Weekly Flylady Thread 22 May 2023

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

Marvellous Monday - Kitchen and Dining Room

Level 1
Open some windows (not just in the kitchen!) for some fresh air 
Check fruit bowl - add to washing up if necessary!
Wash up, dry up and put away (or remove all pots to DW) 
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances and caddies etc.  Don't forget the splashbacks or tiles!  Is it time the tea/coffee/sugar caddies were washed out?
Empty bin and clean it out too - put it outside to dry in the sunshine, if you can.
Clear and clean sink and accessories - don't forget those out-of-sight places - under plugs and under draining racks - and shine those taps - or clean them!
Glug some bleach down the plugholes.
Clean/polish table - wipe mats/change cloth - don't forget the legs and places where sticky fingers can reach.
Clean chairs/stools/high chairs - and don't forget legs and rails!
Throw away your manky dish cloth or sponge and replace with a new one!  Put out a new hand towel and a new tea towel too
Clean cruet, salt and pepper, wipe any sauce bottles that are used on the table

Level 2
Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts inside and out, 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; update shopping list as appropriate, wash shelves etc and check running temperature 
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if needed
Clean WM , TD and DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.
Wipe inside of washer drawer and DW door paying particular attention to manky crevices

Level 3

Choose a drawer, shelf or cupboard for special attention.  Empty, clean out, replace what is needed or useful and fling what is unused and/or out of date
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean chairs (and highchairs) - don't forget under the seats where sticky fingers linger.
Clean windows in both rooms.  You could also wipe frames & sills inside and out!

EXTRAS

HHI
S&S bathroom 
Give your make up brushes some tlc, gently wash them in soapy water or use shampoo, rinse them well and pop them outside to dry in the breeze.

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 - do you need to book a sweep?
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
Dust/wipe electricals - use a just-damp cloth.  Don't forget the remote controllers!

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 
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

Wipey Wednesday  Bathrooms, cloak rooms and en suites

Level 1
Open window
Remove towels and fling in WM
Scrub Loo inside and out, slug some bleach or descaler down afterwards.  Pay special attention to under the rim.
Dust anywhere that needs dusting - wipe any 'on display' bottles down.  Don’t forget window sill

Level 2
Clean out baths and/or showers
Clean shower heads and hoses
Clean handbasins including taps

Level 3
sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriate
clean windows
polish mirrors
dust and polish where necessary
Chuck any lurking potions that are not being used/are old
Clean light pull

Extras
Wash showercurtains (if any) and put outside to blow dry and/or give the loo brush a rise and put it - and it’s container (washed) out in the sunshine
HHI
S&S kitchen

Thursday- Master Bedroom/Boudoir
Level 1
Open windows, 
Clear the floordrobe/chairdrobe
Strip the bed and leave to air
Take out the rubbish
Bedding in WM
Wipe all switches, handles, rails, light pulls etc.

Level 2 (after breakfast/a period of time)

Remake the bed with clean, fresh linen
Dust/clear bedside tables
Clean windows, frames and sills (and wipe the open frames to clear dust and debris)

Level 3

Vacuum any soft furnishings - don't forget the headboard if it's fabric!
Dust everywhere else; as you remove lotions and potions from dressing tables wipe them over with a damp cloth.
Minimise clutter/organise essentials -  your bedroom needs to be the place of peace, calm and refuge
Vacuum/mop floors

Extras
S&S kitchen
S&S bathrooms
dont waste these drying days - if you’ve nothing on the line you could wash

throws
coats
cushion covers
tablecloths
Christmas jumpers
loose covers
antimacassars
lace doyleys
crocheted mats
net curtains
cloth shopping bags


Make sure offspring bring PE kits home for washing and checking of fit esp pumps.  Because loose pumps slip off, tight ones hurt and make sure they are clearly named, too.  Sports days next term, we don’t want tears because pumps don’t fit or kids taking part in muddy t shirts

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

level 1

open windows
strip bed
clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
empty bin
if spare/guest room check lightin all ok

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

pigpen

ty for Fred.. busy week.. I will decide tomorrow what I might do.

Narc0lepsy

Thanks for thread. I've been vaguely reading but still rushing around like a mad thing with no structure. Went to Hastings for friend's funeral on  Thursday then straight to my mum's - thought journey wouldn't be too bad as it is all "south coast" but those with any geographical knowledge will know that there is a lot of south coast and in this case, nearly 130 miles i.e. it took as long as it would normally have taken for us to drive to mum's from home.     However we did lots of various flying/helping Mum with Mr N being the handyman and fixit while I was IT and garden support.   Got home at 6pm today and have written yet another of my enormous lists.      Although we have a few days out planned, not to mention work for me, we have no scheduled weekends/days away so I'm planning on catching up with my life. Eventually.

ionafan

Thank you for the new thread, Valli x  This house is mostly tidy, and K is coming on Wednesday to help me do all the heavy flying at double quick speed.  I'll do all the fiddly bits.   I don't own any make-up brushes, though, so that's one item less to worry about

