Weekly Flylady Thread 13 May 2024

Natty68

Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread.

We often see new flyers (gents welcome!) around this time of year so please don't worry if you feel you cannot keep up.  Similarly if your house has been neglected it won't be turned around in a day - but if you stay you will get into some good habits which do help!  Happy flying.

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 Valli 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- 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:

Killer Kitchen - Monday

Level One
Clear and wipe work surfaces
Get that radio on super-blast...
Open the windows and let in the summer!
Level Two
Sweep and Mop the floor
Clean those icky filters and drawers from DW's, WM's etc
Wipe the cupboard fronts, all the appliances and all those manky corners!!
Level Three
Wipe the table, replace cloth if needed
Empty and clean out the fridge.. including the drain hole bit at the back..
Clean oven/hob
Pick a cupboard and empty and clean it out and replace only what you wish to keep!
Extras

• Binbag dance!
• HHI ..
• Clean windows and sills
• Clean the oven shelves.. soak them in wash powder.. that works! 

Mad Tuesday - Living room, Hallway, Stairs
Level One
Remove clutter from floors, chairs and fireplace
Open the windows and let in some fresh air
Level Two
Vacuum floors and sofas
Wipe and water neglected plants
Dust those flat fluffy surfaces
Level Three
Vacuum under the furniture you can move
Clean windows, pictures, mirrors etc.
Sort out the shoes and boots and fling the dead ones and the out grown ones
Vacuum hall, landing and stairs.. all the way up to the top!!!!!
Extras

• Wipe woodwork in the hall and stairs & wipe front door.. inside and out!
• Wash any nets/curtains that need cleaning.. put up fresh ones!
• Wash those winter coats and put them away/fling the manky old ones.. including the one you have worn for about 10 years!! It is dead.. get rid!
• 15 minutes filing

Study or other reception room & bathrooms - Wednesday
Level One
Clear the clutter from all these rooms!!
Ring someone you love just to tell them so.. we never do this enough!
Wash any curtains/blinds/mats etc that need doing
Level Two
Vacuum the floors
Clean bath, toilets, shower and sinks
Wipe down the tiles and defragment the pc while doing this.
Level Three
declutter and dust the pc desk
Wipe away cup rings and sticky things
wipe the keyboard, mouse, cables and sockets and suchlike.
Clean the windows.
Extras

• HHI..
• Clear a hotspot
• Degunge around the bottoms of the taps!
• Wipe cupboards and polish mirrors!

Master bedroom & landing -Thursday
Level 1
Check fire alarms are working
Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.
Fling open the window and let in the spring!
Level 2
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..
Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..
Clean lightshade. And remove dead insects
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level 3
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort 10 things from your wardrobe (or someone elses) that you can get rid of.. you WILL have nothing left lol!!
Clear a hotspot.. or spend 15 minutes clearing one.
Extra tasks list, as usual choose one or more

• 37 fling boogie time, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Clear a box of clutter from the landing
• Make any necessary phone calls

Childrens/Spare rooms - Friday
Level One
Clear the floor
Spend at least half an hour doing something just for yourself.. a nice bath, a manicure.. just your time! Make that appointment to have your hair done!!
Level Two
Strip the beds and wash those sheets.. and any duvets that need doing
Drag the stuff from under the beds and re-home in proper places.
Level Three
Vacuum the floor
Deweb corners
Clean the windows
Extras

• Wash any curtains/throws/cushions etc that need it
• Wipe sticky marks from walls and doors
• Clean any tv's, pc's playstations in the room
• 15 minutes filing!

Weekend list.. get those other halves and children involved too!!

• Work to level 3 in the messiest room
• HHG.. get the grass cut and the weeds plucked!!
• Spend some time with someone you love because you never know just how long you are going to have them! If you cannot be with them ring them and tell them you love them!
• Make sure those school and work things are washed and ironed for next week.. inc shiny shoes!
• Meal plan for the week
• Do a DIY task that you have been putting off since time began
• Change any bedding that needs it, or you missed through the week
• Wash any windows that need doing and always get neglected!
• HHI
• Binbag dance

roundtuit

Thank you for the lists. I'm in xx

pigpen

Thank you for Fred...

