Weekly Flylady Thread 8th May 2022

Valli

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 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

Bank Holiday Monday (Again!)

S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom

Have a lovely day

spend half an hour preparing for the morning - clothes out ready, shoes polished, kids uniforms/school clothes and book bags by the door ready to grab.
pack the lunches, top up school dinner money accounts - then you can have a restful evening (I hope) knitting, reading, watching TV...chill!

If you ARE desperate to fly then share the jobs round - bin bag dance, putting clean clothes away, clearing floordrobes, watering plants, drying pots and putting them away - share the load to lighten it!

For the rest of This week i’m putting up a whole weeks worth of lists for a Pick’n’mix…choose your grimmest room first if you have time, or just dot-to-dot (see above).  This way you can weave flying in as-and-when, but please do post your achievements.

KITCHEN AND 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!
Empty utensil holders and wash out

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 , TD and DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.
Clean tea caddy, sugar bowl etc

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

MASTER BEDROOM

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 - remember vertical surfaces hold dust 

BATHROOM, CLOAKROOM, EN SUITE

Level 1
open window
scrub loo inside and out
top up loo roll, soap dispenser
towels replaced

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

LOUNGE, HALLWAY, STAIRS & LANDING

level 1

deal with flowers and pot plants - do they need a wipe?
empty bins/ashtrays
clear gibble
plump cushions
wipe sofas with leather wipes or vacuum - look for all those dust-catching crevices

level 2
clean windows and frames
vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies

level 3
dust all round - don't forget sills and skirtings
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; wipe dusty bulbs
stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean?


KIDS ROOM, GUEST ROOM, STUDY

level 1
open window
strip bed
remove rubbish

level 2
remake bed
clean window and sill

Level 3
dust everywhere
clean floor as appropriate 

DAILY EXTRAS

S & S kitchen or bathroom if not cleaning that room
Find some time to do something for you - self care is important
and finally - don’t forget to check your boobs

ionafan

Thanks Valli.  I shall be flying as needed this week - which hopefully won't be very much!  The main jobs will be FUPA clean washing and sorting out another pile of paperwork.  Rosie is still under the weather, and the forecast is for downpours here all day tomorrow, so  it's unlikely that we shall go out for a walk, and a desk job will suit me very well.

Hope everyone has a gentle start to the week xxx

Narc0lepsy

thanks for thread.

We had a good day yesterday despite the early start and getting rather damp at various times during the day. We didn't actually see that much - hadn't really expected to as even allowing for the fact that many people are taller than me, waving flags and holding mobiles up aren't very conducive to a good view. However it was a good atmosphere, we formed a 'social group' with 6-8 people immediately near us which was lovely.     Lots of jokes about typical British standing in the rain in a crowd eating our sandwiches.  We were so tired when we got home as we'd only sat down for the 45 mins on the train there and back and had stood from 7am till 5pm. Just had the energy to cook a quick pasta and sauce which we ate in front of the coronation highlights, a bit of a film then Faulty Towers.....

This morning we were still tired, fortunately not too much debris around so minimal flying. Did the usual greenhouse watering/filling bird feeders.      Went to church in the next village, I always have flower envy there as not only are their window ledges low, wide and uncluttered by heating pipes (ours are high, narrower and have pipes under which dead flies lurk) but they have 9 people on their flower rota (we have 3). They had done a good job.

Made myself a gf 'cake in a cup' to take as I've overdosed on the wrong foods for a while and I need to rein in.
We had a good time at the village afternoon tea, about 75 people in the village hall/patio.  Went for a walk afterwards to try and disperse some of the food.

Sorted out some tomato plants for BIL who set off home so Mr N and I did a few flying/admin tasks before slobbing out in front of the coronation concert. We enjoyed it, but no Brian May on the roof!!!

Hope you have all had a good time.
The Big Help tomorrow; I'm working with another lady sorting out the messy flower arrangers cupboard and Sunday School area (sadly no longer existing, but debris all round the vestry); Mr N will be weeding the church yard with the vicar. 

Jazee

Morning all.

Hope Rosie improves soon Iona.

 I had a great day yesterday and a good nights sleep.  I'm not quite sure how today will pan out.  We have no plans and the forecast is for rain later but I'll make a start watering indoor plants and topping up vases.

Have a great day everyone.

roundtuit

Morning all xx 

👋 to Jazee - join me for a brew 🫖 xx

iona - how's Rosie this morning? She doesn't sound to be herself at all. Sending her a big floofy hug ❤

I'm up, made my bed, supped a brew and listened to a morning meditation. 

My intention today is to clear the living room floor.....or at least make a good start. 

