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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.Weekly Flylady Thread 6 November 2023



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
PLEASE REMEMBER YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A COMPLETE LIST EVERY DAY!
Marvellous Monday - Kitchen and Dining Room
Level 1
Open some windows for some fresh air
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!
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
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 - and don't forget legs and rails!
Check fruit and wash bowl
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
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.
EXTRAS
HHI
S&S bathroom
Terrific Tuesday
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
Level 2
Clean out baths and/or showers
Clean shower heads and hoses
Clean handbasins including taps - don't forget the out of sight bits!
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 - possibly!
HHI
S&S
If you’re sending Christmas cards overseas check last posting dates on the RM website
Wonderful Wednesday
The Boudoir do level 1 at least - everyone deserves a comfy bed
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
Thursday (finally)
Living room, hall, stairs and landing
Level 1
Open lots of windows and let that fresh air in while beds are airing
Deal with cut flowers and pot plants - top up water/wipe leaves/remove drooping or dead blooms
Wash out vases
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
Sort newspapers/magazines
Level 2
Clean windows and mirrors
Vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies - and stairs!
Move furniture to vacuum under it if you can.
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 open/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
and some self care...crafting, reading, a bubbly bath?
FRIDAY
get out your Toots list and make a start on one job - even if its just getting a quote.
S&s kitchen
S&s bathroom
plan some self care


Thank you Honey Bear
Comments
-
TY for Fred... I hope you have a nice peaceful week and Valli-papa is soon better and Valli-mama is accepting of helpLooking for a parcel to fling..Marvellous Monday - Kitchen and Dining Room
Level 1
Level 2
Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts inside and out,
Clean microwave
Level 3
Choose a drawer, shelf or cupboard for special attention.
EXTRASTerrific TuesdayBathrooms, cloak rooms and en suitesLevel 1Scrub Loo inside and outLevel 2Clean out baths and/or showersClean shower heads and hosesClean handbasins including tapsLevel 3sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriateclean windowsExtrasWonderful Wednesday
The Boudoir
level 1
level 2
level 3
extras
Thursday (finally) - Living room, hall, stairs and landing
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean? ... no it is an utter pit!
Extras
FRIDAY
get out your Toots list and make a start on one job - even if its just getting a quote. ~ I've been trying.. no one calls back orturns up to quote or turns up to work!!
plan some self care
LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14Hope to be debt free until the day I dieMortgage-free Wannabee (05/08/30)6/6/14 £72,454.65 (5.65% int.)08/12/2023 £33602.00 (4.81% int.)10 -
This week is your final opportunity to sign up for the FLYLADY SECRET SANTA, if you haven't done so already. The list will close at 11.59pm on Saturday 11th November. If you want to join in, please PM me with your name and postal address.
Enormous (((hugs))) to asb, YL, Fayolle and anyone else who's not looking forward to this week. My Inbox is always open (not just for the Secret Santa) if you want to rant/fall about laughing hysterically/cry on my shoulder xxx
Well done Squeak
x
Thank you Valli for the new thread. I need to do some proper flying this week, but getting DS1's birthday present finished has to be a priority.
And tomorrow morning, before Action Heart, I have to go with K to collect a sideboard, as you do... I have told DH that I need to leave the house at 8.30, and just before he went to bed I suggested that he should put the porridge in to soak overnight to save time in the morning
I've also got a head start with the kitchen as I have made and baked all the rich fruit cakes, the mincemeat is already stored in the fridge, and there's just the pudding mix to be stirred again tomorrow, decanted into pudding basins and then steamed. I loaded the DW, WULTD all the baking bits, and emptied the DW before I came upstairs. I have also washed a week's worth of clothes for each of us today, so that leaves just 3 WM loads of bedding to be done at some point - preferably when it's not raining but blowing hard enough to dry them off a bit before I have to resort to the TD.
Please look after yourselves, and I hope you get some sunshine this week xxx
12 -
Morning all
Thanks for the thread. So, big deep breaths this morning. 8 weeks left of 2023, and some challenging stuff to get through at the paid stuff before I get there. However I am going to work really hard on reframing my view on life and finding stuff to be happy about.
