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Weekly Flylady Thread 9th September 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 for some fresh air.
Wash up, dry up and put away (or remove all pots to DW)
Put away as much clutter from the worktop as you can - ideally only frequently-used appliances should be on show.
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances and caddies etc. Don't forget the splashbacks or tiles! Got a 'wooden spoon' pot by the hob? Give it a wash out!
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!
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! Put out a new hand towel and a new tea towel too
Good slug of bleach down plugholes and in overflows
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 and wipe fridge shelves and baskets.
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
Level 3
Pick a cupboard or a drawer; empty it, clean it out and put back its contents tidily
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean chairs (and highchairs) - don't forget under the seats where sticky fingers linger.
Clean windows in both rooms.
Go round the whole house checking ceilings and corners for cobwebs - they'll be seeking shelter from the rain.
EXTRAS
HHI
S&S bathroom
The nights are drawing in - check outside lighting is functional.
Meal plan for the week.
Twinkly Tuesday The Lounge, Hallway, stairs and landing
level 1
deal with flowers and pot plants
empty bins/ashtrays
clear gibble
plump cushions
wipe sofas with leather wipes or vacuum - look for all those dust-catching crevices
level 2
clean windows
vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies
level 3
dust all round - don't forget sills and skirtings
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
stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean?
extras
S&s kitchen
s&s bathroom
Check smoke alarms are working as they should
Wednesday Hump Day
Your bedroom
Level 1
Strip bed and leave to air
open windows
chear rubbish
remove items from floors/chairs etc - put away or put in the wash
remake bed
level 2
Clean windows
sweep/mop or vacuum floor
polish mirrors
level 3
dust everywhere, wiping lotions and potions with a damp cloth
wioe skirting boards and sills
exras
s&s kitchen
s&s Bathroom
Thursday’s onerous task…bathrooms, showers rooms etc
level 1
clear the deck - if it moves ship it out
flush loo and squirt chemical of choice round the bowl
towels and mats in WM - on a hot wash
srub Bach/shower and taps
level 2
wipe all shelves & ledges
ckean window
scrub basin and wipe outside of it, and pedestal if you have one
level 3
wipe sill
scrub loo inside and out
mopp floor
wash toothbrush holde4, toothmugs etc
wipe lotions and potions and put away
putvout fresh towels
clean floor using an appropriate metgod
exras
S&S kitchen
Friday…pick a room
Level 1
Open window
If a bedroom strip bed
Remove any dumped stuff/floordrobe
Clear Rubbish
water any plants and wipe dusty leaves
Level 2
Dust all round
Vacuum soft furnishings
remake bed
Level 3
Clean windows
Checknall lighting fun pctional
Vacuum/sweep/mop floor
Extras
HHI
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
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
7
Comments
-
Thanks for the list Valli.
I will probably be in from Tuesday as all three grand girls are here tomorrow. Actually I might just sleep on Tuesday!Spend less now, work less later.7 -
Thank you for the lists xx
Another day, another dollar
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme6 -
Thank you for the lists Valli. I shall try my best!
DH is away up north, having run the GNR today for the first time. Luckily I have a cousin up there, so he has free lodgings! He will drive back in the morning as he decided (rightly) that the 5 hour drive wasn't sensible this evening! So, I am in bed with 70's rock ballards playing on the telly 😁
I haven't done much this weekend....WM x2, tidied kitchen, put on the DW. My mum took me & the kids out for Sunday lunch so I haven't even cooked!
I have managed to finally finish the lilac baby cardi & given it to DD2. I have also completed 1 felt flower - all sewn up & stuffed. Only another 10 to go!! It is doubtful it will be done before the baby arrives.....induction day is Wednesday.
I have set my alarm for the morning. I may have to move DH's car in the morning (according to the signs), even though they have finished this stretch of road 🤷♀️ I also have a parent meeting at 11am, so I will run the vac round & get paperwork sorted before then.
Have a good week everyone!
7 -
Thanks for the lists Valli and Natty.I spent the whole day working through a pile of paperwork in my office. I'm not sure if I made actual progress but I have mostly cleared the decks. I want to spend tomorrow in the kitchen, mostly cooking, but there are drawers that need turning out so I may tackle various things on the actual list for once.Belovéd has decided we need to reorganise the kitchen, move the fridge and freezer, lose a couple of cabinets storage, open up the fireplace (hidden behind the fridge and freezer). I am resisting. Big time.Better is good enough.6
-
TY for Fred.. Another stupid mad week ahead..
