Weekly Flylady Thread 22nd July 2024

Natty68

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!

Right now the thread is looking very quiet...but 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 (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!!!8217;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!
Mysterious Monday ~ Bathroom, Hall, Stairs and Study/PC Area
Level One...
Open windows to let in air
Wash and replace towels/flannels/bath mats with clean ones
Clean cobwebs
Level Two..
Clean bath/shower/sink and toilet - Don't forget to give those taps an extra shine!
Throw away any empty bottles
Straighten computer desk
Delete 50 emails - do you really need that sale email from DFS!!!!
Level Three...
Wash/vacuum floor
Clean window
Clean the windowsills
Clean medicine cabinet - throw away out of date medicines.
Put away any stray items in the hall and stairs - do you really need all that stuff cluttering up the stairs and hall/landing!!!
Extras..

• Wipe skirting boards up the stairs
• Check supplies of paper/printer cartridges/stamps and envelopes
• Throw away any pens that don't work
• Clean fingerprints off light switches and doors.

Twinkling Tuesday ~ Master bedroom and Landing
Level One..
Fling open windows to let that air in..
Clean Cobwebs
Check firealarms are working, change battery if necessary.
Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers
Level Two..
Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..
Clean under the bed
Polish furniture
Level Three...
Straighten/sort through make up
Throw away any empty/out of date bottles
Clean glass and mirrors - make them twinkle..
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Clear a hotspot ~ or spend 15 minutes clearing one.
Add a personal touch - flowers in a vase on a dresser, pretty bowl etc..
Extras:

• 36 fling boogie, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• HHI
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Clean light switch of hand prints or smudges
• Clean main light and any lampshades
• Clear the top of a bedside cupboard/chest of drawers or shelf

Wacky Wednesday ~ Those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One..
Open windows to air room
Clean cobwebs
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Straighten toy shelves
Level Two..
Polish furniture
Vacuum the floor
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat fluffy surfaces!!
Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!!
Wash the curtains!
Level Three...
Sort out outgrown clothes and give to charity/neighbours/younger children.
Put away stray items
Clean fingerprints off light switches/doors/walls
Clean under the bed - I know it's scary but it does have to be done. You could even delegate to a little pink if you don't fancy doing it yourself.

Extras

• Clean windows
• Clean/scrub bath toys
• Wipe the radiators, skirtings and window & door frames
• HHI
• Rearrange videos/games/books

Tantalising Thursday ~ Dining Room and Entance/Porch
Level One..
Open windows and let air in
Clean cobwebs
Dust windowsills and front door
Throw away any newspapers/magazines that aren't needed.
Level Two..
Put plants in shower & give them a good rinse. Remember to put them back before everyone has a shower in the morning - it might be a bit unnerving having to shower with a plant!!!
Clean and dust shiny things/mirror and glass
Clean lightswitches of hand prints or smudges
Level Three...
Move furniture, if safe to do so, and hoover underdeath
Clean and straighten any drawer
Add a personal touch to the table - pretty tablecloth, vase of summer flowers!!
Clean TV, other electricals and cabinets
Clean under sofa/chair cushions - lets see if you can find any money or even anything that you have lost recently
Wipe down light fixtures - make those bulbs shine at night!
Extras

• Refill bird feeders
• Throw away any dead plants
• HHI
• Binbag dance - Get a binbag... fill it and bin it!!

Flying Friday ~ KitchenLevel One..

Open windows, let the air in and blow those cobwebs away..

Wash knick-knacks/canistersMop/brush floor

Level Two..

Clean sink and draining board

Clean microwave inside and out

Empty fridge, clean shelves and doors and move any nearly out of date stuff to front to use up next.

Empty and clean rubbish bin

Level Three...

Clean under sink - throw away any manky looking bottles/rags etc..

Straighten drawers/cupboards

Clean fan/vent/hood filters

Clean pet dishes

Clean cupboard door fronts and fronts of appliances .. don't forget those kick boards..(only a few at a time!)

