Weekly Flylady Thread 31st October 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!

Click here to read Toots wonderful welcome guide

Some of our abbreviations: DH- dear husband, OH- other half, KH/CF- affectionate term for ex husband or partner  DS/DD- dear son/daughter, DGC- dear grandchild, WM- washing machine, DW- dishwasher, LR/DR- living/dining room, RoD- room of doom, Mr S/A/T/M/L/Al- supermarkets Sainsburys, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi. You get the picture!

Ok here goes this week!

Monday Mayhem - Living Room, Hall and Stairs
Level One...
Vacuum floors and sofas
Level Two...
Dusting, even if around everything
Remove clutter making sure stairs especially are safe
Clean TV, other electricals and cabinets
Water any thirsty plants, wipe their poor neglected leaves!!
Level Three...
Wipe light switches, sockets (make sure they are not switched on!!) and banister
Clean any other glass like mirrors, pictures etc
Tidy shoes, coats and bags .. wash any that need washing in preparation for cold weather!! See if there are any that don't fit, past their best or just plain uncomfy which could leave the house!
Put up linings or winter curtains to keep out those draughts.

Extra Mission:
Pick one or more of the following tasks –

If you are wanting to take part in the flylady christmas card swap please PM me your details!! .. Mse name, name and address .

• Paperwork clearance.. spend 15 minutes minimum sorting through those piles of paper.
• Vacuum under furniture you can manage to move without hurting yourself
• Clean a window or two.
• Binbag dance.. Get a binbag.. fill it and bin it!!!
• Ring someone you love, just to tell them you love them!!
• Clear as may hotspots as you can.. see if you can get it all into one pile instead of 15!!!

Terrible Tuesday - Kitchen and Dining Room
Level One...
Clean floors
Level Two...
Clear and wipe kitchen surfaces
Sort fridge bringing what needs using soon to the front, clean out any spills or grots in there!
Wipe dining table.. (clean table cloth if necessary)
Level Three...
Dust any extra furniture in dining area, checking for cobwebs on way round
Wipe and replace all those small appliances.. kettle, toaster etc
Descale kettle and iron
Clean cupboard door fronts and fronts of appliances .. don't forget those kick boards..
Check those washing machine filters and drawers for ickiness!! Tumble dryer and dishwasher filters need to be done too!!
Extra Mission
Choose one or more of:

• Wipe window sills and clean windows in these rooms
• Wipe down any tiles and shine those taps.. a toothbrush is great for cleaning away the gunk!
• Clean oven if you didn't do it last week
• 30 minutes ironing.

Wacky Wednesday - those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One...
Vacuum the floor, even if it's just where you can see
Spend at least half an hour doing something for yourself!!!!! Paint your nails, make an appointment to have your hair done, a lovely soak in the bath.. whatever you feel like!!
Level Two...
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat fluffy surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
Level Three...
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!!
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 Task List

• Wash a set of curtains, nets, duvet or throw
• Wipe the radiators, skirtings and window & door frames!
• 30 minutes ironing.. You know you love doing it!!!!
• Grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!

Wacky Wednesday - those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One...
Vacuum the floor, even if it's just where you can see
Spend at least half an hour doing something for yourself!!!!! Paint your nails, make an appointment to have your hair done, a lovely soak in the bath.. whatever you feel like!!
Level Two...
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat fluffy surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
Level Three...
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!!
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 Task List

• Wash a set of curtains, nets, duvet or throw
• Wipe the radiators, skirtings and window & door frames!
• 30 minutes ironing.. You know you love doing it!!!!
• Grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!

Freaky Friday- Bathroom and Study/Pc Area
Level One...
Clean floors in these rooms
Level Two...
Clean baths, toilets and sinks
Clear any clutter from desk
Dust PC and desk and wipe off those cup rings!!
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..
Delete 10 links in your favourites which you no longer use or are dead!
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required
Clear a mega hotspot!.. shred it.. and fling it.. or just burn it! .. Does anyone have a pulper to make logs from their old papers??

Extra mission:

• Wipe the skirtings, door and window frames in these rooms
• Check through those bottles.. what can be flung/decanted/and do you not need to buy until the year 3000?? Do you know I’ve not bought any shampoo since 2003!!!!!!!
• Clean the radiators and woodwork in these rooms
• Get those uniforms, games kits, coats and things in the wash which you will need on Monday
• Scrub down the dirty marks on the walls in these rooms, and any dirty marks on the walls. When did you last clean 'under the rim'? Get a mirror and check it out.. how gross??? Wash any chair covers/throws/blinds etc. When did you last replace the bath sponges & toothbrushes??