I simply must give the garden some more serious attention.  J the gardener is on holiday, leaving everything to me for an extra week at the height of the growing season, so the jungle is reaching Amazonian proportions

This week also holds a couple of long overdue social engagements which had to be postponed for various reasons:
Today: coffee with friend L, followed by gym, then ring friend A to check that she is OK for tomorrow
Tomorrow: hopefully out for lunch with A
Wednesday: flying with K, gym, and a church council meeting in the evening 
Thursday: wait in for a phonecall from a friend (hopefully at 9.00), then possibly go out for the day with DH and Rosie
Friday: gym, and DH will be going wargaming in the evening 
I have to factor in Rosie's walks, but that should still leave me time to get out into the sunshine

Hope everyone has a good week. Remember - just better is good xxx

Valli

Morning all

awake early because i’m meeting new co-workers at 9 to admit them into the co-work space.  So i need to be there.  One of our raisin d’etre is that we hire out workspace for people who wfh; today two workers will be meeting up as they need to work together so we are midway.

it means though, i will get some time in before i’m out to lunch.

Went to the pub quiz last night, we didn’t win but i’m not sure we understood the rules, it was 6in a row but the first claimant claimed with 5 and we had had 5. it was DS and mates, i was invited because i’m older…so i new about Sindy (the doll) and Wendy Darling and a few other bits.

Gorgeous  day again.  i have washing to peg out for DS.  they live in a flat with no outside drying space.  (that should be illegal; they’ve no recycling bins either - and it’s a newish build).

kazmeister

Thanks Valli for the thread.

I took note of the advice and spent time r and r’ing over the weekend (other than using a nail brush to get in the beck of the treads on the stair carpet as they’d been bugging me) and some food/household shopping.

DS rang last night to see if I was by any chance off today as his childminder’s DD was unwell and they were unsure if she would be able to have the children today. Phone call this morning confirms all is ok and can stand down so flying will be on the cards.

Weather is dull and I’m not even going to look at the forecast as they’re usually incorrect and I can do better by sticking my head out the door.

One cuppa has been seen sunk at 6am, dog was fed and I went back to bed until now so a late start is on the cards.

DH is taking himself off in the caravan for a few days fishing tomorrow and I do not usually eat well when he is away so I am going to try and focus on proper & healthy eating starting today with fruit and yoghurt for breakfast. I’m not usually a fan of yoghurt so that might be a challenge in itself. 

Catch ya all later

roundtuit

Hallooooo xx 

Thank you to Valli and Natty for keeping (trying to keep) us on track. ❤

I'm up, made my bed, got dressed, eaten breakfast and had a brew.

No sun this morning. 

I'll feed the birds and put out the recycling before I have another brew. Late up and rather discombobulated this morning.

Love to all
Rxx

Jazee

Hello all.  Hope you're all ok.  Thanks for the list.

 I'm still not well unfortunately and Poppet isn't right either so this week looks a bit like this.

Today - take Poppet to vet later
Tomorrow- Rest/ basics flying then take DGD1s presents to her
Wedn - paid stuff and maybe craft group 
Thu- paid stuff and maybe walk with friends 
Fri- paid stuff and haircut ahead of weekend away

pigpen

I've spent the day making glutern free cookies .. mini ones for packed lunches and large ones for desserts.. I have cookie dough in the fridge which I will be balling and freezing while I do dinner. I also made Twinkle some spaghetti hoops.. they are impossible to buy!

Squeak had a breakdown and couldn't get to school so she helped in making cookies.. and the testing of them.

My feet are killing me.. I think I have plantar fasciitis in both feet.. the left one is extremely painful and the right one merely uncomfortable.. My right knee and hip are painful however.

I have sorted a meeting tomorrow to fill out the care plan for Twinkle.. 2:45.. so I need to set off super early.

Dot has a meeting at secondary school at 10:30 on Thursday so I will likely be unable to walk by the time we have sorted that and got her back to school and I ay be having OH do the 3:15 pick up.

DW run but the kitchen is now trashed again!

pigpen

We made the cookies! More sugar needed in small ones and less in bigger ones.

Fayolle

Hello all,
Back in again this week, obviously, although will have to do better on the flying front than last week. From today’s list I can claim washing the fruit bowl up. Ok, I did it yesterday, but a win is a win.
My insect bite from yesterday has swelled to usual proportions, so I am on the antihistamine tablets, and have a left calf the size of an elephant’s. My body is so dramatic with insect bites.
Today has been worked, Tuesday = day off & haircut and DH out for the evening (is it so bad that I am already planning to have eggs on toast for dinner?), Wednesday = another day off, yippee, and a meal out with DD who is on an end of exam high, Thursday = work, Friday = work but end of the week.
Well done on the baking, Piggers, especially as you hate doing it.