Weekly Flylady Thread 16th October 2023

Natty68

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.

Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread. 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.

Thanks to Valli for last week’s thread.

Every room comes back around next week so please don’t stress about catching up

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 (ooh a compound adjective) content!

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- thats 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 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 stooping, 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!

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

Ok here goes this week

Magical Monday - Barnacled Bathroom and Sociable Study/Pc Area
Level One...
Clean floors in these rooms (even if it is around the clutter)
Throw away all those empty bottles of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray etc. I know they make the room look pretty but they are just cluttering up the place..!!
Level Two...
Clean baths, toilets and sinks
Remove and bin all those slivers of soap that you have been saving, do you really need them?
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...
Clear clutter from floor
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
Clean/wash the brushes/dust box/filters on the vacuum cleaner!!!! .. make sure they are completely dry before using it though.. I don’t want anyone electrocuted!!
Change hand towels and flannels
Extra mission:

• Wipe the skirtings, door and window frames in these rooms
• Wash your bathroom mats, nets, clean blind/curtains etc
• Grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!
• Clean the radiators in these rooms
• Pull out the pc and desk and clear under and behind it.. how much money did you find? Clean windows, hang up clean nets and draught-proof curtains and any table cloths/throws or other dust and grot gathering bits of fabric!
• Wipe sticky and dirty marks off the walls and doors

Tantalising Tuesday ~ Masterful Master Bedroom & Loopy Landing
Level One...
Check fire alarms are working
Remove and wash bed linen.
Level Two...
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..
Vacuum mattress before replacing with fresh linen.. do you need that winter duvet yet?
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level Three...
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort one area of clothes or linen storage making sure only what should be in there is, anything that's had it's day or doesn't belong there is removed
Clear a hotspot., or spend 15 minutes clearing one.(I've got a whole house that's a hotspot!!!}
Extra tasks list:

• 27 fling boogie time, time for that midweek fling, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Put away those summer clothes from someones cupboard and get out the winter woollies.. don’t store anything that is past its best! Make a list of things you need to buy!!
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Check house for places where draughts are getting in.. doors, windows etc and see if there are ways to stop it!
• Clean out that airing cupboard!!!!!! get rid of those things you don't need.. use dead towels as cleaning cloths etc.. be ruthless!!!! you REALLY don't need that 'thing' you've saved for 10 years.. 'just in case'

Wishful Wednesday ~ those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One...
Vacuum the floor, even if it's just where you can see
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 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
• Time for the Flylady Fling, in the toy box!!!! aim for 27.. if no toy box you’ll have to choose another area!
• 30 minutes ironing
• Pull out the beds, furniture and clean all behind them.. the skirtings and light fittings and everything.. get rid of all the things that are no longer required!

Tantalising Thursday ~ Kooking Kitchen and Dancing 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...

• 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.
• Get in that food cupboard. Give it all a GOOD scrub out before placing the things you need to use soon at the front. Check dates and freshness on older things, and See if you can incorporate these into next weeks meal plan! Feel free to get carried away and do more cupboards!!!

Friday ~ Luscious Living Room, Handsome Hall Stupendous 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...

• 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.
• Get yourself a bag or box, go around collecting things that are not in the place they should be, then put them back where they should be, or better still give them to their owners to put away themselves
• 30 minutes ironing
• Clean light fittings, skirtings even the ones behind furniture. Clean fire-surrounds. Wipe sofa's down. Clear as may hotspots as you can.. see if you can get it all into one pile instead of 15!!!
  

Natty68

FLYLADY CHRISTMAS CARD SWAP 2023!!!!!!!!!!!

It's that time of year again folks Time for the Christmas Card Swap
DO NOT POST ANY PERSONAL DETAILS HERE!!!!!!!!!

I will be sending out the card list on 27th November 2023, as I need to get them in the post by the 30th November due to the Royal Mail strikes, so if you wish to be involved you need to email the following:

• Your name (if you wish to disclose that),
• MSE user Id.. This is vital or you won't be included.. (just so I know you are really a flylady!!)
• Address to which you want the cards sending. 

Can you please put Flylady Christmas Card in the subject of your email.

