Weekly Flylady Thread 25th March 2024

Valli

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.

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- 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 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...

FLYLADY THREAD PICK'N'MIX V2.1 Because it’s Easter 


I'm not going to list the rooms by day, just by room but you are free to either do a whole room (all three levels) or mix up the levels across the week - so, for example, you might pick level 1 to do for all rooms. Just post what you HAVE achieved! Sharp-eyed flyladies will notice there are six lists...because YOU are picking and mixing. You might choose the worst room to really make a difference (and because you have the time) or the least minging because you're short of time.  Feel free to allocate tasks to anybody in your home, whether they are a child, a visitor or a partner.  Even poorly people can help…list writing as a minimum!



Bathroom, Cloakroom, En suites

Level 1

Remove all rubbish (bin bag dance)
Clean windows and wipe frames
Dust all furnishings
Polish mirror, shower screen
Wipe shower cubicle out
Change towels

Level 2

Clean loo - and bleach it
Clean basin - don't forget to clean the underside of the plug
Wash toothbrush holders/toothmugs
Wipe loo roll holder

Level 3

Clean bath
Clean floor
Wipe door(s) down paying special attention to handles
Wipe pull switches
Check cabinets - wipe sticky shelves

Hall, Stairs and Landing

Level 1

Clear rubbish/binbag dance
Clean windows
Wipe all handles and stair rails/banisters
Wipe sockets and switches

Level 2

Dust skirtings
Attend to plants
Dust everywhere

Level 3

Sweep, mop, vacuum floors
Clean mats
Check outdoor/security lighting is fully functional
Check smoke alarms and CO monitors

Kitchen/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!

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
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if needed
Clear WM , TD and DW filters

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

Master Bedroom

Level 1

Open windows w-i-d-e unless it's persisting it down/freezing
Strip bed
Allow to air
Remake bed

Level 2

Clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
Clean windows
Vacuum, sweep or mop floor
Empty bin
Put as much stuff as you can away - clear the clutter

Level 3

Dust all sides and shelves
With a just damp cloth wipe all your lotion and potion bottles, hairdryers (especially if you use product while blow drying) etc. and put all perfumes away in a drawer. The sun/heat will damage the contents.
Rinse the cloth and wipe sockets and switches
Polish mirrors
Vacuum/dust light fittings and lamps

Living room

Level 1

Open windows
Empty out any rubbish
Clear and clean coffee table/side tables
Recycle old newspapers and magazines
Rehome anything which is out of place
Wipe coasters
Deal with any flowers/water & wipe plants

Level 2

Dust and polish any wooden furniture or just dust
Check corners for cobwebs/spiders and remove
Dust skirting boards
Wipe handles/sockets/switches
Dust electricals

Level 3

Lift chair/sofa cushions and vacuum under them
Wipe leather furniture/vacuum sofas
Dust lightfittings - and bulbs!
Dust skirting boards/dado rails etc
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor

Kids room/spare room/guest room

Level one

Open widows
Strip bed (if needed)
Remove rubbish
Deal with flowers
Remake aired bed

Level 2

Clean window
Dust level surfaces
Check lighting functional

Level 3

Dust skirtings
Wipe mirrors
Vacuum floor

Daily little tasks that keep the whole house running smoothly

S&S kitchen (unless it's kitchen day)
S&S bathroom(s) (unless.. you get the idea)
HHI - 

Other key tasks

Pick and choose if/as necessary 

Check outside drains are not blocked.  We don't want any soapy floods.  Or standing rainwater.
When you're meal planning double up and freeze for busy days 
Make sure you won't run out of meds/inhalers over the holiday season.  Check you have your favourite OTC meds to hand
Plan in some me-time - visit to a salon, long bubbly bath, snuggle down with a good book 
Check your bin emptying times over the holiday 
If you're planning on travelling check oil, tyres, fuel, screenwash etc  
If you have a charity bag/box to donate get it gone asap 

Cloth_of_Gold

Thanks for the new thread Valli.

Sorry your lovely meal ended up with an upset tummy.

Made supper and washed up and had a quick S&S in the kitchen and set up A's breakfast things.