I have a squillion things to do this week as usual.. I need to take Pixie for her nurse check up but she works only 3 days and Pixie is busy those days.. it is SATs week and I am rubbish parent.. she is supposed to go monthly and hasn't been since before easter because I cant fit everything in.

Dot needs an opticians appointment.

I need to drop DW tablets at my mothers and have some bits for DD1

I have Incy to take to school

4 parcels being collected tomorrow

I have a C&C shop and Pixie has dance class after school

Tuesday.. school viewing and I have grandbeasts in the afternoon.

Wednesday .. swimming

Thursday.. orchestra and cello

Killer Kitchen - Monday

Level One
Level Two
Sweep and Mop the floor
Level Three
Pick a cupboard and empty and clean it out and replace only what you wish to keep! ~ This one I shall save for OH.. I have a Le creuset kettle to sell in the bag of the cupboard and I can't reach it.. he can grab it and sort the plastic tubs and whatever else is lurking in there.

Mad Tuesday - Living room, Hallway, Stairs
Level One
Remove clutter from floors, chairs and fireplace
Level Two
Vacuum floors and sofas
Wipe and water neglected plants ~ I put them outside in the rain.. that works.
Dust those flat fluffy surfaces
Level Three
Vacuum hall, landing and stairs.. all the way up to the top!!!!!
Extras

• 15 minutes filing

roundtuit

Good morning my lovelies xx 

All smiles here this morning as I've lost two more pounds and hit my two stones off target. 😊 Now for the next half stone. Sisyphus and his boulder come to mind.

I'm up, made my bed,  got weighed,  got dressed, put out the recycling and I've supped my first brew. 

Workmen are coming between 8am and 12.30pm to bust into my shed aka fix the lock. So I set my alarm for 7am. So now they'll arrive at lunchtime. Law of Sod 🤣

My life is nowhere near as complicated as piggers's but I need to be more organised. Things get forgotten until they become a priority,  or, if they're never a priority, they never get done. 

I'm losing the chubbage. I can MAD in other ways too. Just need to get my act together. 'Just' is a big word isn't it? Like 'if'. 🤓

Round 1
Feed the birds 
Fill the birdbath 
Breakfast and Brew 2 
HH Admin 
HH Life Planning 

Scrub the birdbath 
Clean the WM dispenser drawer 

(Two things that I only remember when I fill the birdbath or open the drawer. Then promptly forget again. Like I said: planning is required.)

Did I mention I'm on Annual Leave this week? 😊

Wig Wam Bam ... try a little touch, try a little too much 🎶 🎵 

Have a good day
Rxx

Valli

Morning all

Just having my vertical half hour.  Hoping to get the kitchen into a bit more shape before i leave for the paid stuff.  I have my window wide open to air my room/bed and i’m just doing my vertical half hour.  Done connections, though a lot of errors were made. Got wordle in 3 though.

Round. Hope you have a good week.  Hope everyone has good days and that any Flyoffspring taking tests sail through.

kazwookie

Bed stripped and remade

WM x 2 done out on line

Cats fed

Whole house hoovered

Bins done

Main crops spuds have started to show   earlies spuds doing very well.

Been to loca ltown and swopped what ever I did buy for the correctv wood stain, so that is my job today, to clean down and wooden stain my swing seat, I have just mended the canopy, where the velco had pulled off.

Have a good day

Goodintentions

Good morning 😁
Thank you for the lists - I will try my best!

I'm sorry I have been AWOL the end of last week....no excuses....just life! Things are ticking over here.
I missed the lights on Friday  - they were visible but I was asleep 🙄 DH & I went to a 50th party on Saturday, a little out of town. We took a detour on the way home further into the sticks to see if we could see them. A lot of people had the same idea! A fair bit of traffic on the country roads at nearly midnight - not the usual traffic I would say 😂 Lots of cars parked up and people pointing smartphones at the sky. Alas, there was no repeat of Friday in these parts 😫 

Well done Round on the weight loss 👏 Unfortunately, I appear to have found one of those lost pounds here! My diet is shocking at the moment, so I am making a concerted effort to eat more veg this week! (She says, looking at the empty toffee crisp wrapper next to her.......🤦‍♀️)

