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Weekly Flylady Thread 7 October 2024

Valli
Posts: 25,280 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)
Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances and caddies etc. Don't forget the splashbacks or tiles!
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
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.
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
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 hole 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 - herbs and spices all in date?
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean chairs (and highchairs) - don't forget under the seats where sticky fingers linger.
Clean windows and sills in both rooms.
EXTRAS
HHI
S&S bathroom
Do something organised - go through your instruction manual file - or start a file. Recycle any for appliances/equipment you no longer have.
Terrific Tuesday - 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 wash
If you have a woodburner/real fire attend to that first - and lay fire ready 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 - bash them against a wall (outdoors) to loosen all that grit and grime
Dust/wipe electricals - use a just-damp cloth. Don't forget the remote controllers! Include light switches
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! let's get those feather dusters earning their keep
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
Start outside prep for winter…make sue pipes and tapa are safe from frost
Hump day - Bathrooms, cloak rooms and en suites
Level 1
Open window
Remove towels and fling in WM
Scrub Loo inside and out, slug some bleach or descaler down afterwards. Pay special attention to under the rim.
Level 3
Clean out baths and/or showers
Clean shower heads and hoses
Clean handbasins
Level 3
sweep and mop or vacuum floor as appropriate
clean windows
polish mirrors
dust and polish where necessary
clean sink plugs/stoppers including underneath
Extras
Clean out cabinets/storage
HHI
S&S kitchen
Thursday Thrills - Kids room, spare room or wherever need your attention
level 1
open window
strip bed
remove bins etc
Level 2
remake bed
clean window and sill
mop/sweep and/or vacuum floor as appropriate
level 3
dust and wipe all surfaces
.
Extras
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
HHI
Half term imminent - so let's make two and freeze one for a lazy/busy day - lasagne, casserole, bolognaise, chilli, fish pie - something you can freeze and thaw Even if you don’t have littlies do this!
level 1
open window
strip bed
remove bins etc
Level 2
remake bed
clean window and sill
mop/sweep and/or vacuum floor as appropriate
level 3
dust and wipe all surfaces
.
Extras
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom
HHI
Half term imminent - so let's make two and freeze one for a lazy/busy day - lasagne, casserole, bolognaise, chilli, fish pie - something you can freeze and thaw Even if you don’t have littlies do this!
Power cut prep … make sure you can lay your hands on candles/matches
Friday - your sanctuary - the boudoir
Level 1
Open windows
Clear the floordrobe/chairdrobe
Strip the bed and leave to air
Take out the rubbish
Bedding in WM
Level 2 (after breakfast/a period of time)
Remake the bed with clean, fresh linen
Dust/clear bedside tables
Clean windows, frames and sills (and wipe the open frames to clear dust and debris)
Level 3
Vacuum any soft furnishings - don't forget the headboard if it's fabric!
Dust everywhere else; as you remove lotions and potions from dressing tables wipe them over with a damp cloth. Make sure perfumes are stored in their boxes or in dark drawers. Minimise clutter/organise essentials.
Vacuum/mop
Extras
S&S kitchen and bathroom
HHI
Friday - your sanctuary - the boudoir
Level 1
Open windows
Clear the floordrobe/chairdrobe
Strip the bed and leave to air
Take out the rubbish
Bedding in WM
Level 2 (after breakfast/a period of time)
Remake the bed with clean, fresh linen
Dust/clear bedside tables
Clean windows, frames and sills (and wipe the open frames to clear dust and debris)
Level 3
Vacuum any soft furnishings - don't forget the headboard if it's fabric!
Dust everywhere else; as you remove lotions and potions from dressing tables wipe them over with a damp cloth. Make sure perfumes are stored in their boxes or in dark drawers. Minimise clutter/organise essentials.
Vacuum/mop
Extras
S&S kitchen and bathroom
HHI
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
6
Comments
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Thanks for the list. Morning all. I'll be in from tomorrow.Spend less now, work less later.7
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Thanks for the list Valli
I think I'm awake, just dosed up with meds and not sure what time it is.. lol 😂
I'll be in but in a sort of fashion.. I have to finish off the kitchen from yesterday so that'll be done very slowly. Then I'll take a snooze to restore energy for later... I hate this two steps forward and three steps back 😞 Who knows maybe I'll actually be 100% by Christmas...😋Mortgage Free as of 20.9.17Declutter challenge 2023, 2024 🏅 🏅⭐️⭐️
Declutter Challenge 2025
DH declutter challenge award 🏅⭐️5 -
Thank you for all the listsHoovering doneBins done2 x wm done out on whirly 3rd now swishingKitchen sortedFire done, ash out, logs inBed stripped and remadeOff out food shopping in a bit, OH wants to come, but it seems he cannot come until he has drunk his tea!!Breast Cancer Now 100 miles October 2022 100 / 100miles
D- Day 80km June 2024 80/80km (10.06.24 all done)
Diabetic UK 1 million steps July 2024 to complete by end Sept 2024. 1,001,066/ 1,000,000 (20.09.24 all done)Sun, Sea6 -
Morning all xx
Thank you for the lists Valli and Natty xx
I'm up, made my bed, completed Wordle in four, failed miserably at Connections...not one line completed...supped two brews and got dressed pdq as the window cleaner arrived. Paid window cleaner.