My kitchen is still being decorated and I have a late finish tonight, so not sure how much flying will get done. DW emptied, sink and draining board cleared. Will check work emails, do my workout then get a shower, have breakfast and get ready for the paid stuff.
Have a good Monday everyone. Love and hugs as required x11 -
Good morning all xx
A new day. A new week. I hope it's a good one for you all ❤
I'm up, made my bed, and made a brew. I think I'm still running on BST. Waking up at 6am and ready for my bed by 9.15pm. Heyho...it is what it is 😊
I need to find my list and carry forward what didn't get done yesterday. Another brew first though.
Join me?
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme11 -
Morning all. I hope you're all ok today and if not quite feeling positive I'm throwing sticks in your direction.
I have had a very busy few days with paid stuff, looking after DGD1, baking cakes and partying with two year olds, but now have today and tomorrow to recover before paid stuff again.
There is a pile of washing up waiting for me in the kitchen, I have some admin to do and I've promised to decorate our village memorial area with knitted poppies this afternoon. Also need to at least do the dailies and walk Poppet.
Have a great day everyone.Spend less now, work less later.11 -
i am at the aged p’s; mum ‘wants to be at home’ and has accepted my being here even though she doesn’t think she needs support. i bought her a parkin from Morries… she cut a slice then promptly lost it. i found it in the compost caddy. Either it’s going to be a laugh. Or i’ll be had up for matricide.
Yesterday i dusted the bedrooms, vacuumed all upstairs, I have since found a cobweb in the room i’m in. Need to strip and remake dad’s bed for when he’s discharged. Might get some cleaning done downstairs, too.My new mantra ‘must not correct mum’.Incidentally my sister ALSO bought parkin…last week we both bought her M&S cherry madeira… cue ‘Twilight Zine’ themeDon't put it DOWN; put it AWAY"I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily DickinsonJanice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear11 -
Morning all
Thanks for the new thread Valli.
Kitchen day - that's good. I need to wipe the low-level cupboard doors. With all the rain we've had, there's muddy foot trails over them where the cat has jumped up onto the tops.
I also have a lot of washing to do. One lot is already on and can be dried on the line, but by the time the second lot has finished, it won't dry out there so it will need to be TDd. Though I suppose I could leave it out there overnight as the weather is set fair.I am the leading lady in the movie of my life
10 -
Brew 2 supped and breakfast eaten. A lovely rainbow was waiting to greet me when I opened LR curtains.
To Do Today List:
Get dressed
Feed the birds
Put out the recycling
Laundry shuffle x ?
DUPA yesterday's pots
WUDUPA
Wash vase
Put out fresh tea towel & hand towel in kitchen
Put fresh towels in bathroom
Ring dentist's to make January appointment
Write Christmas presents shopping list
Write Christmas cards shopping list
Write on Nov/ Dec birthday cards
P & S calling for coffee midmorning
Bring down 2024 calendar
To Do Tomorrow List:
Wash towels & tea towels
2pm Go to H's for coffee
Teatime Meet Sh and A at pub for meal
Wednesday:
10.15 am Meet L at posh farm shop cafe
Take box of books for L's sister's church's thrift shop
Sometime this week:
Buy Christmas presents
Buy Christmas cards
Visit Pops
Mr Al shop
Better get cracking then. Have a good day. Keep your eves open for rainbows/ other unexpected treasures
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme12 -
Admin is done. I'm just having breakfast watching the rain pouring down so any washing will have to dry indoors. It was lovely and sunny an hour ago and rain wasn't forecast. grr...Spend less now, work less later.11
-
Thanks for the new thread @Valli, I am in again this week. Focus for today when i get home will be
Level 1
Open some windows for some fresh air
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!
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
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 - and don't forget legs and rails!
Check fruit and wash bowl
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
Level 2
Clean hob (and grill)
Level 3
Hoover floor - if I have time I may also mop it11
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