Weekly Flylady Thread 8th November 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

PLEASE REMEMBER YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A COMPLETE LIST EVERY DAY!

Marvellous Monday - Kitchen and Dining Room

Level 1
Open some windows for some fresh air 
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!
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
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 - and don't forget legs and rails!
Check fruit and wash bowl
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

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 
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.

EXTRAS

HHI
S&S bathroom

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.
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 - 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 blow dry - possibly!
HHI
S&S 

Wonderful Wednesday 

 The Boudoir do level 1 at least - everyone deserves a comfy bed

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
Use a damp cloth to wipe lotions and potions - and fling anyting OOD/past it's best

extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
Bin bag dance...fling that gibble


thursday...level  is fine.

Living room, hall, stairs and landing

Level 1
Open lots of windows and let that fresh air in while beds are airing
Deal with cut flowers and pot plants - top up water/wipe leaves/remove drooping or dead blooms
Wash out vases
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
Sort newspapers/magazines

Level 2
Clean windows and mirrors 
Vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies - and stairs!
Move furniture to vacuum under it if you can.
Clean doormats

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 open/close it.
Check for cobwebs and eliminate!
Clean lightshades and lampshades; check all lighting is functioning as it should - vacuum fabric shades; wash glass shades 
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
and some self care...crafting, reading, a bubbly bath?


FRIDAY

get out your Toots list and make a start on one job - even if its just getting a quote.
S&s kitchen
S&s bathroom
plan some self care

pigpen

Ty for Fred.

I'm fine.. just busy ..

Narc0lepsy

I've also been MIA but only due to 2 long weekends away on the trot and frantic trying to catch up on life in between. 
Had a quick scan through last couple of weeks' threads and lots of congratulations in order it seems, plus some commiserations/support/hugs - help yourselves.     Well done GI for the ParkRuns. I've been using the lake swimming on a Saturday as an excuse not to do them, but rather put to shame by a new swimming friend who has just completed a pledge to run every day for - oh I can't remember, was it 100 days? a year?  including ParkRun before swimming!        However I have started running again after an inexplicable lapse!    The swimming is still nice but getting rather chilly.

Life at present remains writing reports, doing assessments, keeping up with admin, trying to get the exercise done, tidying garden. We have an incentive now for the latter as builder dropped in yesterday to confirm that he should be able to start on the patio next Wed, the day after the tree surgeon does a mass pruning. This weekend we have done a lot of clearing stuff out of the greenhouse, storing tender plants in greenhouse for the winter, pruning perennials and generally tidying anything that would be in the way of the treeman and/or the builder.            Also aware of impending Christmas!

ionafan

Please message me *this week* if you want to join in the Secret Santa 🎅

Glad you're ok, pigpen.
Congratulations to jazee and all the family 

Goodintentions

Thanks for the thread Valli and thanks Natty for last week. It is appreciated (even if I don't follow them! 😂)
I completed Round 1 (well, it involved getting up, dressed & having breakfast! 🤣) I also emptied 2 large plastic boxes into the now-empty CoD and put the boxes into the summerhouse. Whilst in there I tidied the cardboard collection. I also poo picked and rescued a drowning money plant and a scented geranium. The money plant has been drained & put indoors and the geranium can overwinter in the GH. Dys0n was cleaned & reassembled. LR, BR & DS's BR vac'd. Dry washing FUPA. 

Tomorrow we need to meal plan & food shop, and DH is making noises about sorting the garden (he won't - he will faff about doing stuff for his podcast, but we can hope!) I may disappear for an hour or so to the allotment  - I may move some of my stash of cardboard 🤔 

Narc0 if you ever fancy a trip to the coast you can do our parkrun. You could also swim!! (you might want to check tide times & safety guidance re pollution after recent events!)
Hugs, sticks & spoons to those that need them. Have a good week everyone!

Jazee

Morning all.  Happy Monday and I hope you can all see the beautiful sunrise.
DH is busy installing a stairgate having already been out for petrol and bits.  It's getting more and more difficult to keep Littleydog still as she's beginning to recover and I don't want her injuring herself.  Also she got very startled by yet more fireworks last night but hopefully there won't be any more now.
So far this morning, I have dusted the dusty bits in the LR and had breakfast.
Today includes minimal flying and visits with both dogs to two different vets.
Have a great day everyone.

roundtuit

Morning xx 

Thank you for the threads Valli and Natty xx

Love and hugs to all the poorlies,  those caring for poorly loved ones, and everyone who is struggling with life's challenges right now ❤❤

Fayolle - glad to hear that you are safely home after your travels ooop north. Xx

I was wide awake at 6.30 so I'm up, my bed is made, and first brew is supped. Yup, it's Groundhog Day 🤣

Round 1
Brew 2 and breakfast 
Shower & hair wash
Get dressed 
Feed the birds 
Put out the rubbish and recycling 
Set WM swishing 
PA LTD pots

Have a good day 
Rxx

ionafan

Morning all.

It took me a while to get off to sleep last night, so I didn't wake up until 8.30

Today I shall
- FUPA clean washing
- Enjoy my clean and tidy house
- Join a Zoom meeting at 11.00
- Take Rosie for a walk
- Visit DH

Anything else will be a bonus!

Dancemum, I hope your DS's new place gets put to rights quickly.
Jazee, I was thinking that your DGDs must be very forward in their mobility if you need a stairgate so soon! 
Glad you got away for a short break, Fayolle.
Good to hear from you, pigpen.
Thanks, round x

(((Hugs))) and sticks as needed, and today - after my top-up visit to DS2 and phone call with DD yesterday - I also have enough spoons to share, so please take one if you need it xx

Jazee

I think I'm going to be the one injuring myself manoeuvring through the stair gate!  Anyhow, dogs have been walked (Littleydog in the pushchair), dailies done, I had a soak in the bath, bedding is changed, WM whirring and I cleaned the under sink cupboard.

roundtuit

Round 1 completed + sploshed bleach down the loo, and rinsed and refilled the birdbath.

Having a hot chocolate now - it's that time of year 😊
Rxx

Natty68

Aaaaahh.....sorry needed to scream..lol

I've been left dealing with a few things lately..

I've spent all weekend on the phone to the hospital where my mother in law was rushed into last week, as well as her care home.

I've also had to arrange what happens next as she isn't going back to her present care home now. They can't care for her with the needs she needs. So now she is going to their sister home which is on the same road - it's a 24hr nursing and dementia home. 

We've been told by the hospital that she now has severe complex needs..all because she got sepsis ☹️

So the new home's manager is going to assess her at the hospital to see what care she needs to have set up. Then all her stuff will be moved from one home to the other.

It's quite sad as it looks like we are on the final stretch now.

Dave isn't going to the home to see her but he'll be going to see her in a fortnight's time once she's settled in.

Also the 24th of this month is the anniversary of my mum passing 15 years ago.

You know when mum died I thought I'd not have to sort out a home for anyone and here I am doing all the leg work for my mother in law. And getting all the care and rehoming sorted out. Dave doesn't seem to be capable of sorting this out as he told me I'm much better at it.

But I will say it's really taken it out of me. I'm shattered...

Sorry for the long post.