little. 

Fayolle

Morning all
Thank you for the thread.  I hope you feel better Valli. Thank you also to Pigpen for offering to be our leader for the week. 

Thank you, ASB, we seem to have had a quiet night from about 1am, although obviously I couldn’t sleep hardly at all, which was typical!
GI - if there is a queuing system going, please can I take a ticket? I have a garden and an allotment in desperate need of tlc when you are ready…
Pigpen - well, just well done on everything that you are pushing for.
YL - so glad you had a lovely weekend, well deserved.
WM is on with towels, yesterday’s clean washing has finally dried and is folded.  The ironing pile will be tackled tonight. Work pack up done. Now I need DD to surface so that I can actually go into the office. Difficult when she has nothing to get up for, and is frustrated by restricted movement.
A dreaded week with the dreaded hospital phone call, so not looking forward to it.

Have a lovely day all. Guess what - it’s raining here. So dark it might as well be November xx

roundtuit

Morning xx 

piggers - the Bridge is open to walkers again so you won't need to walk the long way round. 😊

I've had a rummage through the ottoman this morning - before I came down for a brew!!!! Ancient pair of my jeans, well worn, ripped, and did I really wear legs that wide???? now in the rag bag, as are DS's perished elastic pyjama bottoms.  Matched up socks in my sock drawer.  Scarf and glove set in cs bag, because I found another set that I like more, which I'm keeping. 

Now supping my brew. DS's Dad came over and fixed my hoover last night so I'm going to run the hoover round my bedroom and get rid of the biodegraded biodegradable carrier bag that's gracing the floor. Might as well hoover the landing at the same time. 

I do believe that I am turning into a true Flylady- it's taken eleven years  but when I find myself eyeing the piles of bags in the RoD with a gleam in my eye and not a 🤢 I have to acknowledge that I am metamorphosing. Get me with big words on a Monday morning!

Hugs, get well soons,  sticks and much love available at the doorstep. 
Take care 
Rxx