Weekly Flylady Thread 22nd August 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- thats 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!

Magnificant Monday ~ Kitchen and Dining Room
Level One..

Sweep and mop the floor
Level Two…
Clear and wipe the worksurfaces
Clean the sink and slush the drain out
Level Three...
Clean the windows
Wipe the door handles
Clean the extractor fan/filter change?

Wipe the oven kn@bs, underneath too if you can

Extra Mission

• Defrost the freezer and make a list of things to use up this week
• Find 10 things to throw/give away

Tuesday bluesday- Living Room, Hall and Stairs
Level One..
Vacuum through the living room, hall and stairs
Level Two..
Dusting, even if around everything
Remove clutter making sure stairs especially are safe
Clean windows and all glass.. including the tv screen
Clear the mantel and only put back the items which are supposed to be there.. and that doesn't include letters, keys or other treasure!
Level Three...
Open a drawer.. sort the junk within!
15 minutes sort of the junk on the landing!
Vacuum under furniture you can manage to move without hurting yourself
Extra Mission

• Name all the school garments!!
• Wipe down any paintwork that needs it.
• Binbag dance.. Get a binbag.. fill it and bin it!!!
• Wash any cushions, throws or curtains that need it
• Deflea children
• Deflea pets

Wednesday warts- Bathroom and Study/Pc Area
Level One...
Clean floors in these rooms
Level Two..
Clean baths, toilets, don't forget the outside! and sinks.. shine the taps with a toothbrush
Clear any clutter from desk
Polish the monitor drag out the pc case and dust the top and back!
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches and mouse etc
Level Three...
Wash your bathroom mats, nets, clean blind/curtains etc
Wipe down tiles in bathroom.. defragment your pc while doing this.
Empty and clean out all the upstairs bins!
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required
Pull out the pc desk and clean BEHIND AND UNDER it!!!!!!
Extra mission

• Wipe the skirtings, door and window frames in these rooms
• Fling all those empty bottles and tubes
• Replace any sponges, flannels, toiletries that need it
• Clean the outside of all cupboards in the bathroom
• HHI

Thursday Throwout!!- Master Bedroom & Landing
Level One...
Check fire alarms are working.. mine needs a new battery... the damn thing keeps bleeping at me...
Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.
Fling open the window and let in the rain sunnyness
Level Two..
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..
Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..
Air the duvet
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level Three...
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort through a cupboard and fling everything that is dead
Clear a hotspot.. or spend 15 minutes clearing one.
Extra tasks list

• 32 fling boogie time, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Clean all paintwork on the landing
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Clear out your spare linen.. all those holey sheets, manky duvet covers and stained pillow cases.. FLING!!

Friday Frenzy- those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One..
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Make an appointment for some ME-time.. hairdressers? manicure? night out with friends? .. whatever just do it!
Level Two..
Vacuum the floor
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat fluffy surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!!
Level Three...
Clean 2 windows
Sort through a cupboard/chest of drawers and get the clothes out which are no longer wearable, too small or out of season!
Wipe any sticky marks off walls and doors
Extra Tasks

• Find 5 things to ebay/freecycle
• Wipe the radiators, skirtings and window & door frames!
• HHI
• Binbag dance!!! grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!

pigpen

TY for Fred..

I have been battling the kitchen today so hopefully can whizz through tomorrows list.. I have decided I am sick of squalor and I have no excuse of 'the baby' because she is 6.. so I just need to get back into the habit of flying... This is the week.. apart from Thursday when I might be being super brave and taking all 4 girls out by myself *gulp*

Magnificant Monday ~ Kitchen and Dining Room

Level One..

Sweep and mop the floor ~ this should be last.. I wipe all the crumbs onto the floor and sweep up after.. mopping is the very last thing to ever happen

Level Two…

Clear and wipe the worksurfaces
Clean the sink and slush the drain out
Level Three...
Clean the windows
Wipe the door handles

Extra Mission

• Find 10 things to throw/give away .. I did that today.. a bunch of school clothes which are outgrown.. some for DD1 and some for re:uniform. I can no doubt do it again, I have enough stuff!

CHANGE/CANCEL HOSPITAL APPOINTMENT!!

RING MORTGAGE COMPANY!!

KICK DPD WITH BIG BOOTS ON ~ kicked.

ORDER PRESCRIPTIONS

'FORGET' TO MAKE SELF A GP APPOINTMENT.. ~ easy done.. I am so talented!

PARCEL BEING COLLECTED IN THE MORNING ~ collected

Tuesday bluesday- Living Room, Hall and Stairs
Level One..
Vacuum through the living room, hall and stairs
Level Two..
Clean windows and all glass.. including the tv screen
Level Three...
15 minutes sort of the junk on the landing!
Vacuum under furniture you can manage to move without hurting yourself
Extra Mission

• Name all the school garments!! .. that is booked for next week.. it's too soon.
  
