Weekly Flylady Thread 2nd May 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

Bank Holiday Monday
Just the dailies.. if everyone else gets a day off so do we!! Now that was a shock for you all wasn't it?? lol.. Go enjoy your family/friends/typical Bank Holiday weather!

The Kitchen of Grot - Twinkling Tuesday
Level One
Clear and Wipe work surfaces & table
Wipe the fronts of the cupboards and big appliances
Level Two
Wipe appliances and put them back in their homes
Clean any windows that need it
Scrub the inside of the medicine cupboard/first aid tin and chuck out anything you no longer need!! .. Make a list of what you need to restock.
Level Three
Sweep and mop the floor
Clean the hob.. and the oven if it needs it!
HHI
Extras

• Make any necessary phone calls.. are your tax credits up for renewal?
• HHG if it is nice out there
• 42 fling boogie
• 15 minute filing!

Mad Wednesday - 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
Level Three
Vacuum under the furniture you can move
Clean windows, pictures, mirrors etc.
Change any lightbulbs that need doing!
Vacuum hall and stairs.. all the way up to the top!!!!!
Extras

• Wipe woodwork in the hall and stairs & wipe front door.. inside and out!
• Wash any nets/curtains that need cleaning.. put up fresh ones!
• Clean out your handbag.. how many receipts??
• 15 minutes filing

Master bedroom & landing -Thursday
Level 1
Check fire alarms are working
Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.
Fling open the window and let in the spring!
Level 2
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..
Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..
Clean lightshade. And remove dead insects
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level 3
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort 10 things from your wardrobe (or someone elses) that you can get rid of.. you WILL have nothing left lol!!
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
• Make any necessary phone calls

Study or other reception room, Sprog pits & bathrooms - Friday
Level One
Clear the clutter from these rooms!!.. HHC??
Ring someone you love just to tell them so.. we never do this enough!
Level Two
S&S bathroom
HHG... 
Level Three
Vacuum study/rec room and bathroom
Clean the windows.
Extras

• HHI..
• Clear a hotspot
• Binbag dance
• HHC in the childrens/spare/junk rooms

Weekend list.. get those other halves and children involved too!!

• Work to level 3 in the messiest room
• HHG.. get the grass cut and the weeds plucked!!
• Sort through a wardrobe and find out what they need for summer!!
• Make sure those school and work things are washed and ironed for next week.. inc shiny shoes!.. do any coats need washing??
• Meal plan for the week
• Reorganise the airing cupboard/under stairs cupboard.. whichever is messiest
• Change any bedding that needs it, or you missed through the week
• Wash any windows that need doing and always get neglected!
• HHI
• Binbag dance

pigpen

TY for Fred xxx

I'm about, not yet sure what the week will bring...

elbree

Thanks for thread Natty.

I've been reading along last few weeks but achieving little flying, Easter holidays, trip to Paris, back to school etc. 

Am refocusing now though, the flat is a disaster area! Tomorrow:
- beds
-sitting room

- garden

 
Been out to a local street party with 8yo and pals, weather not great but glad local events taking ace again 

Valli

Thanks for the kind thoughts.  I'm trying to have a PMA about it all...and, given our 'recent' history, don't want anyone else stressing.

But it's just reinforced the idea of retiring/changing jobs.  Luckily I'm off from job 1 anyway (PPA day) and DD will just assume I've gone to job 2.

Been to the aged P's for tea.  Sunday dinner, roast chicken etc and - weirdly- garlic bread.  Cooked by mum.  Played games afterwards.  Ma struggled to deal the correct number of cards for rummy.

basketcase

Thank you for the new thread.  I'll join in as best I can, if that's OK?

I read along last week - the Covid attack drained me of quite a lot of energy, although it actually wasn't as bad as my reaction to all 3 rounds of vaccine!  Am cautiously feeling better, so need to get the Rear in Gear this next week.

Encouragement and sympathy to all those grieving or struggling - and best wishes for Wednesday, Valli.

Jazee

Morning all. I'll keep everything crossed for Wednesday Valli.
Thanks for the list
Today we are at a birthday gathering.
Have a great day everyone.

[Deleted User]

Morning all

You’re in my thoughts Valli xx

DS back to his usual self so he’ll be going to school tomorrow. I’ve managed to catch up with all the laundry which is good as it’s thick fog here today. 

Not sure what today will bring - I’d quite like a day off from adulting and parenting but alas no xx

Fayolle

Morning all,
Not sure what is on the cards for today. I’d quite like what Natty has prescribed but as I’m working the rest of the week, part of me would like to get ahead of the game.
I’ll ponder with another cuppa, methinks xx
ETA - just remembered the slinky weigh in, and wished that I hadn’t. 2 more pounds have crept on in the last week…serious action needed, just need to find my motivation.

roundtuit

Good morning my lovelies xx 

You are all amazing 👏 ❤.  It seems that every one of my flylady family is having to handle a curveball of some description - bringing extra worries and concerns to your lives on top of the everyday new normal of pandemics, war, rising prices: all those 'little' extras that have crawled out of the woodwork in the last few years. 

My flylady warriors. My inspiration. My friends. 

Rxx

Mademoiselle

Morning everyone,  late checking in today but I have worked for an hour and a half this morning,

Bed made, clothes picked up
DW sorted, kitchen tidied
Lounge tidied
WM on
Bags from weekend unpacked and away

Big hugs to all of you struggling.  

kazwookie

Thank you for the lists, I'm in in my way.

3lbs off this week (total 19lbs now) wish my boobies would get a little smaller!

8.4 miles walked yesterday, I had already done my 5 miles for the day, OH decided he was going walking did I want to come with him, bearing in mind the mood he had been in, I said yes, and did another 3.4 miles!!

WM is on

Cat 2 has been cuddled, he is being very clinging for some reason

Bed stripped and remade with the help of cat2 so it took twice as long

Whole house hoovered

Toilets bleached

Easy dinner out of freezer, chicken curry.

Washing pegged out

Kitchen floor done

Going to plant my plants I bought, just also waiting on OH to sort out what we are doing today.

I'm on the radio live  tomorrow............................I have prepared answers to the questions they sent me, it is nothing too difficult.

Have a good day all