Spam may be off for an xray tomorrow.. he fell earlier and hurt his wrist.. DD1 strapped it up but he is moaning.. so she is seeing how it looks in the morning.
Squeak has the next art of her ADHD assessment at 2:30.. OH is taking her so I can do the school run.
Pixie has her first secondary PE lesson.
Apparently Dot has been doing 'all her homework'... except PIXIE has been doingall her homework... FOR A YEAR!!!!! Sneaky blighters!
Kitchen S&S'd
Not sure what the fridge engineer did bt it hasn't leaked since he pulled a thing out, said it needed replacing and put it back.. weird..
I need Feargal back from my mother.. she borrowed it for a night 10 days ago.
After several days of watching some utter garbage on theevenings OH is now watcing a series in Mandarin!!!! I may ban him from putting the TV on!
Ooh.. I have 2 parcels to package up for collecting tomorrow.. best crack on with that..
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.)7 -
Thanks for the thread calling.
Good intentions- I hope OH enjoyed it. I did GNR many moons again. Great support from the locals.
I am pacing my local half next month which means I run around with a big flag on my back and try and get round in the exact time it says. (Always a lot slower than my race time so as to make it more manageable.). It is always fun to encourage others!
I am working today but will try to do a little when kiddos are in bed.
Have a good dayGrocery challenge- feb 2015- £133.07/£2506 -
Morning all xx
Monday morning weigh in revealed that I've lost 3 lbs this week. So the pizza and chips on Friday didn't do any damage. Just shows that you can have a treat as long as you're straight back on it afterwards. 😊
My anxiety is through the roof. (Back to Toxic Towers tomorrow). But I'm up, made my bed, got weighed, changed the calendars over, and I've supped a brew.
Wedding is two months today datewise. I dreamed I couldn't find matching navy accessories and was most disgruntled at how many different navy blues there are. When I woke up I had to remind myself that I'm going for silver grey accessories with a navy dress. The dream did have a good idea though. Go somewhere that has already matched up the accessories! Because I expect there are dozens of shades of silver grey too. At least 50 🤣 Disclaimer: I've not read the books or watched the films but I know they exist.
Round 1
Brew 2 and breakfast
Get dressed
Feed the birds
Put out the recycling
HH Admin
Another misty, moisty morning here.
Have a good week my lovelies.
Rxx
IT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme6 -
Morning all
work today also swimming. I have decided it’s about time all the kitchen cupboards and drawers got turned out and cleaned; probably not done this for a good while and certainly not since Big C. It would make sense to start with the jam shelf, since I’m going to be adding to it once this lot is labelled. With a bit of effort I could complete this task over the week…we shall see. If I empty the shelf below it…I’m not sure I’ve ever cleaned that cupboard out…mmmm… *ponder*
DW x 1, though I hand washed the stuff I couldn’t fit in,
Ooh that’s my vertical half hour done. Showertime.
Hope everyone has a peaceful, productive week and OHs forget daft ideas about fireplaces (messy) and TV in Mandarin (waste of time) and get back safely from GNRs
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 -
He mentioned it again last night Valli after I told him I don't have the bandwidth to deal with it right now. I'm now in 'Don't snap at him. Delay Delay Delay then Procrastinate mode. I asked him to do me a drawing of his plan. I can send that back at least three times.Up early this morning, most unlike me, so by 9.30 I'd put the bird feeders out, dropped off a pile of invitations at neighbours' houses and in the post box, visited a local bakery to discuss and advance order (was told they don't do them but I would if I were that bakery so I'm hopeful), walked the dog, had breakfast, pegged out the WM load I did last night, put another load through the WM and pegged that out, and folded, put away the last two loads of washing Belovéd had done last week, and rejigged a shopping list.Now to get on to making baking things, cleaning six windows, polishing brass and silver (precious little, literally), turning out three drawers in the kitchen and something for supper.I'm going to need a lie down and a quick rub down with the Radio Times after that.
Better is good enough.5 -
Oh Honey Bear that is cunning! *respect*
I have ordered a new timer for my lamp-that-suggests-someone-is-in as it wouldn't come on. Changed the bulb - still didn't work; changed the fuse - it worked but when I tried it through the timer the fuse blew again so, presumably, there is some electrical issue with the timer and the fuse was doing its job.
DW emptied before I came to work. Friendly plumber (and former neighbour) has kindly unblocked my blocked downpipe for free so pleased that's done. (It also counts as flood preparation lol)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 Bear7
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