• Binbag dance.. Get a binbag.. fill it and bin it!!!
• Deflea children
• Deflea pets

Wednesday warts- Bathroom and Study/Pc Area
Level One...
Clean floors in these rooms
Level Two..
Clean baths, toilets, don't forget the outside! and sinks.. shine the taps with a toothbrush
Polish the monitor drag out the pc case and dust the top and back!
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches and mouse etc
Level Three...
Empty and clean out all the upstairs bins!
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required
Pull out the pc desk and clean BEHIND AND UNDER it!!!!!!
Extra mission

• Fling all those empty bottles and tubes
• Replace any sponges, flannels, toiletries that need it
• Clean the outside of all cupboards in the bathroom

Thursday Throwout!!- Master Bedroom & Landing
Level One...
Check fire alarms are working..
Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.
Fling open the window and let in the rain sunnyness
Level Two...
Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..
Air the duvet
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level Three...
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort through a cupboard and fling everything that is dead
Clear a hotspot.. or spend 15 minutes clearing one.
Extra tasks list

• 32 fling boogie time, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter

Friday Frenzy- those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One..
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Make an appointment for some ME-time.. hairdressers? manicure? night out with friends? .. whatever just do it!
Level Two..
Vacuum the floor
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat fluffy surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!!
Level Three...
Sort through a cupboard/chest of drawers and get the clothes out which are no longer wearable, too small or out of season!
Wipe any sticky marks off walls and doors
Extra Tasks

• Find 5 things to ebay/freecycle ~V!NTED is the new place! Ebeast is too expensive.
  
• Binbag dance!!! grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!

PACKAGE 3 ITEMS

POST 3 ITEMS

ionafan

Thank you Natty.  I think I can manage most of that tomorrow morning.
I have a horse piddle appointment at 1.15, after which I shall go straight to the nice GC to meet up with a friend.

Hope everyone has a good week xx

Honey_Bear

Thank you for the lists Valli and Natty.  I'm lurking around the edges, shuffling between the bedroom and bathroom, apart from hospital at 11.10 tomorrow morning. 

I hope yours goes well Ionafan.

(((Hugs))) YL.

Fayolle

Thank you for the lists. I will also lurk, occasionally popping up to send hugs x
YL, my inbox is here if you need a sympathetic ear or just want to let off steam x

Valli

I suppose (gazes round hovel) I ought to be in.

Prescription to be collected from chemist.  

Narc0lepsy

Thanks for lists.
Hugs to a whole range of people for a variety of reasons; I really miss the variety of icons we used to have......hugs anyway.

I was fairly unmotivated today for no particular reason; didn't even go to church. Silly as both the walk to and from church plus the actual content would have made me feel better I'm sure.  However:
- 1 load through DW and put away
- various pruning and trimming around the garden, tidied greenhouse, picked cucumbers and tomatoes.
- went for a walk with Mr N.
- rang a friend I haven't seen for a while and arranged to meet up for a meal.
- Finished my year's spreadsheet and collected all bills, receipts, interest statements (bah - what interest?) so I am now ready to put it smoothly into my tax return tomorrow.
- emailed potential private assessment client with details and dates.
- well of course I filled the bird feeders.
- ordered printer ink. Also put a new shirt and trousers on the order, so pleased to see that I am meant to be throwing away 10 things this week as the plan for the new clothes is to replace non-fitting or unwanted items, so that will prompt me.
Also pleased to see defrosting on the list; ours is frost free but we have got out of the habit of listing all freezer contents so they can be easily found and we know what we've got; so that will be our prompt. Thanks.
- About to email new lake to postpone booked Wed eve swim as buddy is on holiday.

pigpen

112 rows left of this infernal scarf.. and I need to have it finished by the weekend.. easy enough to finish knitting it but it needs tassels and I hate doing those.. I may have OH ut them for me.. 49x 12 inch lengths

black border for the rainbow blanket is next on my to do list.. times like this I with I could crochet!

mumtoomany

Morning all, hope everyone is well. I'm in again, hope to do something this week.little ones still here, and clambering over me as i speak! Baby is improving still, hoping to here today when he be home, maybe today, fingers crossed. Then just need to find all their belongings and find a way to get them home. They live nearly five hours away! Either we'll take them, if not got the DGC, or sister-in-law will collect them if she can arrange time off work and someone to look after great grandma. The house is now even more of a tip than normal. I have rediscovered that there are two five o clocks in each day. My day is now punctuated by such strange conversations; "please don't put a fireman in my coffee!", "No you can't really butter toast with a spring onion" and " yes tomatoes are fruit, no that doesn't mean that ketchup is a smoothy". Ok off to sort out a pile of children! Hugs.

[Deleted User]

Morning lovely ladies

@mumtoomany you do make me smile. Your home sounds full of love and warmth xx
@ionafan lots of hugs to you xx

I officially want a day off from parenting, please may I be excused? I have a note, I promise. No? Oh well, here we go again! I usually love the school holidays but after a day of incessant bickering yesterday it was all too much! Today is a new day. 

I am not sure of our plans today, but I have a jam packed day out for us planned tomorrow making the most of all the free community events including free swimming. I may get the paints out and tell them to crack on 😳😂

I also need to wash my hair, it has a distinct chicken smell to it. 

Hugs to all xx

ionafan

Mumtoomany, your conversations with your DGC made me laugh     Fingers and everything else crossed that the baby is discharged from hospital very soon x

I woke as usual at dawn (at least it's moving to a slightly later time each day) and am now on my second cuppa, while DH is still languishing in bed and playing mindless games on his tablet.  I am ready to go down to the PO and pay in the church money, but I'd really like breakfast first, especially as lunch will have to be eaten early.

I have defrosted chicken which needs to go in the SC for tea.

The layer of dust in the study is getting me down, but I have too many loose papers flying around out of control to be able to do much about it.  I shall have to give them a stern talking to and knuckle down to the never-ending admin.

See you later xx