 His face is a lot better but he has decided that the rash was caused by taking so many eye meds and has decided, unilaterally, to stop having them. I consider it most unlikely that they are the cause, not least because he has had it, on and off, for quite a while and long before he started on the eye meds. He is not to be persuaded though so let's hope he doesn't have further problems with his eyes. His twice cancelled hospital appointment is now in a couple of weeks so hopefully it won't be cancelled again and we will see what the consultant has to say about it.

ionafan

Thank you for the new thread, Valli.  I will do what I can this coming week.  Over the past few days I have been feeling very tired, some days I've struggled to walk Rosie, and my concentration has been very poor, so I still haven't finished all the admin I wanted to get through.  Anyway, K is bringing the girls here for tea tomorrow, so if I strip both beds in the morning, she will doubtless help me re-make them.  And all other washing is up to date - I even line dried most of what I did today, and the rest is hanging in the utility where it gets a change of air every time somebody goes through to the garden or man cave.

CoG, I do sympathise with A re eye drops.  I am really fed up with mine after only 2 weeks, and I have another 6 weeks' worth ahead of me, but then (hopefully) I won't need any more.

The week before last, I mentioned  the non-delivery of my Mother's Day flowers from DD.  For various reasons she didn't get round to phoning the company concerned until Friday just gone.  I had a lovely surprise yesterday morning when I received a huge mixed bouquet plus a bonus: a little planter containing a primrose, a cyclamen and some tête-à-tête.  All very colourful!

I've put in a request for no more snow for asb x

Hope everyone has a good week xxx

pigpen

TY For Fred..

I've sorted through some shoes.. and found 3 more bags of shoes to sort through tomorrow. I got 2 boxes in the car to go in the she recycling at Tesc0, 5 pairs listed on V!nted, they are super cheap as not perfect but definitely still with life in them.. Squeak has been tasked with sorting her own clothes for what fits and does not and what she doesn't want to wear. I need to get her some more jeans.. she is not fitting in childrens sizes any more.. she is 5ft 5 and size 7 shoes.. and still growing..

I pruned and dead-headed in the garden and dried the pruned bay leaves.. so I have a coffee jar full of dry leaves and my kitchen smells fabulous. We also got 2 tips runs done from my sisters garden and another to go tomorrow.. OH broke his spade.. I may buy him a decent one for our wedding anniversary in May.. it is iron (6 years) though we have been together 15 as of Saturday just gone so very appropriate... that time has flown by!!

It is freezing out tonight so the spider plants are back sheltering inside.

And so you can all be as horrified as I am .. Boog has T1 diabetes.. I found the pint mug they were making a cuppa in today and it had so much sugar in.. so, I weighed the other mug with 2 teabags.. there was 86g of sugar in the mug.. 21 SPOONFULS!!!!! 21!!!!!!!! it is insane!! .. and disgusting. They had the cheek to moan on Thursday their jeans were too small and wouldn't fasten.. it is the first time they've been out of the house in 6 months!!!! The job centre insisted!

ANd I am off to my nest.. not sure what I am getting u to tomorrow but I can uarantee knitting it involved! Just doing and angel top for Harper and some shorts to go with it next.. as well as the blue aram jacket I am not enjoying..

Cookies and cocoa for the WAC .. NN besties

roundtuit

Morning all xx 

Thankyou for the lists. Hope you're feeling better today Valli xx

I was up at 6 05 am. I think I'm already on BST 🤔. I had an horrendous dream in which I was at my wits end and woke up feeling 😱 No chance of getting back to sleep so I'm up, made my bed, got weighed*, completed Wordle,  failed at Connections (got one line), and I'm supping my first brew.

* stayed the same! Gutted. But not surprised as I knew i didn't feel any lighter this week. So still 1 lb to get off to hit my quarterly target. I can do this...rolling my sleeves up.

I started my knitting last night. Casted on and knitted two rows. Turns out it's like riding a bike...you don't forget how to do it 😊. Must be over 30 years since I last knitted anything. I'm very slow. Mum always said it was because I don't hold the right needle properly- but if I hold it how she did I can't knit at all 🤣 Mum was a whizz at knitting- if she was watching me last night she'd be shaking her head and tutting. I could almost feel her criticising my technique. Still the end results were always OK, 😉

Second brew time. Then I'll make a list.

Have a good week. 
Rxx

Dfw38

Morning all! Thank you for the lists, determined to make some headway before the weekend as both dds finish school on Thursday for the holidays. Going to tackle the hall, stairs and landing today.
Got a crazy busy week which makes me feel dizzy to even think about 😂. I have managed to lose a couple of lbs over the past couple of weeks but 'operation lose wobbly bits' starts next Monday.... after I have finished scoffing my Easter eggs on Sunday. 
Going to be potty training ds over the 2 week break 😱 anyone have any tips for potty training a boy? We are starting with the 'sitting down' method first. 

