Weekly Flylady Thread 20th September 2021

Natty68

Welcome to the weekly Flylady thread. If you need help organising your week or getting motivated when it comes to housework then come and join us.

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!

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!
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!

Click here to read Toots wonderful welcome guide

Ok here goes this week!

Monday Mayhem - Living Room, Hall and Stairs
Level One...
Vacuum through the living room, hall and stairs
Level Two..
Dusting, even if around everything
Remove and rehome clutter, making sure stairs especially are safe.
Clean windows and all glass.. including the tv screen
Clear the mantel and only put back the items which are supposed to be there.. and that doesn't include letters, keys or other treasure!
Level Three..
Wipe and water plants
Put all your hotspots in one pile and work your way through it..
Vacuum under furniture you can manage to move without hurting yourself

Extras

• Have a bit of a tidy in the cupboard under the stairs.
• Wipe down any paintwork that needs it.
• Binbag dance.. Get a binbag.. fill it and bin it!!!
• Wash any cushions, throws or curtains that need it.. Do you need your winter curtains up yet?

Tuesday Trauma - Kitchen and Dining Room
15 minutes...
Clear and wipe kitchen surfaces
Level Two..
Sweep and mop floors
Clean the fridge.. get rid of all those furry things growing in corners!
Wipe dining table.. (clean table cloth if necessary)
Level Three...
Dust any extra furniture in dining area, checking for cobwebs on way round
Wipe and replace all those small appliances.. kettle, microwave etc
Clean cupboard door fronts and fronts of appliances .. don't forget those kick boards..
Clean out your mankiest kitchen cupboard..

Extras

• Run the WM through 'clean cycle'.. hottish wash with a splosh of vinegar, soda crystals bleach.. whatever you fancy just clear those pipes of gunge!
• Wipe down any tiles and shine those taps.. a toothbrush is great for cleaning away the gunk!
• 31 fling boogie..
• Wipe over the oven and hob - you know you want to ...
• Empty the bin.. wash it out.. and make it smell SWEET

Wednesday wobbles- Bathroom and Study/Pc Area
Level One..
Clean floors in these rooms
Level Two...
Clean baths, toilets, don't forget the outside! and sinks.. shine the taps with a toothbrush
Clear any clutter from desk
Dust PC and desk and wipe off those cup rings!!
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches and mouse etc
Level Three..
Clean those extractor fans
Wash your bathroom mats, nets, clean blind/curtains etc
Scrub down tiles in bathroom.. defragment your pc while doing this.
Empty and clean out all the upstairs bins!
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required
Collect all the dirty laundry

Extras

• Wipe the skirtings, door and window frames in these rooms
• Fling all those empty bottles and tubes
• Replace any sponges, flannels, toiletries that need it
• Make a long list of those bodies you need to purchase Christmas gifts for!!.. 95 days lol

Thursday Throw!- Master Bedroom & Landing
Level One...
Check fire alarms are working
Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.
Fling open the window and let in the rainy sunnyness
Level Two...
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..
Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..
Air the duvet
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level Three...
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort through a cupboard and fling everything that is dead (organic or non organic!)
Clear a hotspot.. or spend 15 minutes clearing one.

Extras

• 32 fling boogie time, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Clean all paintwork on the landing
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Clear out your trousers/skirts

Friday Flyday- those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One...
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Spend at least half an hour doing something for yourself!!!!! paint your nails, make an appointment to have your hair done, a lovely soak in the bath.. whatever you feel like!! I'm having my nails done this morning as usual
Level Two...
Vacuum the floor
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat fluffy surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
Spend at least an hour with your family... playing, reading or just watching a dvd and having a hug!
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!! Wash the curtains!
Level Three..
Clean 2 windows
Sort through a toybox and make space for santa coming!!
Wipe any sticky marks off walls and doors

Extras

• Find 5 things to ebay/freecycle
• Wipe the radiators, skirtings and window & door frames!
• HHI
• End of week fling!! grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!
• Work yourself to level 3 in your messiest room!!
• Spend at least an hour with your family... playing, reading or just watching a dvd and having a hug!

Jazee

Thanks for the list.  I'm in and will do lr list tomorrow.

[Deleted User]

Thank you Natty - how are you doing lovely?

I need to be in. Still not done the deed, been summoned to this meeting - it's all a bit much. Off to bed with my book, which is excellent, and a cuppa - I will escape in Edwardianism for an hour xx

pigpen

Today is done..

