Weekly Flylady Thread th July 2021

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 IF YOU'RE NOT TOO HOT

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!  
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.
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
Pop a jug of water in the fridge to chill for refreshing drinks if you have room.  I keep my work water bottle (one of those metal flasks) in there once it's clean so I can take a chilled drink with me.
Make sure people and pets have water to hand 

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 - make sure air can circulate so food stays cool - and safe 
Dust dining area/room


Level 3

Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean chairs (and highchairs) - don't forget under the seats where sticky fingers linger.

EXTRAS

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


Terrific 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.

Level 2
Clean out baths and/or showers
Clean shower heads and hoses
Clean handbasins including taps - don't forget the out of sight bits!

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 bake dry 
HHI
S&S kitchen

Wednesday - hump day (as in you probably have one - what with the heat and all)

it's too darn hot

So...

Spend 5 minutes in each room...

depending on where the sun is = close curtains/open windows
take out rubbish
water plants/deal with flowers
straighten furniturs/cushions/beds
gather anything that need homing in one central place - bottom of the stairs?
home as much as you can carry in any journey you're making
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
check over TOOTS list - make phone calls to book trades...too hot for anything else
Ring family member to take you to colonoscopy/endoscopy appt because sedation will be required (just me?)
Drink water

Thursday 

It is, apparently, the last day of the heatwave.  The cleaning will wait.

So today - peg out washing if you can
or wash something that needs it (throws? curtains? Winter coats?)
other than that do sit down/month end/planning jobs.
We can dust when it rains.

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
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

pigpen

TY for Fred..

I have a horrible week ahead... but I'm here.

MinnieMousesMummy

Thank you for the new thread. Count me in for this week, although as usual, I will be following my own list.

My list for Monday:

• Do paid stuff - DONE
• Do freelance stuff - DONE
• Put food out for the birds  - DONE
• Do online interview
• Open the windows and let air in - DONE
• Make a start on getting the back-to-school clothes
• Wipe down the work surfaces - DONE
• Do high dusting in the kitchen

I think that is everything that I need to get completed on Monday. Hope everyone has a good start to the week.

ionafan

Thank you Valli. I definitely need to be in this week, though my flying time will be limited by other commitments, and I am hardly able to move in this muggy heat.

Today I have succeeded in clearing a few papers off my desk, taking Rosie for a short walk (not until 9.30 pm, and along the footpath under the trees, where it was cooler) and FUPA Friday's washing
I must try to make an early start in the morning, before it gets too hot.

Glad MiL is OK, pigpen, and hope SiL has calmed down.  Good luck with the school business tomorrow!

(((Hugs))) to all whose last week of term has been upset by all the pinging.

Take care when the masks come off, Flyfriends xx

kazwookie

I'm in thank you for the lists.

Pigpen glad MIL is ok,  I hope you have a reasonably peaceful week.

OH is going back to work part time for now, until he starts chemo, then we will see if he is off work again or feels fit enough to build his hours up, (he WFH, and is sat at a desk, hasn't seen his work colleagues for at least 18 months!)

Today

Cleaning round

WM

Sort out wood I cut off overhanging tree yesterday, keep bits that are good for fire pit, all other greenery to the tip.

Admin~ sort out a heap of paper that seems to accumulated.

Have a good day x

[Deleted User]

Morning All,

I am in, thank you for the lists. I lost yesterday to a particularly nasty bout of D&V, coupled with a very low mood. I am feeling a bit better today, and am determined to make the most of this time whilst it is slightly cooler. X1 WM is on the airer, the WM is doing it's thing with towels, DD is ready for school and I have made her packed lunch.

DS is doing online learning all week. A friend of mine will be here soon to drop DD at school for me. I have also cleaned the W/C and taken a bag of rubbish out.

Hugs to you all, especially Piggers - I will be cheerleading you through the week xx

roundtuit

Morning xx 

My last day of freedom  - back to pit face aka office tomorrow. 

I've changed the towels in the bathroom and they are swishing with tea towels. My bed is made. Second brew is being supped and I've eaten my toast. 

List for today:
Shower
Get dressed
Peg out washing
Feed the birds
Put out the rubbish and recycling 
WUDUPA a bowl of pots (when the sun moves off the kitchen)
Shopping list
Go to Mr Coop - probably this evening 
Clean Sweetie's mirror 
Take labels off new clothes

Might do:
HH admin
Put duvet cover back on
Melt

Take care. Love to all. 
Rxx

Mademoiselle

Morning everyone, I have 4 days to fly this week so must get on with it.  Then it's 4 weeks holiday, AWAY!  although not exactly sure where or how yet.

Bed made, clothes picked up
DW on
Recycling out
Kitchen tidied
Dining table sorted (now being used for holiday stuff)


Just spent an hour on the phone for DD2, we ordered her a cooker, fridge and dishwasher on Saturday when we were with her, suddenly this morning she's decided she wants the DW in silver not white.  Of course the order is in my name and I paid but we are now back home several 100 miles away.  Part of a big group so spent ages trying to get a real phone number for the shop.  DD2 going in to them at lunchtime so hopefully it will get sorted.  

Kaz, special weedkiller for marestail, tell me more please.  Our other house is plagued with it, here is France the call it "rats's tail",

Hugs to all, keep SMILING most importantly through the difficult times

Rushing off to put WM on

roundtuit

OK...slight change of plan:
Shower
Get dressed 
Melt

If I disappear I'm the wet patch on the armchair!!! 🥵

kazwookie

ASB get well soon hugs xx

Mademoiselle~ I'll send you a pm about maretail's killer.

WM x 2 done out on whirly

Various bottle of 1/4 or 1/2  hand wash tipped into each other.

Gas and electric reading done, the supplier came up with this thought :- Two-thirds of an octopus's brain is in its limbs   I would also suggest this applies to male humans at times as well..............

Hoovered whole house emptied bagless thingy

Bed stripped and remade

Cat is zonked out with the heat, it seems he likes the tiles in the kitchen.

Off to cut my new lawn and sort out wood, tip run

roundtuit

Now I've :
Pegged out washing 
Fed the birds
Put out the rubbish and recycling 

And said Good Morning to NDN cockeral- can't see him, but it seemed rude not to answer him 🐓

Rxx