Weekly Flylady Thread 22 April 2024

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!  Throw anything really fluffy in the compost bin (except kiwis - they're supposed to be fluffy)
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?
Put AWAY as much as you can - do ALL those small appliances NEED to be on show?
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 and overflows.
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.  Waxy dribbles are fine on candle-stuffed Chianti bottles but we don't want to see dried sauce and ketchup, thank you very much.

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.  Wash out salad boxes etc.  
Dust dining area/room
Descale kettle if you have one - not that I recall anyone on this thread claiming to be the proud owner of a quooker but someone might be.
Clean WM, TD and DW filters; remove WM detergent drawer and wash it out.
Wipe inside of washer 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 or chipped and cracked.
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean windows in both rooms.  You could also wipe frames & sills inside and out!

EXTRAS

HHI
S&S bathroom 
Month end looms - if your 'payday' is this week get those spreadsheets up to date.

Twinkly Tuesday

bathrooms, cloakroom, en suites

level 1

flush toilet, glugvsome cleaner down it
empty rubbish, clear detritis
scrub toilet bowl
wipe handle and all outside of loo, seat lid etc

level 2
scrub shower tray/bath
clean screen or remove shower curtain to wash
wipe down tiles, shelves, ledges etc
ckean hoses and heads
Check storage cabinets and clean 1 shelf at least

Level 3

ckean basin inside and out
shine taps
ckean sill and windiw
clean floor

Xtras 
Send Mr Piggers job vibes @ 11
s&s kitchen


Wednesday - 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
Open windows
Empty bins/ashtrays - wipe out or was
If you have a woodburner/real fire attend to that first - and lay fire for lighting
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 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!  Include lightswitches

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?
Open front door and vacuum then wipe doorframe

Extras
Don't forget the dailies - beds need making, pots need washing
S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
HHI

Thursday Thrills

the boudoir

level 1 
Strip the bed and leave to air
clear floordrobe chairdrobe etc
make bed

level 2
clean windows and morrors
sweep, vacuum or mop floor

level 3 
poke that duster into every nook and cranny

extras
hhi
s&s bathroom 
s&s kitchen
15 minutes in the garden...get some weeds pulled

FRIDAY FLOURISH - Kids room/spare room/guest room 
Level 1
Open window
strip bed
clear detritus/toys/clothes from floor (or chair etc)
occupant of room to assist if available
Empty bin

level 2
anything that needs to be homed -put away occupants of room to help
vacuum floor
If spare/guest room check all lighting fully functional

level 3
clean window
wipe sockets and switches
dust all around

extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
HHI

Goodintentions

Good evening 😁

Round you are on FIRE this weekend! Well done 👏 
Iona well done on pulling up the vicar on his language. "naughty" does sound a bit flippant for something so serious! 

Yesterday I did a few hours at the allotment. The playhouse was still there & in 1 piece, although about 18 inches away from where I had left it 😂 
Today I have potted on some tomato & flower seedlings & sown a few more seeds. I decided not to sow the squash/pumpkin/cucumber & sweetcorn seeds as it is still too cold. It will not hurt them to wait a week or so. They will catch up with warmth 👍 I have cleared/weeded a flower bed in the garden. The muscari gets a bit overwhelming when it has finished, so that looks better. 
Meal plan & food shop done. Roast dinner cooked for 6 of us (mainly by DH to be fair). DW put on. We then went for a walk along the seafront for ice cream & doughnuts 😋 I will finish off the kitchen tomorrow....
I am now going to knit some more of the baby blanket while watching TV.

Have a good week everyone 

Goodintentions

Where are my manners?!? 
Thank you Valli for the thread, and thank you Natty for last week 😊

Valli

Goodintentions said:

Where are my manners?!? 
Thank you Valli for the thread, and thank you Natty for last week 😊

Round has left you in shock lol

Washing brought in.  Rabbit run repaired and rebuilt as the little man is 'romantically inclined' and pulling out Miffy's fur in an attempt to 'climb aboard' and her skin is sore.  So he will be kept in the run and she will have the freedom of the garden (hutch at night though) and hopefully her skin will repair and her fur regrow.  Fingers crossed they don't lose their bond but we managed last year - we'll swap them over so they get used to each other's scent, if necessary.  There's a little bedroom thing in the run and shade/shelter. 

Mum was spotted trying to make off with my t.v. remote control.  She'll have assumed it was her mobile.  Fortunately DiL saw it in mum's bag... 

Asparklierblonde

I promise I’ll remind you Valli xx thanks for the thread 😊😊

Alarm set for 5am, I’ve made a head start on the week by getting two laundry loads done tonight, both drying by the fire. Coal chucked on said fire, HWB brought to bed. Kids left most of their uniforms at their dads🤬, and DS also left his coat (he has a coat that lives there so I’ve no idea why he even took his other one). I haven’t got a third and he’ll just have to manage for a fortnight!! 

