Weekly Flylady Thread 4th April 2022

Natty68

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 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- 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

Killer Kitchen - Monday

Level One

Clear and wipe work surfaces

Open the windows and let in the spring!

Level Two

Sweep and Mop the floor

Clean the gacky filters and drawers from DW's, WM's etc

Wipe the cupboard fronts, appliances and all those manky corners!!

Level Three

Wipe the table, replace cloth if needed

Clean all those small appliances, wipe their home then put them back..

Wipe the gicky things out of the fridge.

Extras

• Clean oven/hob if you must.. *rolls eyes*
• HHI .. with your clean iron!!
• Clean windows and sills
• Treat the pets for fleas!!! This is prime time for them to be developing an infestation.. the last thing you need in your house! (still not done mine.. bad me!)

Mad Tuesday - Living room, Hallway, Stairs

Level One

Remove clutter from floors, chairs and fireplace

Open the windows and let in some fresh air

Level Two

Vacuum floors and sofas

Wipe and water neglected plants

Dust those flat fluffy surfaces

Wipe woodwork in the hall and stairs

Wipe front door.. inside and out!

Level Three

Vacuum under the furniture you can move

Clean windows, pictures, mirrors etc.

Clear a hotspot

Wash any nets/curtains that need cleaning.. put up fresh ones!

Sort that corner full of shoes and coats and bags... I know you all put this off so get it sorted.. before the proper nice weather hits!!

Vacuum hall and stairs.. all the way up to the top!!!!!

Extras

• Update financial spreadsheets/accounts.. if you have none to do.. DO SOME FILING.. all that paperwork HAS a home!!
• Drag out all the furniture and clean the skirtings and all the woodwork
• Change the pictures in the frames that you have been meaning to update forever!!
• Put all the paperwork in one heap and sort through it
• Sort out the magazines and newspapers and sling them in the recycling... if it's anything like mine I have my own magazine shop building up.
• Scrub the manky marks off the carpet
• Scrub the manky marks off the sofas

  

Study or other reception room & bathrooms - Wednesday

Level One

Clear the clutter from all these rooms!!

Wash any curtains/blinds/mats etc that need doing

Level Two

Vacuum the floors

Clean bath, toilets, shower and sinks

Wipe down the tiles and defragment the pc while doing this.

Replace any dead toothbrushes and sponges

Haul out the pc desk and deal with the destruction which lies beyond MSE land

Polish the cat & dust the menfolk

Level Three

Declutter and dust the pc desk

Wipe away cup rings and sticky things

Wipe the keyboard, mouse, cables and sockets and suchlike.

Clean the windows.

Extras

• Vacuum under movable furniture
• HHI..
• Deal with any calls etc that need doing
• Clear a hotspot
• Wash the curtains/nets
• Drag out the larger furniture you can manage and clean under and behind it.
• Scoop all that hotspot into one heap.. and fling it in the bin.. keeping the bits you really have to, but put them away nicely.
• Clean up any floor gibble

Master bedroom & landing - Thursday

Level One

Check fire alarms are working

Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.

Fling open the window and let in the spring!

Level Two

Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..

Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..

Air the duvet if the weather permits

15 minutes floordrobe clearance

Level Three

Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing

Sort through a pile of landing gibble

Sort 10 things from your wardrobe (or someone elses) that you can get rid of..

Clear a hotspot.. or spend 15 minutes clearing one.

Extra tasks list, as usual choose one or more

• 33 fling boogie time, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Clear a box of clutter from the landing
• Sort through that airing cupboard!!
• Sort your 'stash' in your bedroom.. you know the place that you stuff things and think.. yep.. I'll sort that later.. The one you hide presents in, yep we're all guilty of it me included!!!
• Dive under your bed and drag out all the boxes and get them reorganised..
• Find the floor.. not just a bit of it.. ALL of it!!!!!!!! and vacuum it
• Wipe over the skirting boards

Friday - Childrens/spare rooms or a catchup

Level One

Clear the floor

Spend at least half an hour doing something just for yourself.. a nice bath, a manicure.. just your time! Make that appointment to have you hair done!!

Level Two

Strip the beds and wash those sheets.. and any duvets that need doing

Flip the mattresses over

Binbag dance

Level Three

Vacuum the floor

Deweb and defluff the room

Clean the windows

Extras

• Wash any curtains/throws/cushions etc that need it
• Wipe sticky marks from walls and doors and skirting
• Clean any tv's, pc's playstations in the room
• Put the discs/videos in the correct boxes and books on shelves
• Wipe the bed frames down
• Drag the junk out from behind wardrobes, chests of drawers and under the bed.. deal with it appropriately.. and that does not mean stuffing it back under!! lol
• Clear, wipe declutter and make pretty any shelves
• Wipe over the big furniture.. wardrobes etc
• Make the clothes in the drawer all neat and tidy

Narc0lepsy

Golly, am I first?    I won't be here a lot this week as on Wed we go down to Mum's then our few days away in Devon and home via DB.    So this week is going to be major panicking.
Today our visitors left earlier than I'd expected as they were visiting other friends in Norfolk.   At least it meant I could go to church, which took forever as people seem to be arriving later and later, vicar not known for his brevity plus I was covering for someone doing the refreshments.

Finished and emailed a report, started another. I desperately want to get ahead; ideally finish the 2 and a bit I have left to write up before I go away. That will only leave me the one I'm seeing on Wed, preliminary info suggests he may be an easy one to write up so I shouldn't forget the detail by the time I'm home to write him up.

