Weekly Flylady Thread 13th March 2023

Valli

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

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 & DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.  De-fluff TD filter

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.
If you have a pot holding spoons etc empty it out and wash it out!


EXTRAS

HHI
S&S bathroom
Check smoke and CO detectors are fully functioning

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
Empty bins/ashtrays
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

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

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 - vacuum fabric shades; wash glass shades 
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?
Extras
S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
HHI


wipy wednesday

bathroom, wet room, cloakroom, en suite

Level 1
open window
scrub loo inside and out
top up loo roll, soap dispenser
towels into wm and put fresh ones out

level 2
clean shower and or bath
clean showerhead
clean plug holes and plugs removing and rat tails (ugh)
bleach drains and overflows

level 3
clean handbasin
scrub and polish taps
dust sills and shelves
clean switches and pull handles
Polish windows and mrrors
clean floor

extras
S&S kitchen

Thursday The Boudoir

level 1

open windows
strip bed
clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
empty bin

level 2
Dust/vacuum bedframe & headboard
make bed with fresh bedding
clean bedside tables
vacuum floor

level 3
clean Windows
dust all round
Polish mirrors

extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen

Friday Flourish - Kids Room(s)/Spare Room/Guest room

level 1

open windows
strip bed
clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
empty bin

level 2
make bed with fresh bedding
clean bedside tables
vacuum/sweep/mop floor

level 3
clean windows
dust all round

extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen

ionafan

Thank you for the new thread, Valli x

Today I had to mop the kitchen floor to clear up large patches of very sticky pineapple juice that had been spilt and left untouched by the other human who lives here.  I was not amused.

It's going to be another crazy start to the week here.  In the morning I shall need to sort various urgent bits of admin, as well as taking Rosie for her walk.  DH has only just told me that he is not allowed to eat after 3.00pm, in preparation for his horse piddle test on Tuesday, so I will have to cook our main meal at lunchtime and go to the gym later.  I had been hoping to go to the Old Wives' meeting in the evening, for the first time in about 6 months, but it now looks as if that will be impossible too.  My mistake for not taking a copy of DH's horse piddle instructions for myself at the same time as I copied his list of prohibited foods (so that I could meal plan and shop to suit his needs) and leaving him to tell me what's what!  He's obviously stressed as he is not talking to me.

I just hope the week gets better as it progresses.  

xxx

Narc0lepsy

thanks for threads.
Not much time to fly this week as it's a fairly busy rest of month!
Read and did refreshments at church.
Sowed some seeds from the 'March' bag.
Started another report.
Sorted a few more clothes, putting some in CS pile and some in new wardrobes. Getting better at being ruthless now; wore one pair of jeans around the house for 5mins before deciding that they did fit but weren't comfortable, so onto the CS pile they went. Had a last cuddle of a lovely fluffy jumper (i.e. itchy when wearing), beautiful terracotta colour. No, haven't worn it for ages owing to itchiness so into the pile it reluctantly went. 
Long phone call from recently bereaved friend, her sister's funeral was Friday (had a long call on Friday eve too, but if it helps then fair enough - even though I'm hopeless at knowing what to say). 
We're forecast colder weather later in the week, who knows.  Have a good one everybody.

pigpen

TY for Fred.. I am busy.. or at least looking busy.

Neighbours need boiling.. they left the side gate unlocked so now it is slamming every 30 seconds.. makes me so mad.. lazy turds.

Round.. TY xx.. Squeak loves animally things and I remember I loved then when I was her age.. There was a series of books I borrowed from the school library which I loved too and I cannot for the life of me remember what it was called.. I am tying to get her to broaden her reading horizons as she is still reading the same book series she has been reading for about 18 months.. and it is only 3 books.. just went on a search.. there is a 4th book.. she will squee!!! Ordered that.. they each had £15 in amazon vouchers so she really bought it for herself.

Meeting at school at 1pm.. then hospital appt at 3:30 and then Boog has opticians at 4:20pm..

somewhat busy...