Valli

morning all

i am feeling quite chipper this morning, i was achy last night due, no doubt, to the compost-shifting.

Round..Im sure the more you knit the faster you’ll get…

Paid stuff today so not sure if i’ll get much flying done…we shall see.   Hope you all have a good day x

DW x 1

roundtuit

Brew 2 supped and breakfast eaten. 

Round 1
Get dressed 
Laundry shuffle 
Feed the birds 
Put out the recycling 
Put airer away 

Rxx

roundtuit

roundtuit said:

Round 1
Get dressed ✅
Laundry shuffle ✅
Feed the birds ✅
Put out the recycling ✅
Put airer away ✅

Also: sploshed bleach down the loo,  filled the birdbath, picked up and binned three scraps of wood from the back garden, picked up and binned three pieces of rubbish from under the cotoneaster in the front garden.

Every little helps 😉
Rxx

Cloth_of_Gold

@roundtuit putting me to shame as usual. It's nearly 10 and I haven't done anything apart from ring a company that I ordered some Easter eggs from last night online. Somehow the order confirmations came back with the shipping address and billing address being the same on each one. That's fine for the one coming to me but I've sent one each to my friends in Plymouth and Manchester and I don't want them to include the invoice in with the egg. There was no reply though so I'll try again in a minute. By the way, Round, Confucius had a saying 'Happier is she whose weight stays the same than she who puts a pound on'. And I'm sure Confucius knew what he was talking about. 

My aim for today, in no particular order, is:

Ring the Easter egg company and sort out the invoice issue

WUPA A's breakfast things.

Clean the bathroom

Clean the kitchen

Order the lamb for Easter Sunday

Empty the kitchen bin and put a new bin liner in and take the bag down to the bins.

Go out and get a paper for A

Have a walk

Use my new kettle bells for the first time

Vacuum the sitting room and hall

Tidy another shelf of the bookcase

Do some online banking

Anything more than that will be a bonus. Have a good morning everyone and I'll report back later.

kiss_me_now9

Good morning all. My son has finally stopped fighting and gone down for his nap so I've got an hour or so to myself. Gonna have a little chill out for ten minutes then do half an hour of tidying around. We are heading into town this afternoon to meet some friends and play on the park so not a huge amount of time free today. 

We were meant to have a bathroom fitter here at 9am this morning to start renovating our bathroom (taking out the shower and putting a new bath in, tiling the walls, moving the toilet over and putting in a new vanity unit and towel rail radiator). He's still not here and when my OH called the shop we're going through half an hour ago they said they'd call him and then call us back straight away with his plans and we've heard nothing since. I'm really keen to get this done ASAP as I go back to work in 3 weeks and I don't want the last 3 weeks to be tiptoing around the house or making excuses to get out so I'm not here alone with random workmen I don't know (LO goes to nursery 4 days a week from tomorrow). I find it so awkward and hate it, can't relax even if I tried. 

Kitchen is largely tidy as we've been doing really well with maintaining it's cleanliness recently, I do the dishwasher first thing whilst LO eats his breakfast and clean the counters later on. Living room is a bit of a tip but LO is napping in there and I tend to leave it to the end of the day to tidy as there's no point before with him throwing bits around all the time. Our bedroom is tidy enough but could use a swipe around. LOs bedroom is full of bathroom bits (another reason I want this done ASAP!) and the office needs a good going over but I'll find that easier to do tomorrow when LO is out and OH is back at work. 

I'm planning to have a really good sort out in the office and try to declutter it a lot before I go back to work. Eventually this needs to be turned into LOs bedroom (he's currently in a double room in a cot, we can't babyproof the room for when he moves up to a toddler bed and we'd lose our only guest bed which is used quite often as both our parents live 2 hours drive away). It's very daunting as there is just so much stuff that I've accumulated. I also need to go through my clothes as my drawers are over flowing. 

So my to do list for the next half hour: 
* Clear toys off bedroom floor
* Figure out somewhere that my toiletries can safely go (currently on top of a unit in our bedroom that LO can reach the top of now)
* Wipe over kitchen surfaces
* Fold clean/dry laundry and get next load in
* Sweep kitchen and hallway floor