I bathed the girls brushed and dried and tidied

packaged a parcel to post tomorrow

loaded the DW

4x WM

3 loads out on the line

1 load in the dryer

cleared the front room

filled a binbag of rubbish

filled a bag of recycling

vacuumed the front room, hallway, backroom and half the kitchen

Cleared the kitchen table

cooked 6 pizzas and 2 cheesy garlic breads
dished up a million ice creams and biscuits and crisps.

I still have pack ups to make and uniforms to find but the girls are all flung in bed.

BadCat18

Hi all

Thanks for the lists, I’m in again but will likely be doing my own things.Lots done over the weekend to prep for decorator coming next week and we are away this coming weekend. Need to stay on top of things so it’s not all a mad rush on Friday!

So far this morning, wm loaded and on the timer so will kick in shortly
I am showered, dressed and have first cuppa, just planning my work day a bit and then I shall have breakfast and tackle some dailies.

Hugs and supportive vibes to those in need… back later x

Mademoiselle

Morning, thank you for the motivation, and lists.  I'm in this week, DD1 has done an amazing job of getting rid of most of her stuff over the weekend.  She is being ruthless, OH is finding it a bit shocking but she is right to pass on stuff.  She starts as a junior doctor/resident in November so will be living in hospital accomodation (a single bedroom in many cases) for a year or so at least, we will be selling this big house to move to the other (holiday but to become retirement) house.  She has understood that ornaments etc from teenager times can go.  Time to move on.  I plan to harness her energy and go through lots of our stuff too.  

Admin task done before my boss nags
OH packed off for 3 day business trip, first foreign trip since Feb 2020, seemed to take ages to check he had everything, he'd got out of the habit (it used to be 2 or 3 times a month pre pandemic)
Bed made, clothes picked up

See you later

roundtuit

Morning all xx 
All I did yesterday was make my bed and get dressed. Watching TV and reading took up the rest of my day...which is annoying as I made a good start to the weekend getting stuck in on Saturday. Why the slump? I'm guessing too much sugar eaten. Ditto yesterday, so I'm still slumpy today. I really am my own worst enemy. 
But I have to push through the bleughhh today - some things have to be done today or this week will fall apart.
My list for today in no particular order (going to screenshot it and refer through the day):

Fill up with petrol
LFT 
Shower and wash hair
Drop off window cleaner's money
Buy bread etc for lunches
Give cheque to S
? P&S coming for coffee
Visit / phone Dad

That was a good idea - it didn't feel doable while it was zipping round and round in my head. Now it's OK.

Round 1
Brew 2 and breakfast 
Get dressed
LFT
Write cheque for S
Put away Saturday's LTD pots 
Rinse & recycle soaked tins
Write shopping list
Feed the birds 

I don't know what time P & S are coming this morning so I'll leave the 'going out' jobs for after they've been. 

Thank you for giving me a safe place to untangle my brain 💖. 

Love and hugs and get well soons heading into the ether. 
Rxx

Jazee

Morning all.  Just having breakfast but so far today I have changed bedding, dusted surfaces in bedroom, got all but one wash load sorted, hoovered quickly through before DH starts work and took the dogs for a short walk.  Littleydog seems to be limping less today and liked the walk.  Off to finish the dailies then I need to pop to local shop, and having changed my plans for today, I will do today's list.  This afternoon will be pedicure and reading my book.

pigpen

OH came in from work and left me to do everything last night so the DW went on, I rounded up and fed cats, rebuilt the MW, sorted uniforms, found pe kits and shoes and hairbrushes, made pack ups, cleared the table and nearly killed myself falling off a bag of cat litter while closing the window.

When I went up 45 minutes later I thanked him for the assistance and said it was very helpful.

Squeak stuffed at her first lesson.. I need to get dressed, hang out washing and I have a call from the EHE people at 10:30. Cuppa first though.

Parcel to post..

Coats to list for sale.

Girls washing to put away.
DS1 to chase for his quack appointment.

[Deleted User]

Morning all

Children away to school, dog walked, eggs delivered and the sun is shining. I have developed  Blepharitis in both eyes which is rather itchy and I look ancient. Lots of cleaning them with cool boiled water methinks. 

I have lots to do today, and zero inclination, but I will crack on otherwise the BD will descend. Easy dinner of spag bol and garlic bread tonight. Take care all xx

pigpen

Deleted_User said:

Children away to school, dog walked, eggs delivered and the sun is shining. I have developed  Blepharitis in both eyes which is rather itchy and I look ancient. Lots of cleaning them with cool boiled water methinks.

when my daughter has that (ongoing issue) she was advised by the optician to wash the eyelashes with baby shampoo .. works a treat as it shifts all the crusty oily bits and makes them less sticky.

Emails dealt with. I have clothes, Squeak in her lesson!