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Weekly Flylady Thread 15 July 2024

Valli
Posts: 25,286 Forumite


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!
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!
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/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
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. You could also wipe frames & sills inside and out!
EXTRAS
HHI
S&S bathroom
Bin bag dance!
Tuesday Trials and Tribulations 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
Clean doormats
waggle a long thin duster or brush behind/between radiator panel and remove all that fluff and dust.
once the dust has settled vacuum it all up.
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
Wednesday - Kids Room(s)/Spare Room/Guest room
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
extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
if your WM is sitting idle are there any curtains or throws you could launder?
Thursday ..bathrooms, cloak rooms, en suites, wet rooms
level 1
open windows
empty bins
remove towels etc to the WM
scrub out the loo and wipe the outside
Rinse the brush/holder and dry outside in the sun
level 2
scrub hand basins inch taps and under tge plug
de gunge plugholes
clean window
level 3
scrub shower/bath
wash curtain or wipe screen
dust all round
mop/sweep or vacuum floor
Extras
HHI
binbag dance
Thank … it’s Friday The Boudoir
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
Wash combs and brushes
extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
Get in touch with a friend or relation you’ve not spoken to in a while
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
Wednesday - Kids Room(s)/Spare Room/Guest room
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
extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
if your WM is sitting idle are there any curtains or throws you could launder?
Thursday ..bathrooms, cloak rooms, en suites, wet rooms
level 1
open windows
empty bins
remove towels etc to the WM
scrub out the loo and wipe the outside
Rinse the brush/holder and dry outside in the sun
level 2
scrub hand basins inch taps and under tge plug
de gunge plugholes
clean window
level 3
scrub shower/bath
wash curtain or wipe screen
dust all round
mop/sweep or vacuum floor
Extras
HHI
binbag dance
Thank … it’s Friday The Boudoir
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
Wash combs and brushes
extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
Get in touch with a friend or relation you’ve not spoken to in a while
Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY
"I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily Dickinson
Janice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear


Thank you Honey Bear
8
Comments
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Still lurking6
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still not deaded.. I get a day off on.... Sunday I think.. Dot finishes at lunch on Wednesday..
TY for Fred.
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.)8 -
I'm in. Thanks for thread.Spend less now, work less later.6
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I'm in too. Thank you for the thread xxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme6
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Thanks for the thread Valli and Natty for last week's.I'm in, and still beavering away spring cleaning but following my own list as the need arises for me to clear a muddle here or there before I can actually get down to cleaning things in a dusting and vacuuming kind of way.I've still got a drawer and a cupboard in the kitchen to do, and a bit of high dusting; the floor needs a wash but that's a permanent state of affairs. After that I can move on to another room.Better is good enough.6
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Thanks for the list.
I managed to get a lot of admin done yesterday, bill paying etc so that was a lot off my list. Also managed a lake swim.
Latest from DB is that Mum's various therapists are trying to find her some medical but not hospital-based place to be - not sure if they have anywhere in mind as they were a bit guarded. Alternatively she shows signs of agreeing to a few weeks in a care home to gain some strength and tbh it would be respite for DB and I if she was somewhere safe for a while. Then we can review progress and decide if she is able/wants to return home. At present she is unhappy about being alone at night. Mr N and I will take over on Wed and will visit a few care homes. Apparently Mum said that if she's in a care home, she may as well find one near her children; however, we live 95miles apart! Plus I'm sure she would miss her friends (not to mention tying Mr N and I to living in this area when we have been thinking of moving for ages).
Walked to church this morning, tried to slink out afterwards to avoid coffee and well-intentioned questions but one friend saw me and caught up to ask how I was ; cue waterworks.
Did a bit more of the last report, plan to finish it tomorrow and do a bit more of my tax return which I started in April.
Happy week everyone.Remember...a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.7 -
Thank you Valli. I am still hobbling but will do as much as I can this week. K is coming tomorrow morning, mainly to fix some dates for outings in the school holidays, but she will also help me re-make the beds. The kitchen floor is covered in bits, so I must sweep and mop before 9am. I have told DH that in any case he needs to be up by then as DeePeeDee is coming to collect a parcel of some of his no-longer-wanted books which he is selling - fer-ling!
I did get some photos out of the cupboard today, looked through them, and decided to change my approach. I am going to work my way from the oldest to the newest, rather than the other way round, as the pictures of my children are the most difficult to cull. I had thrown out most of the ones which only show landscapes and/or non-family members when I first returned to this process about a year ago, which will make things a little easier now. I had also already managed to identify most of my relatives in the oldest photos with the help of my mother. She died in 2002, so you will understand that I have not felt a pressing need to get the job done until fairly recently. And you thought you could procrastinate, Fayolle?
Honey_Bear, I meant to say last week that prosecco with fish and chips sounds absolutely perfect for a celebratory meal
Glad you're still with us, pigpen - hold on in there and think of your imminent day off! xx
(((Hugs))) to Narc0 xx
Hope everyone has a good week xxx7 -
morning all
hope all are well. and raring to go this new week.
Just having my vertical half hour. Managed to do 3 x WM overnight (thanks tummy) so will get that lot pegged out before work. DW needs emptying too. And i need to decide what tea will be.
See you later
Don'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 Bear6 -
Morning all xx
I'm up, made my bed, got weighed*, completed Wordle and Connections, done my morning reading, and supped my first brew.
*STS, which I'm happy with as meeting up with friends and food have featured in my week off. So not my fault if anyone gained this week 😉
I watched the Wimbledon Men's Final yesterday.... a few wows, and a few groans. Worked out that I'm old enough to be the winner's grandma 😬 And I sort of watched the football. I know now why I don't watch footie. Its a combination of mostly boring with a helping of not good for my nerves. I eventually picked up my knitting and listened rather than watched .... although one of the commentators was annoying. Heyho. Spain had a good day yesterday.
Just TdF left to watch this week. Rest day today .... for the cyclists, not for me 🤣
Brew 2, breakfast, and get dressed are first on my agenda.
It's foggy/misty here. Does that mean it's going to be warmer? Warm is good. As long as it's not twot.
Love to all.
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme7 -
K has been here this morning and helped greatly by re-making both beds
We have also exchanged dates for the summer hols and found some days on which I have said I will take her and the girls out.
I have done WMx3 so far, with one more to go. I had hung everything out on the whirligig, and it was all was drying nicely, but then it started raining 2 hours before the weather forecast is still saying it was going to, so I had to rush out and bring everything back indoors
Almost lunchtime...6
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