Weekly Flylady Thread 31st July 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 have any
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 the oven
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   Check drains aren't blocked if you have a self-defrosting one
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 
If you have children with new uniform items start labelling now!  Don't forget shoes/pumps/coats - you can glue name tapes in footwear with copydex glue
Make a me-time appointment/arrangement.  Coffee with a friend, nails, hair, pedicure ...something for YOU (I'm at the chiropodist on Tuesday)
All your non-barcoded stamps need to be swapped now 
New month tomorrow - financial spreadsheets need updating?  Do you need to buy/send cards?

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.  Why not treat your pot plants to a shower?
Empty bins/ashtrays
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
Wipe sticky coasters

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
Check smoke alarm batteries...beginning of the month!
Toots list check time - is there anything you can work on?

Wipy Wednesday
Bathrooms, cloak rooms and en suites

Level 1
Open window
Remove towels and bathmats and fling in WM
Scrub loo inside and out, glug some bleach round bowl

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

Level 3
sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriate
clean windows
shine mirrors and shower screens
dust and polish where necessary

Extras
Allocate any children at home a task (shoe polishing perhaps - see below)
HHI
S&S kitchen
Check shoes - throw, resole.reheel; polish; donate

Thursday Thrills  - The Boudoir

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
Use a damp cloth to wipe lotions and potions - and fling anyting OOD/past it's best

extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
Bin bag dance...fling that gibble
Children's job - sock sorting/pairing/throwing - their own, at least

Friday Finish - 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

roundtuit

I'm in. Thank you to Natty and Valli for keeping the thread running.

I'm going to do my best do do something from the list each day. 

And yes I have a couple of Christmas presents bought and stashed away.

Wishing everyone a good week
Rxx

Jazee

Thanks for the list.  I'm in although most of my flying will be done on Tuesday as usual.

pigpen

METER READS FOR NEW MONTH!!!!!

Raining here..

Thanks for Fred.. I am run ragged this week.. Dot at school summer school and Squeak and MT summer school.. in opposite directions.
I need to get something done in this pit and fling everything not nailed down.

We have been flinging n our room today, I have in fact just come down!! We have filled 2 binbags of rubbish, 2 of recycling, 1 for CS, 1 for school (dressing up stuff) and a few bits for DD1. I dug to the wardrobe and took out a dozen things to sell. Moomin was gifted some shoes and some makeup. so that cleared a corner.. I filled a doom box.. but carefully so I know I want to keep the contents but I need to find it a proper home.

wrapped birthday presents for my mother (tomorrow) Squeak (Friday) and Pixie (9th) .. TERRIBLY organised of me!

I need to get in touch with the tintyweb peeps and get them to sort a new router and lower the monthly cost.. I want the same service.. for less..

Edited list and I'm left with this..

Marvellous Monday - Kitchen and Dining Room
Level 1
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances and caddies etc. 
Level 2
Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts inside and out, not forgetting handles and tops and bottom as well as fronts!
Level 3
EXTRAS
If you have children with new uniform items start labelling now!  Or if you are a perfect parent.. you get THESE!!!!

Tuesday -  The Lounge, Hallway, stairs and landing
Level 1
Clear gibble
Plump and straighten cushions
Level 2
Clean windows 
Vacuum floors and stairs!
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.
Dust pictures/paintings on walls - and dust behind them too!
Stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean?
Extras

Wipy Wednesday
Bathrooms, cloak rooms and en suites
Level 1
Remove towels and fling in WM
Level 2
Level 3
sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriate
clean windows
shine mirrors and shower screens
dust and polish where necessary

ionafan

Thank you Valli.  I will join round in saying that I'll do my best do do something from the list each day.   Tomorrow it will be to sweep and mop the kitchen floor.  I've also just sent a text to ask my friend who had the heart op on 3rd July if she would like to go out for coffee this Thursday or Friday to celebrate her first month of recovery.

Hope everyone has a good week xxx

Asparklierblonde

Evening ladies

Thank you Natty and Valli xxx

I went to bed a while ago, but I couldn’t sleep and realised I was really hungry. So I’ve just brought two slices of hot buttery toast back to bed.

This week is a case of one hour at a time. We have a very big meeting with the hospital. I also have a job interview that I need to prep for, lots of extra children here for 24 hours for DD’s birthday celebrations, a trip to Newcastle, full time work and lots of things off my TOOTS list that I really want to do. I did one of them today (a very small one, change Netflix plan), tomorrows is harder, sort the timer for the hot water. It’s programmed to go off at 8pm but doesn’t actually click off so I have to do it manually every night (if I remember….).

I will attempt sleep and see you all bright and early tomorrow. Heavy rain is forecast from 7am so I need to get all of the outside jobs done prior to that. Sleep well ladies xx

MrsChaos

Thank you for Fred, Valli.  May I join in, please?  It's been quite a while, but the house and I are in desperate need.  I can't promise that I'll read absolutely every post or comment lots, but I will do something from the lists every day and post my progress.  The DR is my room of doom (apart from our bedroom),  but the kitchen isn't great, either, so I'll focus my efforts on the kitchen tomorrow.  

Valli

welcome back Mrs C.  

I’ve had my mammogram result  .  i get to have one every year now.  

kazmeister

Morning 

Thanks for keeping the thread going Valli & Natty.

Loving that some of you are so organised and started on that big event at the end of the year that I can’t even bring myself to say at the moment!

First Monday at home but set the alarm for my new hours so am up early, no hurkle durkling today. Heading into the shower in a sec then will get on.

DD has usually left the house by this this time on Mondays and Tuesdays so not sure why she is still in bed. Have tried texting her but no response so will stick my head in when I go up. 

Will definitely be looking at the list today and creating another of what will be Monday jobs.

Welcome back MrsC

Update later, have a good day

Jazee

Morning all.  Hope you're all ok today and that ASB got her outdoor jobs done before the rain.  It was pouring down when I got up but has stopped now.  More is forecast for the afternoon.

DH has gone to work. DGD2 is still in her cot.  I'll get dressed and try to sort out washing on airer before she wakes.

Have a great day everyone.

Asparklierblonde

Morning all,

Thanks for thinking of me Jazee, yes I got them all done. I have also read the electric meter and submitted the reading, folded the laundry, paid the rest of my Flogas bill (sob), and, drumroll please.... SORTED THE HOT WATER TIMER!! It took about 3 minutes, with the help of a manual online! Woop!

Now I need to stir the children as we need to leave in one hour. Take care all xx