So far today I have checked the bank accounts, done wordle, put on DW & washed the throw from our bed (bedding was done yesterday). I have hung it out, but I will get it in shortly and TD it for 10 minutes to remove the cat hair! 
Food shop & meal plan was done yesterday. I have ordered a new phone as this one is playing up & the contract ends at the end of the month. I will be paying the same for more data & a better phone. I need (want) to go to the GC, and need to go to Mr Al for a few bits - they may have some bedding plants & compost 😁
The allotment is coming on slowly - I have a few seedlings (at last) that need planting out. Also need to cut the grass (allotment & garden), pick up worming tablets for the cats & do some work admin. I may even WU! DS will be home later with a weekend's worth of washing, so no point doing it now.

HB Vent away! This is a safe place and we have all been there at some point
Natty I envy your peace & quiet. I am across the estuary from Kent and life is much the same as you describe! 

Okay - Music is on (songs from my school days, in memory of a school friend that passed away on friday), need to drink my tea & get my arris in gear!! That list won't do itself 😂

roundtuit

roundtuit said:

Round 1
Feed the birds ✅ 
Fill the birdbath ✅
Breakfast and Brew 2 ✅
HH Admin ✅
HH Life Planning 

Scrub the birdbath 
Clean the WM dispenser drawer 

The man came midmorning to fix the shed lock...he actually replaced the lock, and for the first time ever I can unlock the shed without unhinging my shoulder in the process. No shove required. 😊

Contents of shed inspected as not been in there for ermmmm years? Two bicycles, one broom, one football, one bucket, one tool for removing weeds growing between paving slabs, several water blasters, one tractor and trailer (DS is 31, the tractor and trailer were Christmas presents from his paternal aunt..in 1995! A hoarder? Me? Nah. 🤣), tins of paint. No hoe though. I'm sure I have a hoe. Maybe it's in the other shed? 🤔

P & S have been for a coffee. And I made the workman a brew too. Discussed my plans for the garden with P. I have a yen to grow onions. So once the jungle is strimmed back and any hidden elephants have been released into the wild 😜  I'm going to have a vegetable patch. Well, an onion patch anyway. 

You guys have a lot to answer for. Knitting. Gardening. You'll have me flying before you've finished! 🤔🤣

Rxx

ionafan

Good afternoon everyone.  Hope your week has started well.

I have done a useful morning's work: shopped around a bit and have managed to cut my buildings and contents insurance cost for the coming year from the quoted £305 to a much nicer £213, with a different insurer but almost identical level of cover   I've also loaded the DW and S&S'd the kitchen, updated the church website, and made phonecalls to the membership departments of the NT and EH (chasing up car stickers and a £15 gift voucher )   Rosie has had her walk with L.

This afternoon I plan to sort out some craft materials for this evening's meeting of the Old Wives, do some baking, and pop to the local shops to collect my prescription and some cash.

After breakfast DH went back to bed until 11.00.  He is supposed to be filling in the online form re travel insurance  - yes, he's still not done it   I am definitely in Honey_Bear's camp!

pigpen

2x WM
Decluttering an apple and making another cuppa.. fed the cats again..

Opened some windows

1 binbag and 1 carrier of rubbish out... it's better than nothing!

So much for it raining it is glorious here

roundtuit

And my stepping stool was in there too. I forgot.

I've binned a random empty bag for life and several smaller bags / piece of kitchen towel that were littering the shed floor, thereby disturbing two rather large pidas. 😱. I've swept the back yard between the back door and the brick shed/ outside toilet and pulled up any weeds growing in between paving slabs in that area. And I brushed down the outhouse doors to get rid of cobwebs. Not much, but it's a start and it MAD 😊

I'm now very hot and sweaty. No ladylike glowing going on here. Just call me Dobbin. I've been called worse 🥵.

I'm going to dump my clothes in the laundry hamper, have a shower and wash my hair, and put my nightie on. Pizza out of the freezer for tea - the box tells me how many calories 😊. Before and after tea I'll read: still got a pile of magazines to devour, and ready to start the next book from my TBR piles; or knit. 

Sounds like a plan. Nightie before 4pm. How decadent 🤭

Rxx