Extras

• Check the smoke alarm - when was the last time you replaced the battery?
• Clean the hob
• Wipe down any tiles and shine those taps - make them twinkle!!
• 29 fling boogie - GO!!
• Buy yourself some flowers from the shop.. your reward for making the kitchen shine!

ionafan

Thank you Natty x 

It looks as if DH and I have a busy week ahead of us (including 2 lunches out!) but I will do my best to keep up with the flying.  Today I have decluttered £££ on insurance and done various other bits and pieces.  I must take care not to lose momentum again with the photo sorting and flinging, amongst all the other goings on.

More (((hugs))) to Narc0, Mum and MrN xxx

Honey_Bear

Cripes.  A bit unusual me being the first in.  Will have to clean up my act then this week, won't I.

Many thanks to Valli and Natty for Fred.

ETA:  Crossposted.  Rather a relief.

Cloth_of_Gold

Thanks for Fred.

Hugs and spoons to Narc0. At least your mum hasn't had another stroke, which is very good news. I hope she can settle back into the respite home now and make some good progress on her recovery. Our elderly friend in Plymouth is back in hospital, and might have had a stroke but waiting for an update from his nephew.

Valli

Thanks for the thread, Natty.

DW and WM x 1

Well wishes to Narco & Co.and to CoG’s friend

Jazee

Morning all.  Thanks for the list.

 I don't have DGD2 here today due to illness so in theory I should get a lot of flying done.  Will report back later as only just having first cuppa.

Have a great day everyone.

roundtuit

Morning all xx 

Thank you Natty and Valli for the lists xx

I'm up, made my bed, completed Wordle and Connections (used 3 lives!), and supped my first brew.

I didn't sleep very well and I'm feeling bleurgh this morning. I'm going to get dressed and then have brew 2. Hopefully that will wake me up.

Workmen are coming between 10 am and 2 pm to fix the outside light....which has water in it. P & S will call for coffee this morning as usual. 

Have a good week. Love to all
Rxx

roundtuit

I'm dressed, eaten breakfast,  supped brew 2, fed the birds, put out the recycling, and finished reading my book - it can go in cs bag.

Round 1
Parrots - I have a headache 
DUPA pots that were LTD on Saturday 

Rxx

Cloth_of_Gold

Jazee said:

Morning all.  Thanks for the list.

 I don't have DGD2 here today due to illness so in theory I should get a lot of flying done.  Will report back later as only just having first cuppa.

Have a great day everyone.

I find that theoretical flying, of which I do a great deal, is the best kind.

Hope DGD2 is better soon.

@pigpen hope things are ok with you. We miss you!

@Narc0lepsy I hope that there aren't any major issue with your mum this week.

A had a telephone appointment with a consultant this morning, following the blood tests he had last week. We had already seen the results online and knew they were all ok so the consultation was uneventful.

We're going to the park now; it's very cloudy but hopefully it won't rain. Theoretically, I will clean the kitchen and hoover around later. Hope everyone has a good day.

roundtuit

roundtuit said:

Round 1
Parrots - I have a headache ✅
DUPA pots that were LTD on Saturday ✅

Still have a headache - hopefully parrots will kick in soon.

I've written next year's birthday list (my year runs from Nov 1st to Oct 31st for birthdays) and my Christmas lists (one for presents to buy, one for cards to send).

Bit of overwhelm going on. Everywhere I look there's something that needs doing. And breathe....

Time out.

Rxx

Honey_Bear

CoG - Let me know if there is there anything I could do for your friend in hospital here.

Today I will be ironing to clear a mountain of teatowels, napkins and tablecloths that have been dug out of storage.  That and Radio 4 should be rather pleasant, given that they're all flat and I have a steam iron and ironing board.  I also need to clear my desk of the gibble that's been piling up over the past week.