Please email to [Removed by Forum Team] no later than 14th November.

Or pop a quick comment on here to let me know you want to be added.

Thanks everyone xxx

*Edited to add please send me a PM on here as the email addy has been removed.*

roundtuit

Count me in for the Flylady Christmas Card Swap please Natty 😊 All details are the same as last year.

I'm also in for next week's flying.

Calling it a day as I'm tired.
Sweet dreams
Rxx

pigpen

TY for Fred.

Is that a new email Natty?  I will ping deets over later.. nothing has changed but it might help to have it all in one place. ~ Done

Tomorrow I have no idea.. I don't even know if my insides will still be inside.

I am going to fling some more meds and head off to my nest I think.. just doing some knitting and having a cuppa.. I really need 5 or 6 dr's appointments but honestly I don't think I have the energy.

Squeak has an alternate curriculum day tomorrow and usually either doesn't go in or comes home half way through because she can't cope.. I am trying to get out of her whether she is going or not but she is being ridiculous about it.. this is what infuriates me about her the most... just make a decision already!!!

I need to update my christmas list.. I've bought Dot a blue clarinet so she can continue to practice.. while I put in complaints about the secondary school.

I have a couple of parcels to sort too.

Asparklierblonde

Morning all

Thank you so much for the lists, I am in xx

Natty I have emailed you my details hun xx

Piggers I hope Squeak has a good day, one way or another xx 

I have written my list, I have A LOT to get through this week in addition to full time paid stuff. Waiting to hear back from a few tradespeople too - seriously, why on earth do they take so long / not respond at all??? Do they not need an income?! 

I have lots of emails to send today, and MUST go to the agric store for hen feed. We have agreed to take 15 ex battery hens in the next fortnight so I need to be prepared. 

Bag of stuff to deposit in the chazza whilst I am in town, and if I get chance I will call in to the tip - they have an excellent shop there, and we really need a foot stool. 

Have fab days all xx

Valli

morning all

another chilly one, so my vertical half hour is proving a challenge, but if i want to hunker back down with a coffee i don’t have much choice.

WUALTD before i went to bed, but left a dish soaking (Eve’s pudding, DD’s favourite) which can go in the DW when I empty and re stack.  I’ve also done a washload.

Jazee

Morning all.  Hope you're all ok and raring to get going for another week on planet Earth.

Thanks for the list.  I'll try my best this week but today I'm entertaining DGD2 so probably won't get a lot done.  Just having first cuppa while she sleeps.

Have a great day everyone.

ionafan

Thank you for the new thread, Natty x
Hope you are in less pain today, pigpen x

I had 3 great days with DD and co, and we did get to meet up with my old friend from uni, but DH and I had to make the decision to come home yesterday, a day early, because he was not at all well and we couldn't risk him being stuck at DD 's or possibly even in horse piddle 150 miles from home if he got any worse.  That meant driving home in glorious sunshine whilst thinking about the day we should have spent by the sea   As DH 's condition improved yesterday evening, the BD arrived to pester me.  I cant even do any admin or get stuck into family history as a distraction, as I took my computer in for servicing before we went away and it's not due to be collected until tomorrow.  Rosie is still in kennels, though I will probably pick her up this afternoon instead.

So today will be shopping, washing and a bit of flying.  And trying to shake off the BD.

See you later xxx

Valli

sorry to hear you had to make the decision to cut your break short, Iona.  *throws BD a stick*

I had decided to pop the heating on for half an hour so then i decided to go and make a dent in the ironing pile, so the washing can sir on the maiden by the hall radiator, and, in turn, this help me stay warm instead of getting colder whilst sitting still.

So a good start to the week.  

Meeting my former job share colleague (and friend) for lunch later.  

roundtuit

Good morning all xx 

I'm up, made my bed, and made a brew. 

Received a text from 'dvla' wanting to check my driving licence!!! Yeah right! I don't think so Mr Scammer. Blocked the number.

Priority today is to visit Mr Al. But not yet - another brew is required.

Have a good week
Rxx

roundtuit

And my boiler has broken down. Again. I've tried to repressurise it but nothing's happening.....Priority is now a phone call to the social housing landlord 🙄

Rxx