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Weekly Flylady Thread 14th February 2022
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Valli
Posts: 25,462 Forumite
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
ok Here goes this Week.
Manic Monday 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
Wash out shelves and baskets.
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if needed
Clean WM , TD and DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.
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 in both rooms, don't forget the frames and sills
EXTRAS
Dig out your Toots list and update.
S&S bathroom
Check smoke and CO detectors are fully functioning
If kids are on half term this week get the PE kit and uniform washed and out of the way.
Terrific 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
Open windows
Empty bins/ashtrays - wipe out or wash
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
Wipe coasters
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! Include lightswitches
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?
Open front door and vacuum then wipe doorframe
Extras
Don't forget the dailies - beds need making, pots need washing - delegate if you can!
S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
HHI
Wipy (and windy, probably) Wednesday Bathrooms, cloak rooms and en suites
Level 1
Open window
Remove towels and facecloths and fling in WM
Scrub Loo inside and out, slop bleach or descaler down afterwards
Level 2
Clean out baths and/or showers
De-fuzz plugholes
Clean shower heads and hoses
Clean handbasins
Wipe plugs - especially underneath!
Level 3
sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriate
clean windows
polish mirrors
dust and polish where necessary
Extras
HHI
S&S kitchen
Find some time to hunker down with a book or some knitting/crafting or even just a sneaky 40 winks
Thursday Thrills - Master bedroom
Level 1
Strip bed - and leave to air for as long as you can
Open windows
Clear floordrobe/chairdrobe
Empty Bin
Level 2
Dust/vacuum headboard and/or bedframe
Flip mattress if you are able to and if necessary
Remake bed
Level 3
Dust and wipe - all flat surfaces and sticky pots (lotions and potions)
Polish mirrors - while you're at it you may as well clean the windows
Vacuum/sweep/mop floor
Extras
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
Binbag dance - fill it and fling it!
FRIDAY...we made it
I'm loathe to allocate a list today other then
stay safe, warm and dry
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
ok Here goes this Week.
Manic Monday 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
Wash out shelves and baskets.
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if needed
Clean WM , TD and DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.
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 in both rooms, don't forget the frames and sills
EXTRAS
Dig out your Toots list and update.
S&S bathroom
Check smoke and CO detectors are fully functioning
If kids are on half term this week get the PE kit and uniform washed and out of the way.
Terrific 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
Open windows
Empty bins/ashtrays - wipe out or wash
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
Wipe coasters
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! Include lightswitches
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?
Open front door and vacuum then wipe doorframe
Extras
Don't forget the dailies - beds need making, pots need washing - delegate if you can!
S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
HHI
Wipy (and windy, probably) Wednesday Bathrooms, cloak rooms and en suites
Level 1
Open window
Remove towels and facecloths and fling in WM
Scrub Loo inside and out, slop bleach or descaler down afterwards
Level 2
Clean out baths and/or showers
De-fuzz plugholes
Clean shower heads and hoses
Clean handbasins
Wipe plugs - especially underneath!
Level 3
sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriate
clean windows
polish mirrors
dust and polish where necessary
Extras
HHI
S&S kitchen
Find some time to hunker down with a book or some knitting/crafting or even just a sneaky 40 winks
Thursday Thrills - Master bedroom
Level 1
Strip bed - and leave to air for as long as you can
Open windows
Clear floordrobe/chairdrobe
Empty Bin
Level 2
Dust/vacuum headboard and/or bedframe
Flip mattress if you are able to and if necessary
Remake bed
Level 3
Dust and wipe - all flat surfaces and sticky pots (lotions and potions)
Polish mirrors - while you're at it you may as well clean the windows
Vacuum/sweep/mop floor
Extras
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
Binbag dance - fill it and fling it!
FRIDAY...we made it
I'm loathe to allocate a list today other then
stay safe, warm and dry
Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY
"I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily Dickinson
Janice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear
Janice 1964-2016Thank you Honey Bear
11
Comments
-
Oh no, early in, the only way is down for the rest of the week…
Thank you for the lists. I always read, even if I don’t actually fly very much.You are all fab, just saying xx11 -
Fayolle, you are fab too! xx
Thanks for the list, Valli. I shall be in as much as possible,and the DR and everything that belongs in it will be cleaned thoroughly as things are put back.
