Weekly Flylady Thread 13th December 2021

Valli

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.
Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread. 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.

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 (ooh a compound adjective) content!
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 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 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!

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...

FLYLADY THREAD PICK'N'MIX V2.0 - 


I'm not going to list the rooms by day, just by room but you are free to either do a whole room (all three levels) or mix up the levels across the week - so, for example, you might pick level 1 to do for all rooms. Just post what you HAVE achieved! Sharp-eyed flyladies will notice there are six lists...because YOU are picking and mixing. You might choose the worst room to really make a difference (and because you have the time) or the least minging because you're short of time.



Bathroom, Cloakroom, En suites

Level 1

Remove all rubbish (bin bag dance)
Clean windows and wipe frames
Dust all furnishings
Polish mirror, shower screen
Wipe shower cubicle out
Change towels

Level 2

Clean loo - and bleach it
Clean basin - don't forget to clean the underside of the plug
Wash toothbrush holders/toothmugs
Wipe loo roll holder

Level 3

Clean bath
Clean floor
Wipe door(s) down paying special attention to handles
Wipe pull switches
Check cabinets - wipe sticky shelves

Hall, Stairs and Landing

Level 1

Clear rubbish/binbag dance
Clean windows
Wipe all handles and stair rails/banisters
Wipe sockets and switches

Level 2

Dust skirtings
Attend to plants
Dust everywhere

Level 3

Sweep, mop, vacuum floors
Clean mats
Check outdoor/security lighting is fully functional
Check smoke alarms and CO monitors

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 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
Throw away your manky dish cloth or sponge and replace with a new one!

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
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if needed
Clear WM , TD and DW filters

Level 3

Pick a cupboard or a drawer; empty it, clean it out and put back its contents tidily
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean windows

Master Bedroom

Level 1

Open windows w-i-d-e unless it's persisting it down/freezing
Strip bed
Allow to air
Remake bed

Level 2

Clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
Clean windows
Vacuum, sweep or mop floor
Empty bin
Put as much stuff as you can away - clear the clutter

Level 3

Dust all sides and shelves
With a just damp cloth wipe all your lotion and potion bottles, hairdryers (especially if you use product while blow drying) etc. and put all perfumes away in a drawer. The sun/heat will damage the contents.
Rinse the cloth and wipe sockets and switches
Polish mirrors
Vacuum/dust light fittings and lamps

Living room

Level 1

Open windows
Empty out any rubbish
Clear and clean coffee table/side tables
Recycle old newspapers and magazines
Rehome anything which is out of place
Wipe coasters
Deal with any flowers/water & wipe plants

Level 2

Dust and polish any wooden furniture or just dust
Check corners for cobwebs/spiders and remove
Dust skirting boards
Wipe handles/sockets/switches
Dust electricals

Level 3

Lift chair/sofa cushions and vacuum under them
Wipe leather furniture/vacuum sofas
Dust lightfittings - and bulbs!
Dust skirting boards/dado rails etc
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor

Kids room/spare room/guest room

Level one

Open widows
Strip bed (if needed)
Remove rubbish
Deal with flowers
Remake aired bed

Level 2

Clean window
Dust level surfaces
Check lighting functional

Level 3

Dust skirtings
Wipe mirrors
Vacuum floor

Daily little tasks that keep the whole house running smoothly

S&S kitchen (unless it's kitchen day)
S&S bathroom(s) (unless.. you get the idea)
HHI - 

Other key tasks

Pick and choose if/as necessary 

Check outside drains are not blocked by leaves.  We don't want any soapy floods.  
Get those cards and gifts posted ASAP.  Don't forget Flylady Cards and/or Secret Santa  - you must do this SOON
When you're meal planning double up and freeze for busy days 
Lots of lurgies are lurking - wipe switches and handles with antiseptic wipes/disinfectant.
Make sure you won't run out of meds/inhalers over the holiday season.  Check you have your favourite OTC meds to hand
Check Christmas shopping/to do lists (which you wrote last week didn't you? 
Buy batteries!
Plan in some me-time - visit to a salon, long bubbly bath, snuggle down with a good book 
Check your bin emptying times over the holiday 
If you're planning on travelling check oil, tyres, fuel, screenwash etc  
Book your booster!
If you have a charity bag/box to donate get it gone asap 

ionafan

(((Hugs)) dancemum.  I'm sorry you're having such a difficult year x

Thank you for the lists, Valli.

Congratulations to round and Natty on your excellent progress.  I have green tick envy.

Having cleaned thoroughly all through upstairs last week, this week I must concentrate on getting downstairs properly clean and tidy, as well as taking DH to various horse piddle clinics, shopping for bits that I can't get locally, making an 18th birthday cake, delivering said cake and Christmas presents to godchildren, writing Christmas cards (only the Flylady cards are done so far), finishing off 2 pairs of snowman mittens, carol singing at the big MrS in our parish,  putting up the coloured lights in the front garden,  and tidying my study again!  I haven't wrapped any Christmas gifts yet, and I might need to post some of them or try to meet up briefly with the recipients for a present swap.