Mr N and I went through planned day trips for our hols, found at least one of our proposed visits that we can pay for by Mr T vouchers (3x bonus) so that's good.  Another has a nearby car park which is free to National Trust members, which we are. 

One load washing done, on line and dried; lots of sun although very cold.

Tickets for the show on Thursday (Mum's Xmas present) printed off.

Birthday cards dug out, we have a lot in April.
Tomorrow's plan:
- go for a run
- help load Ukraine lorry
- crack on with reports, prepare paperwork for Weds.
- start piling up planned holiday clothes; could be anything from snow to heat.....
- start writing the birthday cards
- catch up with some admin; there are too many flagged emails.
Any suggestions how I can lose a stone in 3 days?..........

Let's hope the forthcoming week is gentle and kind to everyone. 

pigpen

TY for Fred .. I hope you are both ok Natty xx

I have a busy week and once again I have double booked myself.. I am such a moron sometimes.

I will sort my week of torture but apparently we are away Saturday night with the girls so we can visit the outlaws..

Jazee

Morning all. Thanks for the list.
 I'm going to start the day with a little admin.
Have a great day everyone.

kazwookie

Morning

Thank you for the lists

Restless night here, was wandering around the house at 2am, a very windy storm woke me, no cats were with us on the bed, so I went to check they were in and safe, they were thank goodness just sleeping in their beds!

Very very windy here atm, the wooden swing in the garden blow over, so OH and I have picked it up, and put its cover back on, only for 10 mins ago to look out and the cover had gone   OH went on a mission into the field and found it, halfway down, so it is now in the shed until the wind dies down.

Waiting for a 'first thing' delivery of wood for my fence............................................

3 lbs lost this week  (total so far yet again = 9lbs)

Have a good day

roundtuit

Morning all xx 

Thank you for the lists Natty and Valli  xx

Thank you,  thank you,  thank you for all your support and lovely comments yesterday. I would love to be the person who stays calm in adversity....but I seem to be hard-wired to freak out. 

A restless night. I checked the boiler at 6 am. It was still working. And I went out like a light until 8.45! No prizes for guessing what was keeping me awake then 🤔

Lots of posts on FB telling me to accept myself, a butterfly can't see its own wings, etc. The cyber fairy must have seen how low I was. (It doesn't help that I panic that the BD is about to swallow me whole!)

So, a new day, a new week, a new list. Reset. Readjust. Refocus.

I'm  up, my bed is made, the heating is on (😊), and I've supped my first brew 


To Do Today List 
Get dressed 
Feed the birds 
Put out the recycling 
Laundry shuffle x?
WUDUPA 
HH Admin
Shopping list including replacement Easter egg 🤭 (I needed chocolate while I was watching the Boat Race)
Pay the gas bill (online)
Pay the rent (PO)
Visit Mr C00p 


Sending best wishes and love to each and every one of you ❤ 

Rxx

[Deleted User]

Morning all

Thank you for the lists. The wind is wild here today and it's cold. I have lit the woodburner and the dog's bedding is in the WM; it will dry beautifully in front of that later. Online shop for later in the week amended, and WUDULTD.

Hugs to all x

pigpen

Glad you are less stessed today Round...  I have a bedroom full of easter eggs.. hoping we don't get a mouse!!

Squeak in her lessons

OH upstairs doing no idea what

Beasts all at school.

DW
WM

Cat trays

Seedling check .. we may have to redo the cucumber and delph. and sweet peas.. only 3 sweet peas popped up out of the 24 planted.

I have started knitting squares.. many squares for 4 single bed sized blankets so it is my new take about project I think.. unless the 400g balls are too big to lug about.

I need to refind the stripe blanket pattern and finish the second Dr Who scarf too..

shower and clothes first.. and prod Squeak into the shower.. she was told to do that yesterday and is sat here greasy and smelly like an old sheep!

Mademoiselle

Rushing in late.  I'm back from my holiday and have until Friday to get ready to go away again to the other house for just over a week.  Yes I'm spoilt with my holiday, I know.  

So far today.
Bed made, clothes picked up, room aired briefly as it's cold, wet and windy.
Skiing stuff all unpacked and put away or in the washing basket
Cats trays done
DW sorted
Last chat with friends before they left mid morning
Lunch made, eaten and cleared
Post dealt with (filed or recycled)

OH had done a brilliant job of keeping the place tidy so yesterday I hoovered upstairs and down and it really was looking good again.   He's even done the washing so just a basket of ironing to do and my stuff to wash.

This afternoon will be updating spending and banking spreadsheets, paying and dealing with admin stuff that's come in whilst I was away.  

Will try and read back over last weeks thread if I get some time.  But big hugs to all of you.

pigpen

I have a rather unhappy tummy again today.. I am wondering if it is the sheer amount of medication.. if it is I will just have to stop and be in pain again.. this is actually worse! Ah... it appears to be one of the medications.. the one which says 'do not stop taking this without speaking to dr' *stops taking it* ... NO ONE needs this every single day..

Selling total for March was £393.42 after postage and ebeast fees (only 3 ebeast sales) *FLING* How did everyone else do?

I have one of my small selling boxes emptied as well as a couple of shopping bags so that is good.. I have a couple of items to return so another refund coming back.. I just need to keep out of the bathroom long enough to be able to go to the post office.. I just remembered I have another parcel I need to return too.. I shall sort that too.. I have no idea where my wide tape has gone though. it has disappeared.

Valli

So

I have my car (hanging) file out of the filing cabinet as it's insurance renewal time.  It's on my desk.  I'm wearing my snuggle blanket and a catch the banket on the file, flip it to the floor, lift it up and out slips my paper driving licence INTO THE SHREDDER.