Good decision, Jazee - enjoy more Grandma time.
Have a good week, all.11 -
Thanks Valli
Cooked a roast today for friends and in between that was an 'evil witch' for 8yo. Why are children's games so exhausting?? I thought screen time was supposed to ruin their imaginations but every time I hopefully suggest TV I get told some new facet of my 'part'. Anyway I also managed to 'do' my bedroom and a couple of WM. I have a drying rack that hoists to the ceiling as live in a regency house with super high ceilings, obviously I love it but the rope was starting to fray - one friend who came for roast fixed it!
Still have a week off so hope to swallow some more 🐸 this week. In particular decluttering shelves and wardrobe. Sometimes I feel crushed under the weight of the 'stuff'.
10 -
Hihi! I was quiet last week. I have spent the weekend yesterday cleaning out the chickens, filing my bank statements back to 2015! and decluttering some from back to 2010! Having babies means this was waaaay down the to do list! I made leek, carrot, chicken, and potato soup and did some face painting with Sophie (age 6). It was out of a weekend box that I had brought back when Jess (9!) was 3 or something! So i'm slowly decluttering them lol. Today was a relaxed affair. Crochet and reading and a shower. That were it!
9 -
TY for Fred.. I'm flinging.. as usual.. trying to make some room in our room.. it is vile in there it has taken all day to clear a space about 3ft wide and maybe 8ft long.. I hate it.
Dizzy.. try Vinted for selling clothes.. it is free.. no listing/selling fees.. and stuff shifts!
I have filled both WM's but not turned them in because it has been raining ALL day.. hopefully tomorrow will be better drying weather, I have bedding to wash too.
DW went on with oven trys but needs 2 more runs tomorow at least.
LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14Hope to be debt free until the day I dieMortgage-free Wannabee (05/08/30)6/6/14 £72,454.65 (5.65% int.)08/12/2023 £33602.00 (4.81% int.)8 -
Thanks for thread.
Been down at my Mum's since Thursday, we seemed to rub each other up the wrong way a lot this weekend although had a good time overall. Managed to get her car going (dead battery), go for a sea swim (just me), go to the cinema, do much of a fiendish mirror-image jigsaw (how can 3 people do a jigsaw in such different ways.....very irritating!), took her to L1dls a couple of times.
Got back home this eve so have started catching up on report writing (3 to do), culling stuff from the computer and my phone as various places are full.
Hope you all have a good week.Remember...a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.10 -
Morning all. Thanks for the list.
Will probably be just Monday jobs here today as Littleydog has her weekly trip to the vet and then I'm spending the day with DD and DGD2.I'll complete my council work tomorrow which I made good progress with yesterday then let them know my decision.
Have a great day everyone.Spend less now, work less later.10 -
Morning all
Thanks for the lists and for the PM hunny xx
Jazee it sounds like absolutely the right decision for you, well done on making it.
The weather is still pants here so it’s a day of flying, finance admin and eBay listing. Still need the money for that coal delivery!
Laundry will have to wait as there is no way I’ll be pegging out today. I suppose I had better wake DD up and let the hour of chaos before school commence!
Have good days all x
10 -
Morning everyone, Thank you for the lists and all your support and motivation.
Don't be frightened to say NO!
Do what you believe in.
It's my life! Thank goodness we aren't all the same, the world would be so sad.
This is my reply to anyone who questions our life choices and believe me we've had plenty.
We got loads done this weekend, 2 trailer trips to the tip, loads of stuff gone. Cobwebs chased out, furniture moved to where we think it should be. What's left is hopefully manageable by the end of the week.
WM on
DW on
Breakfast, coffee and banking next, then better get on with something
Get those SMILES out. It's your life, you choose.
9 -
Morning all
Im back to try again, work chaos last week again and weekend was spent buying and building furniture so the house has rather descended into a midden! I am wfh but have to fly as well today. Kitchen wasn’t even cleared last night as I was too knackered so that’s my job now. Here’s a little listie…
clear kitchen sides
tidy fridge and check dates ( we did a click and collect order and I’m sure they’ve given us short dated stuff, grrrr)
load and start dw
Clean sink
change towels and tea towels
set wm to go
make bed
tidy bedroom
tidy lounge
go to work!Righto, off I go! Hugs to all x8
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