Off to my nest.. nn.. golden crunch creams and bourbons on the drawer.. help thyself! x

Manic Monday Kitchen/dining room
Level 1
Level 2
Clean microwave
Level 3
Pick a cupboard or a drawer; empty it, clean it out and put back its contents tidily
mop/vacuum floor

Tuesday  -  The Lounge, Hallway, stairs and landing
Level 1
Clear gibble
Level 2
Vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies - and stairs!
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.
Clean lightshades and lampshades; check all lighting is functioning as it should - vacuum fabric shades; wash glass shades
Stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean?
Extras
s&s bathroom

Jazee

Morning all. Hope you're all ok today.

Up early today as I'm off to look after DGD2 at her house.  So far I have done dailies except washing up as I'm still eating breakfast, walked Poppet, ironed one item and second wash is in machine.

Have a great day everyone, oh and thanks for the list.

YORKSHIRELASS

Morning all

Hope the tumbleweed was blowing across the floor of the WAC last night.

I have made a list of jobs for the week in the hope that DH might do one or two of them, yes I know that's ambitious.

First day back at the paid stuff and a late start but I will check my emails in a bit.  Its pouring down and windy out so I wont run as planned and will do an indoor workout instead.  Might squeeze in a quick dust and hoover of the LR if there is time.  Need to call at Li@l too later on.

Iona I hope the week gets better for you too and the hospital stuff goes OK x

roundtuit

Morning xx 

I've been awake half the night listening to the hoolie. It was a different noise that woke me up. Not the bathroom door vibrating with the wind.  What  then? Puzzle. Puzzle. I decided it must be a loose chimney pot wobbling in the wind, and it would come crashing down through the ceiling at any minute. Hmmm. Not conducive to sleep that thought! 

Then I opened my eyes and there was a man in green overalls crouching in my bedroom. Tall, slim, short grey hair. No idea who he was. 

Not what you'd call a restful night then.

I'm going to get up, make my bed,  have a brew and make a list.

Happy Monday. Stay safe.
Rxx

Valli

Had a better night…joint pain/discomfort, numbness (side effects) all seem to be subsiding now.  Just having my ‘vertical 30 minutes’ post tablet.  DD is getting ready to go to placement so i’m staying in my bedroom, though i did go downstairs as i had forgotten my coffee mugs, so i brought the socks up which were airing on the radiator.

Paid stuff for me today.  

DW x 1

buggalugs1

Good Morning everyone Thanks for the thread Valli Well I am feeling a little more myself this week so flying shall commence as much as I am able I hope everyone is starting the week feeling well and not overwhelmed by life xx Ionafan I am sorry life hs decided to throw your week up in the air on a whim, I hope things settle into a managable semblence of order xx Valli good to hear the side effects are calming a little, you are a star!! Piggers I hope all goes well at both appointments and you get to take a breath at some point xx  Be back later to see how you all are

kazwookie

Thanks for the lists xx

Up with the lark today, as needed to get done, taking OH for his blood test in a bit, then on Weds to big city for the camera stuff they do! (say no more)

Whole house hoovered

Kitchen done

Bins done

Floors done

Bed changed

3 x WM done out on line, when to get my prescription from local town when I gets back OH is waiting for me, with a stern look on his face, the whirly with all the washing had blown over, and snapped off at 6 inches above the ground, this isthe 2nd time in 5 years it has done that, so we got washing off, broke the metal bit right off, and stuck it back inthe holder, and repegged the washnig, ideal for some one who is a lot shorter than me, for today it will do. Will look for sale of whirly, to replace.

Cats are in conservatory it is blowing a real hoolie around here, and they don't like it.

Right back later off to hosp. for OH bllod test.

pigpen

Twinkle off school.. I went up to bed about 2am and she had 'had a poorly tummy' UP THE TOILET WALL!!! she had clearly had a mishap while removing her pj bottoms.. honestly.. this is not what one needs at 2am.. OH dealt with that while I bleached my toothbrush (it was in my hand when I entered the room... I didn't feel it was clean enough so I binned it and got out a new one.).

after the WC cleaning last night we got up to blood everywhere in there and more accident residue.. more cleaning

Then the cat yakked a hairball and another pee'd on a pile of laundry on my bed.. .. more cleaning and washing

My house is a giant puddle of bodily, cross-species functions.. I am so very very done!!!

Everything has been cleaned, disinfected, bleached, boiled and soaked in acid... I hate body juices..

My top 4 layers of skin have been burned off.