Sleep well everyone xx

Narc0lepsy

thanks for lists.  Very impressed by Round's constant achievements both flying and slinking. Well done Ionafan that comment really made abuse sound like childish mischief.
I just lurked last week as I couldn't raise much motivation - did what I needed to and started stepping up the exercise in preparation for June's swim (1st donation target exceeded so I've raised it!) so all in all I've been spending too much recovery time in the conservatory.  But washing has been done, tidying ok, gardening (greenhouse full of seedlings and some sprouting in the cold outside too), uni work, shopping, tried 2 new recipes out etc.
Plus my much-debated bus pass arrived; they sent the correct (senior) one after faffing about wanting evidence of my 'disability'   so I am officially old...........
Nearly bought a cheap air fryer in Lid1 yesterday but on discussion with a friend, decided that IF I wanted one, the Lid1 one might have been too small. Still not really convinced - people seem to rave about chips, fish fingers, jacket potatoes and stuff that I don't actually eat anyway so what might I gain?  I use the oven bit of my microwave/combi for many of our meals, unless I'm cooking a lot e.g. a roast with pudding in which case I use the Stanley (aga-like range). And I use the slow cooker quite a bit too. 
Here's to lots of motivation this week. 

pigpen

TY for Fred.

I have a squillion things this week..

I have 2 small boys tomorrow and we need to go buy dog food for my mothers muttleys, EHCP meeting Tuesday, OH has an interview for a job he doesn't want Wednesday, Thursday we have Pixies music thing 1-3 and Squeak has dress rehearsal 5-9 Friday I have a nail appointment and DD1 is bringing my turnips home from school. I have a parcel to package and post.. and someone phoning to discuss a loan for the door/windows/bathroom fix.. sadly it is all too expensive but needs to be done urgently.

Not sure when I will sit down.. lol

I have done a great chunk of Mondays list today..

Marvellous Monday - Kitchen and Dining Room
Level 1
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances
Level 2
Clean microwave
Descale kettle if you have one - not that I recall anyone on this thread claiming to be the proud owner of a quooker but someone might be... Actually, I HAVE ONE!!
Level 3
EXTRAS
S&S bathroom 
Month end looms - if your 'payday' is this week get those spreadsheets up to date...My payday' was last week.. so I'm done.

Asparklierblonde

Morning lovelies

Narco - I use ours almost daily, but agree the most cooked things in there for us are chips/garlic bread/jackets/sausages/roasties/chicken/chops. Only use the ‘big’ oven on a Sunday to bake and make Yorkshire puddings. 

It’s a damp grey start and we’re not forecast any sun. That being said, it’s not too cold although the LR fire is lit. I need to properly clean the kitchen one out today, I’ve let it go out properly and cool down so the chickens can bathe in the ash later on! 

Need to wake DD now and crack on with paid stuff, have fab days all xx

Jazee

Morning all.  Thanks for the list.

 I'm just having first cuppa while DGD2 is still sleeping.  Poppet has been fed. Clothes sorted for DGD2 and breakfast bit's ready for her too.  Will do my stretches next .

Have a great day everyone.

roundtuit

Good morning my lovelies xx 

Thank you to Natty and Valli for the thread.

I'm a whizzy blur 😊 I'm chuckling at all your comments- believe me, no-one is more surprised than I am. Not surprised that I've flown....there's the incentive / spectre of a strange man (landlord's surveyor) coming to look at the property today 😳.....but totally amazed at how much I've enjoyed myself. 

Blinkers are now off and I can see where there's (a lot) more to tackle. But. Big BUT. I can also see that I've come a long way on my flying journey. I remember when I joined Flylady and read S&S kitchen worktop. Erm. Do you mean 'unearth' kitchen worktop? I can't see any to S&S! Being a WIP I now have 50% cleared to S&S and 50% to unearth. The stairs and landing are totally clear. And every room has floor now. I'm not kidding myself, there's still a long way to go / lot to do. But now I want to...which is a whole new ballgame to 'have' to. And along the way I've made friends 😍. Good friends. ❤

Anyhoo. Today. I got up at 6.15am....cause that's what you do on your day off innit? I've made my bed, got weighed, completed Wordle and Connections,  and supped a brew.

My first time gaining weight this year: I've put on 0.5 pounds. That'll be the pizza and chips I ordered in on Saturday evening then. I'm not beating myself up. It was a stressful week (Aren't they all this year?) and I was straight back to calorie counting yesterday. 

Get this chap's visit out of the way this morning and my stress levels will drop a little. 

Round 1
Get dressed 
Feed the birds 
Put out the recycling 
WUDUPA 


Have a good day 😘
Rxx

Valli

Morning all

Off to the paid stuff today and swimming too.  Need to empty DW and put pots away, will have time to do that before i leave.  I think I’ve been clenching my jaw (Rishi Sunak dropped by in his helicopter to bring me 50p) while dreaming and it aches.

Hoping to see lots of lists with crossed off sections being posted!