Had a phone call from a salvage company trying to locate Vin Diesel. They were told Sheffield too. Nope. Try Doncaster!!! I'm concerned this glitch in Vin's whereabouts is going to cause a problem. My anxiety is revving up. And breathe....
Let's have a bit of normality to soothe my fractured synapses...
Round 1
Feed the birds
Put out the recycling
Fill the birdbath
Laundry shuffle
I have a banging headache; hopefully my parrots will kick in soon.
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme6 -
roundtuit said:
Round 1
Feed the birds ✅
Put out the recycling ✅
Fill the birdbath ✅
Laundry shuffle ✅
I am now cooling down with a cold drink 🥵
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme6 -
The last of the thank you letters and card have been written and those that need to be posted - posted. Glad that tadpole is finished. Reminded / asked Belovéd if he'd done the only one he had to do - good thing I did as he thought he had and actually hadn't.Went to the solicitor's office to re-sign our wills as they were invalidated by the CP, and discovered that they needed a bit of updating as a couple of Belovéd's beneficiaries had died and one has !!!!!! him off so completely she's to be written out. Thought that was it until the legal eagle said as we were leaving, 'Most older people who get married do so because of tax and pensions' so we asked for information and realised we needed quite the re-write after all. It is so worth paying the professionals when it's an area one doesn't know anything about. Decisions taken then and there and now I need to write to various pension providers to nominate him as whatever it's called should I go before he does.Thence to the garage to get the car through its MOT. There's a recurrent fault on it which we thought had been fixed but we found out on Saturday - it's back. If the engine is turned off and turned back on again it sometimes clears it so we did that several times and it scraped through but the chappie told us that we really need to get the thing properly fixed which should happen on Wednesday. At least the MOT bit is sorted so I don't need to deal with that while he's in Spain.T0tem T!mber for brackets so he can put a shelf up, another job that's been hanging around needing doing for several weeks.I shone the kitchen sink while making lunch.Better is good enough.6
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Thank you for the thread. Theoretically I will be in tomorrow. I did set a load in the wm before going to work, and DH tidied out the fridge, so flying by delegation here.
I thought I’d try my luck at Connections given Round’s struggle. Nope, kept being one away, and failed miserably. Wordled in 4.
DD is coming back to eat this evening (and to raid my cake making supplies apparently). Not sure if she is then going back to uni city or whether she will stay the night. I need a rethink as the planned dinner needs to stretch to serve 3.6 -
Thanks for threads, even though I'm perpetually doing my own thing.
Well it seems as if I am back in employment.....but as a volunteer. I went to a meeting with the principal of the Christian College near me (15mins drive away) and he is keen to use my skills. I've provisionally agreed to work two afternoons per week, one of them providing 1:1 study support and the other helping with filing/archiving in the library. I think it will be good to put a bit more structure in my newly retired life, especially after the stress of the last few months.
The house is pretty well-flown as we had 4 friends round to dinner yesterday, rather short notice as we couldn't book any local restaurants so I rashly agreed to cook (Mexican) but at least we did a good clean and clear-up on Saturday. And there was enough food left over for this evening's meal.
Zumba x 2 today, our new instructor started this morning so I didn't want to miss it although it meant washing and changing in the church hall toilets in preparation for the interview, which was on my way home!Remember...a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.7 -
Morning all xx
I'm up, made my bed, dressed, packed my lunch bag, completed Wordle in four, sailed through Connections with no lives lost, taken my meds, turned over the calendars, eaten breakfast and I'm supping my brew.
I'll feed the birds and put out the recycling before I set off early to avoid the traffic snarls around TT.
Have a good day.
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme6 -
Morning all. Hope you're doing good.
Firstly a wordle and connections update. Yesterday I was exacting the same as Fayolle and Round. Today I solved wordle in five and connections with one life lost. Not putting much store in this ying and yang thing now!
Yesterday was usual Monday with the children and without sounding like a broken record today will be a normal Tuesday. I've got a headache though after a night of bad dreams and I feel quite tearful but I don't know why.
Like HB we need to do our wills. I've signed up to the free wills month thing but need to progress it so maybe I'll look at that this morning.
Have a great day everyone.Spend less now, work less later.7
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