Weekly Flylady Thread 7 April 2025

Valli

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


Monday Mayhem
LOUNGE, HALLWAY, STAIRS & LANDING
Level 1

Deal with flowers and pot plants - do they need a wipe? Watering?  Dor cut flowers need fresh water?
Empty bins/ashtrays - 
Clear gibble
Plump cushions
Wipe sofas with leather wipes or vacuum - look for all those dust-catching crevices and don't forget to lift cushions and deal with crumb cemetaries.
Open windows for some lovely fresh air

Level 2

Clean windows and frames
Vacuum floors - and use an edging tool to get into all the nooks and crannies
Sort magazines and newspapers - get rid of the old ones

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; wipe dusty bulbs
Stand in the doorway and look back into the room - is it clean?

EXTRAS

HHI
Get some washing on the line - can you wash any throws, cushion covers and curtains?
High pollen is forecast - time to get the hayfever meds out if you haven't already.  While you're at it check your medicine box/cabinet for OOD meds, have you plasters etc?
Wash make up brushes in soap, rinse well and put them out in the sun to dry and deodorise

Tuesday Tasks Kids room/spare room/guest room 
Level 1

Open window
strip bed
clear detritus from floor
occupant of room to assist if available
Empty bin

level 2
anything that needs to be homed -put away occupants of room to help
vacuum floor
If spare/guest room check all lighting fully functional

level 3
clean window
wipe sockets and switches
dust all around

extras
S&S bathroom
S&S kitchen
HHI
If kids are off school allocate tasks.
Get PE kits washed - if no kids and/or PE kit get some coats washed
Check winter boots - clean, polish or put ready to go to cobblers

Wipy Wednesday

Bathroom, wet room, cloakroom, en suite

Level 1
open window
scrub loo inside and out
top up loo roll, soap dispenser
towels into wm and put fresh ones out

level 2
clean shower and or bath
clean showerhead
clean plug holes and plugs removing and rat tails (ugh)
bleach drains and overflows

level 3
clean handbasin
scrub and polish taps
dust sills and shelves
clean switches and pull handles
Polish windows and mrrors
clean floor

extras
S&S kitchen
wash out toilet brush and holder and put outside in the sun to sanitise

Thursday and the weekend looms

KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM

Level 1

Clear sides and wipe down - wipe small appliances
Replace what lives there, wiping as you go
Empty bin and clean it out too
Wipe sill, sockets, door handles and switches
Clear and clean sink and accessories - don't forget those out-of-sight places - under plugs and under draining racks
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!
Empty utensil holders and wash out

Level 2

Wipe down all cupboard and drawer fronts, 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
Wash out 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.
Clean tea caddy, sugar bowl etc

Level 3

Pick a cupboard or a drawer; empty it, clean it out and put back its contents tidily
Sweep/mop/vacuum floor
Clean windows in both rooms

Finally, it’s FRIDAY

Master Bedroom

Level 1

Open windows w-i-d-e
Strip bed
Allow to air
Remake bed

Level 2

Clear floordrobe and chairdrobe
Clean windows
Vacuum, sweep or mop floor
Empty bin
Put as much stuff as you can away - clear the clutter

Level 3

Dust all sides and shelves
With a just damp cloth wipe all your lotion and potion bottles, hairdryers (especially if you use product while blow drying) etc. and put all perfumes away in a drawer. The sun/heat will damage the contents.
Rinse the cloth and wipe sockets and switches
Polish mirrors

Extras

wipe light bulbs (if they are glass ones and not LEDs or GL types and dust, wash or vacuum shades
HHI - I did it…so can you
Binbag dance
S&S kitchen
S&S bathroom

ionafan

Thank you Valli.  As usual, I will do what I can this week.  My pot plants (in- and outdoors) certainly need watering.

Little progress with photo sorting and practically no flying achieved this weekend as I've been doing stuff for church which is taking me far longer than I had expected - probably because at the same time I'm trying to plan 2 holidays for us!

Best do a 5-minute Spanish lesson quick as it's nearly midnight....

Hope everyone's week turns out better than last week, especially for round x and HB x

See you in the morning xxx

Jazee

Morning all.  Thanks for the list.

 I will start with washing makeup brushes once I've put my face on as I'm in York today.

Have a great day everyone 

kazwookie

Thank you for the lists.

So far today:

WM is on

Cats are fed

Bins are empty

It is still currently cold

I'm back in bed for half an hour with my laptop

Have a good day

Jazee

Make up brushes are in the garden.  I have put large aloe Vera plant in new pot and smaller baby ones are potted up too.

Did not solve wordle.

roundtuit

Morning all xx 

I'm up, made my bed, got weighed, taken my meds,  turned over the calendars,  completed Strands with three hints, completed Wordle in six, only managed two lines on Connections,  and I've supped a brew.

I've gained two pounds this week - not surprised as I've been falling into the Co-op each evening on my way home from work and buying chocolate,  crisps and ice cream. Then inhaling it all through the evening. Hoping this week will be less stressful- if not I'll steer myself towards grapes and berries. 