Royal Mail strikes - Next Due Strike Action Dates

November

Thursday 24th November

Friday 25th November

Wednesday 30th November

December

Thursday 1st December

pigpen

TY for Fred am mostly decluttering at DD1's this week.. but I will endeavour to keep the kitchen cleanish.

Monday Mayhem - Living Room, Hall and Stairs
Level One...
Vacuum floors and sofas
Level Two...
Level Three...
Wipe banister

• Paperwork clearance.. spend 15 minutes minimum sorting through those piles of paper.
• Binbag dance.. Get a binbag.. fill it and bin it!!!
• Clear as may hotspots as you can.. see if you can get it all into one pile instead of 15!!!

Paint ceiling

sand wall

paint 4 walls.

ionafan

Thanks Natty - I'm in.  I was going to (a) fly round the LR and (b) sort winter hats/scarves/gloves/coats tomorrow anyway!

Fireworks have just started and Rosie is not happy

Jazee

Thanks for the list.  I'm ahead as I sorted shoes and coats etc today.
DGD2 is now here until she gets picked up tomorrow evening and I also have visitors tomorrow so I don't think anything other than essentials will get done.

x_raphael_xx

I'm in!
Marathon training starts tomorrow, I need to get up and to the gym before work.
I also have a video to edit and upload.
And the usual animal stuff.

Valli

I think the flashes have stopped…but I’ve got used to them now.

Thanks for the new list.  I’m hoping for a free-from-anything-medical week this week.  The headache seems to have gone, I’ve no medication to take, no appointments so everything crossed.  I shall work M, W and F.  I shall fly Tuesday and Thursday.  I won’t be able to fly next week other than dailies so I must be on the ball this week.

YORKSHIRELASS

Morning all

I have a fairly standard week at work this week with no late finishes, so no excuses not to fly a little, and I am slipping into bad habits of leaving it all until the weekend which I need to put a stop to.  I am cycling later, so need to get to work in good time.

We have an event at work on Friday which I have organised and everything has been a bit last minute (not my fault) so that is going to cause some anxiety I think.

I need to drop off a birthday present today which if I walk to their house would get me out at lunchtime.  Right, yoga then shower and ready for the paid stuff.  

Hope Monday is kind to you all x

Honey_Bear

What an excellent idea Kazwookie and I wish I'd thought of it!  We've planned the trip so that all I have to do is hobble from taxis to front doors where there should be lifts so on this occasion I think we've got it covered, but your suggestion has reminded me that Plymouth has an excellent mobility scooter hire system so at some point I should be able to go into town at last.  It's been useful not being able to spend money but at some point I would like to be able to visit the hairdresser for a start.  And you've also reminded me that Morribunds has a couple of scooters I think.  I'll put some thought into that.  Thank you so much.  (I've thought about getting myself one of those little knee tricycle things but while they look like great fun I felt a bit unstable on the one I tried, and it was fairly robust so it's just a confidence about balance thing.)

I should be able to finally finish Stage 1 of the meal planning project I've been working on for a while.  It's only resulted in being able to get rid of one recipe book but that's mainly due to starting off with all my favourite ones.  In the meantime I will be cooking some more interesting food, using the slow cooker more and the oven less.  That's the plan, anyway. 

Thank you for the lists Natty and Valli.   Much appreciated.

Jazee

Morning all.  Baby is currently asleep so I thought I'd loiter on here.
Dailies except putting out recycling are done, wash load mid way through (it's white noise for baby!), and we've been for a walk with Poppet.
It's a lovely day, the back door is open and I'm listening to the children happy at playtime at the school opposite.
Going to get a head start on preparing lunch for the visitors arriving.

Narc0lepsy

Just grabbed a coffee in between catching up on report writing and unpacking from hols.  2 loads through WM and hung out in the sun so hopefully they will dry before the rain we've been predicted for later.
Hols were.....interesting. Low points included Mr N being very sick the night before we went, Mum having a severe vertigo attack resulting in visits to 2 hospitals while we were away, my anxiety owing to these issues and then this morning Mr felt severely dizzy every time he sat up so he's still in bed.    High points were actually quite numerous, saw lots of fairies (long-tailed tits to newbies - my favourite birds), lovely accommodation both in the resort (with Mum) and the rented flat (with Mr N and BIL).

So I've vaguely read the threads but not in enough detail to comment - usual hugs and spoons to all.

Today's main priority has to be cracking on with report writing as I did 2 assessments before we went away and I'm now booked quite a lot in the forthcoming weeks so I don't want to start off behind.    So cracking on then......

buggalugs1

Good Morning everyone I am in this week, Thank You for the list Natty, I have managed Level one and have started Level two, with the odd dip into Level three lol, I flit around , I hope that's ok , going back to do more from both levels now Thanks for helping me stay on track . Hope all are well xx