Today I managed to prep and cook in the SC a red cabbage that I bought about 3 weeks ago, together with an enormous apple that I picked up from a now defunct orchard (only 2 trees left standing) last time we visited a NT property.  We ate some with sausages for tea, and the rest is boxed up and in the freezer for Christmas, nom-nom

Hope everyone has a good week.

I still haven't caught up with sleep from the wee small hours of yesterday, so I'm off to the Land of Nod very soon. G'night all xx

pigpen

Hi, TY for Fred..

Valli.. ebeast the sheets!! They sell for up to £20+  per sheet!! Candlewick bedspreads go like hot cakes too!

Off to do pack ups and a cuppa and do more Dr Who scarf knitting.

Girls wrote their christmas cards for school so we can drop those in tomorrow. We used a damp sponge to *lick* envelopes I didn't think anyone would want our germs.

I need to spend a few more days wrapping, my legs and feet are still swollen from Friday.

Packups first .. and I have decided everyone is getting a room to tidy next week and a fly list and a 'get on with it' I am NOT doing everything again.. no one is working or at college so they can all chip in.

Natty68

Thank you for the lists Valli 

I'm gearing up for my mega list Christmas week..lol 😘

DH came home from playing Santa absolutely shattered, bless him. But he actually noticed the tree had been decorated although I do have to do the top half tomorrow but that involves getting a ladder for that job. He did suggest leaving it half decorated as it looks good as it is, weird man..lol

Have the rest of my list, and possibly some added things to do for Monday and Tuesday. Think I'll do wrapping on Wednesday as I have the house to myself due to DH going to clear some more of his mum's house then plus some agents are coming to value it for probate and to sell.

It did feel good seeing all those green ticks though. Will definately carry that one on.

Now it's time for sleep I think..

Hugs xxx

Jazee

Morning all.  Thanks for the list.
I'll report back later with progress.  Today's plans include another vet appointment and cuddles with DGD2.
Have a great day everyone.

kazwookie

I'm in thank you for the lists.

My tree is only decorated from about 3ft upwards, as my assistants think it is great fun to 'bat' at the decs.

General stuff to do

Thinking of all those having a hard time x

Jazee

Bedding changed and washing machine whirring. Just having breakfast.

roundtuit

Morning all xx 

Thank you for the thread ❤

Glad you like the green ticks Natty. I didn't complete my list yesterday because I had my nose stuck in a book. Robinson Crusoe to be exact - want to escape to desert island? Me? 🤔

Today / this week's to do list:
Get dressed 
Feed the birds 
Put out the recycling 
Laundry shuffle
Put away airer
WUDUPA 
Write shopping list - including beer for niece's husband
Co-op shop


P&S calling for coffee 
Give cards to P&S to deliver to that side of the family

Deliver cards to near neighbours 
Deliver cards to Pops to give to that side of the family

Paid stuff Tuesday- Friday 
Take cards for colleagues

Factor card delivery to outliers into my commute

Order eau de watsit for DB

Pay rent 
Withdraw cash for godson & DS

Wrap presents 
Put up tree

And breathe. One step at a time and those green ticks will appear. I said, breathe Mrs. 1234, 1234.

Love to all 
Rxx

ionafan

Could we please have a picture of the bottom half of Natty's tree and one of the top half of kazwookie's, and see if they match up?  If they do, each of you could just print out the other's photo and hang it on your own tree, to save all the hassle

Yucky headache this morning :sad: but lots to do.  Kitchen S&S'd, LR tidied, wool drawer tidied and bitty little leftovers decluttered ruthlessly to the bin.  I will clear the study next - which involves dealing with the paperwork that is currently strewn over the bed before I can file it.

(((Hugs))) spoons and sticks to all in need this Monday morning xxx

Natty68

ionafan said:

Could we please have a picture of the bottom half of Natty's tree and one of the top half of kazwookie's, and see if they match up?  If they do, each of you could just print out the other's photo and hang it on your own tree, to save all the hassle

Love it iona.. may just take a photo later..lol

roundtuit

roundtuit said:

Today / this week's to do list:
Get dressed ✅
Feed the birds ✅
Put out the recycling ✅
Laundry shuffle ✅
Put away airer ✅
WUDUPA  - pots are soaking
Write shopping list - including beer for niece's husband
Co-op shop


P&S calling for coffee 
Give cards to P&S to deliver to that side of the family

Deliver cards to near neighbours 
Deliver cards to Pops to give to that side of the family

Paid stuff Tuesday- Friday 
Take cards for colleagues

Factor card delivery to outliers into my commute

Order eau de watsit for DB

Pay rent 
Withdraw cash for godson & DS

Wrap presents 
Put up tree

I've also put two pairs of socks- each with one holey sock - in the cs rag bag. I don't need to wear  / keep holey socks....I have a drawer rammed with perfect socks. And breathe....

S was saying that she can't find talc -other than baby powder - anywhere. My shower creme is nearly empty and when I raided a stashed gift set for another one  I found talc!!! It has been set aside to give to S. 😇 Tiny flingage 😊

WUDUPA next.

Rxx