To Do Today List 

Get dressed 
Put fresh towels in bathroom 
Wash towels and tea towels 
Feed the birds 
Put out the recycling 
Breakfast 
P & S are calling for coffee 
Give bag of books to P to return to his sister 
WUDUPA 

QH Admin 
Write Easter cards 
Write birthday card 

Walk to Co-op 
Put book in Little Library 
Buy bananas,  grapes and berries 

Monday = downstairs 
Hoover LR
Shredding
Empty shredder 
Dust mini fridge and put in RoD2 

That'll do for now.

Love to all.
Rxx

eltee2

Morning all

Have had so much paperwork/laptop doings at the weekend - made no headway whatsoever into the unfinished kitchen-frogs .... ribbit. Nevermind

Monday is normally kitchen day but for some reason the living/dining room has reverted back to a chaotic mess (rather than the organised mess I managed to get it to IYKWIM) so, I'm designating Mon-Wed as 'all of downstairs, plus whatever' or AOD+W

So far I've opened windows; aired & remade bed; set first of 2 WM swishing; exercises pt1; decluttered breakfast; DW

Over the next few days

Living/dining room
FUPA the leaning towers of clean laundry (2 tall piles)
Empty suitcase
Take suitcase upstairs & PA
Sort out hotspot in the corner of the room
Tablecloth to WM
Wipe tables & chairs
Put on clean tablecloth (on the table, not wear it superhero style, or shall I ? 🤔)
Clear & clean mantlepiece, put fewer things back
Clear, sweep/clean hearth, put fewer things back
Box up excess things (mostly candles) & PA
Straighten throws etc.

Will list more later, need a break from typing!

ionafan

I have watered all the indoor plants and given two of them a cold shower to get rid of the dust.
I've also deadheaded the beautiful freezias that DD sent me for Mother's Day - they've lasted well.

Round, I've gained a couple of pounds too. Blame my addiction to hot cross buns, and my weakness in buying them.

Onwards and upwards...

xxx

roundtuit

roundtuit said:

To Do Today List 

Get dressed ✅
Put fresh towels in bathroom ✅
Wash towels and tea towels ✅
Feed the birds ✅
Put out the recycling ✅
Breakfast ✅
P & S are calling for coffee 
Give bag of books to P to return to his sister 
WUDUPA 

QH Admin 
Write Easter cards 
Write birthday card 

Walk to Co-op 
Put book in Little Library 
Buy bananas,  grapes and berries 

Monday = downstairs 
Hoover LR
Shredding
Empty shredder 
Dust mini fridge and put in RoD2 

I've also opened the windows upstairs to let some fresh air blow through.

iona - I've resisted the hot cross buns displayed near the tills in the village Co-op. So far. 😉  But you'll notice that I know exactly where they are 🤣

I didn't realise that schools have broken up for the Easter holidays. Marvellous. That's an easier commute for me for the next couple of weeks. 😊

My nerves are a little more settled today (totally irrational. Logic says they should be worse with me going back to work tomorrow 🙄. But heyho that's fine. I'm not complaining!!! I'm functioning better and that's a big WIN.)

Right. Admin. OK.

See you later.
Rxx

ionafan

roundtuit said:

iona - I've resisted the hot cross buns displayed near the tills in the village Co-op. So far. 😉  But you'll notice that I know exactly where they are 🤣

I didn't realise that schools have broken up for the Easter holidays. Marvellous. That's an easier commute for me for the next couple of weeks. 😊

to the HCBs

Schools here don't break up until this Friday.

I have FUPA clothes, done a 5min pick-up in the LR and made myself a coffee.  Anyone care to join me?

Honey_Bear

I did Ionafan, but not knowingly. *slurp*

Early walk for the dog so I could get on with stuff.

The en suite has had a lick and promise, bits of the kitchen have received a drubbing including the door, microwave and cupboard fronts and I've reseeded and watered the massive bald patch yet again in the communal garden because I think some of the seed I was using up was well past it's use by date.  I've removed the covers from the bald bits I don't want the dog to walk on, so she promptly went and had a thorough investigation, and reinserted the whirly gigs on a bigger footprint so that when the gardener comes to mow he won't have to steer around the pegs.  What I've done may work, it may not but it's worth a try.

The neighbour who offered to help when they first moved in eight years ago sidled up to me while I was working out there.  As she never watered the bed closer to her than me, or bothered to deadhead the roses - the only two jobs I've ever asked her to do - I was a lot less sympathetic with her whinging about the bluebells.  'I'd just like a bit more clear space.'  Sod off, frankly.  I love them but she thinks they only belong in woods.  They belong here; they self-seeded, they're flowers, they're good for the insects and they look wonderful after the daffodils have finished.  It's the constant whinging that drives me mad; if it's not the bluebells it's the gate and the neighbours on the other side and if it's not that it's the state of the walls in front of the house opposite.  She never actually does anything to help but expects me listen.  Can't be doing with that attitude.

Right.  Now.  Despite the Flying I've already done, which is more than I usually do in a week, I'm off to tackle the Valli's Listie.  I won't be able to finish it but I really need this house to look spik and span by Friday, possibly even Thursday, even if there are secret places that are filled with grubby gibble stashes no-one needs to see.  This is all about Keeping Up Appearances.