First Round

2nd brew and breakfast 
Take clean clothes upstairs 
Get dressed 
Splosh bleach down the loo 
Feed the birds 
Put out the rubbish and recycling 
Set WM swishing 

Get the basics sorted then I can concentrate on decluttering (and defluffing / dewebbing  🕷 👀 )

Better get kettle on then. 
Hugs to all
Rxx

Jazee

Thanks Round, I've had a couple of brews with you.  Daytime bath now.

Fayolle

Morning all,
It’s been a busy one so far, after hosting a full house last night. We cleared up before going to bed, so this morning have WUDUPA, run dw, run wm with tablecloths etc, vacuumed downstairs before and after rearranging furniture, and …drumroll, halo polish at the ready…mopped the kitchen floor. All the leftovers were bunged in the fridge last night, so I need to rummage about in there and sort out anything that can be frozen / meal planned around.
We all watched the concert between courses. Mixed feelings about it, but definitely kept expecting Brian May to appear. And Paddington.
It is raining steadily and blustery here, so the allotment is off the list. I might make a trip to the greenhouse later.
Iona, I hope Rosie perks up. Hopefully she just missed you whilst you were away and is perking up as I type. Gentle hugs for her xx
I’m off to put kettle on, coffee is calling. Join me if you are free. I have LO chocolate tart we can share. x

ionafan

Morning all.

Thanks for GWS wishes for Rosie.  She is no worse this morning, wagging her tail, going up and downstairs normally, drinking water occasionally, and had me up at 4.45 because she needed to pay a quick visit to the garden.  I made myself an early cuppa while I watched a glorious sunrise, then went back to sleep and didn't wake up properly until 9.00.

I've cancelled coffee with a friend, and the dog walker for today.  I've rung the kennels to check whether they had an epidemic - no, and nobody spotted that Rosie was ill.  And I've rung the vets - they offered me a consultation at £225 (Bank Holiday rates!) plus the cost of any meds, or I could continue monitoring her and bring her in later if necessary.  I'm taking the second option, and will try Rosie with a bit of boiled chicken and rice later.  Obviously if she starts being ill again I shall take her to the vets pronto.

I've not got any chicken in the freezer, so once I've showered and dressed, I need to go out to the local shops.  I'll look for some bedding plants for the tubs, too.  After that, nose to the grindstone and start clearing the pile of paperwork/unanswered emails/filing that has accumulated in a matter of days.

xxx

ETA: Happy to help you declutter coffee and chocolate tart, Fayolle!  I missed Paddington too, but Kermit did a good job of amusing the young Prince (by which I mean Edward).

pigpen

My house is a pit.. why I do even bother? It never gets any better.

Ty for Fred xx

KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM
Empty utensil holders and wash out
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 .. I might do the bay in the back room if I can dig it out

MASTER BEDROOM ~ This is the cause of the above strop.. I need help and no one ever will or does.
open windows
strip bed
clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
clean bedside tables
vacuum floor
clean Windows
dust all round - remember vertical surfaces hold dust 

BATHROOM, CLOAKROOM, EN SUITE
clean shower and or bath
clean showerhead
clean handbasin
clean switches and pull handles
clean floor

LOUNGE, HALLWAY, STAIRS & LANDING
wipe sofas with leather wipes or vacuum - look for all those dust-catching crevices
clean windows and frames
vacuum floors - Half done
dust all round
Check for cobwebs and eliminate!
Clean lightshades and lampshades; wipe dusty bulbs
stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean? ~ it is never 'clean clean, maybe presentable.

KIDS ROOM, GUEST ROOM, STUDY
strip bed
remove rubbish
remake bed
clean window and sill
dust everywhere ~ there already is haha
clean floor as appropriate 

DAILY EXTRAS

S & S kitchen or bathroom if not cleaning that room ~ sometimes daily basic level, not extra.

roundtuit

roundtuit said:

First Round

2nd brew and breakfast ✅
Take clean clothes upstairs ✅
Get dressed ✅
Splosh bleach down the loo ✅
Feed the birds ✅
Put out the rubbish and recycling ✅
Set WM swishing ✅

Washing is now draped on the airer to do its best- no heating, but it's pouring down outside so .....

Cheques written for S and for Dogs Trust. P&S called for coffee so S's cheque was handed over. I'll post Dogs Trust cheque when I go to the Post Office later in the week. 

I retrieved my long handled duster from the wooden shed and I've dewebbed the living room and kitchen ceilings. 😱 Long handled duster will now remain inside the house and be used at more regular intervals.  Sorry pidas. For some reason wielding a long handled duster made me think of iona. 

Rxx

roundtuit

On a roll....

I unearthed my hand held hoover and I've hoovered all visible skirting boards and visible floor edges - which is where dust bunnies collect on laminate flooring - in the living room.

Rxx