Weekly Flylady Thread 22nd December 2025

Natty68

Cristmas week starts here  

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!
Please do remember we have to abide by MSE rules; each post should, ideally, include some mention of flying.

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’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 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

Because it is the last week it's a long one for the next few days I thought we would do it differently this week, and for those who were here last year will remember my lovely Christmas lists... Well guess what they are back so I want no excuse on Christmas Eve when you have stuff still to do at midnight...😀

Please don't feel you have to do EVERYTHING on the lists, they are purely a guide for you..just do what you want whether it be all of the list or just a bit of it.

ok Here goes this Week...

Monday Mayhem..

• Make sure you have all the shopping you need to take you through to next week.. milk and bread especially! Some shops are not open Boxing Day, although some of the big supermarkets are.
• Make sure the last of the presents are wrapped I will not have people sitting up while 5am on Christmas morning wrapping!
• S&S the kitchen
• S&S the bathroom/s and loo's
• Clean the oven and hob ready for your feast!
• Clean the fridge to accommodate you bounty of food
• Change any bedding you need to get washed before the fat guy arrives.. and I do not mean the OH/parent/ etc
• Make sure your timetable for Christmas Day is sorted and everyone knows their tasks.. who is spud peeling? Who is stuffing the bird etc..
• Catch up on the laundry .. ironing is tomorrows job!
• Phone someone you 'forgot' to post a card/present to in time.. just so they know you've not forgotten them...
• Spend at least half an hour doing something for yourself.. reading.. relaxing.. googling... remember you are important too.
• Change pet bedding and wash blankies etc.. we don't want them putting you off your Christmas sprouts!
• Dust round the whole downstairs
• Do a crazy HHC decluttering downstairs
• Finalise those last minute presents you have to buy..
• Wrap all the presents for family/friends
• Finalise shopping orders/lists for your Christmas food shop.. 

Tuesday - Time's nearly up!!!

1. Children... quick.. tidy your rooms you don't want Santa thinking you don't look after your stuff.. he might not leave any presents!
2. Iron yesterdays wash mountain
3. Vacuum through downstairs.. and the stairs!
4. Mop the kitchen floor!
5. Get rid of the washing up.. delegation is good!
6. get out any special christmas crockery and make sur eit is all clean and nice to use.. placemats etc too!
7. Prepare a list for that last second shopping
8. Declutter your desk.. if it is anything like mine it is full of receipts and invoices!
9. Have a skim through the TV guide and decide what you want to watch.. it saves missing bits of stuff if you know what is on and when!! Don't forget to make time for Queenie!
10. Toy boxes can be banished upstairs!
11. Wash any soft furnishings in need of freshening up
12. Tidy up coats and shoes and suchlike
13. WRAP WRAP WRAP!
14. Make a note of when the binmen are coming!!!
15. Spend half an hour doing NOTHING!!.. absolutely nothing!!!! Just sit.. and relax with a drink and a treat!

Christmas Eve - FRANTIC FRENZY

1. Prepare veg for Christmas dinner .. store covered in cold water overnight, it will be fine!
2. Mix yorky pud batter for tomorrow.. it is so much better if you leave it to stew.. quick whisk before use as normal
3. Prepare any other bits.. stuffing, salad etc  Make starters before bed.. sneaky but a great idea!
4. PRESENTS .. nuff said! (stockings with a few bits of fruit and a cereal bar make for a healthy breakfast!)
5. Wash pots before bed!
6. Bath time to wear everyone out.. 
7. Final clean out of pets/litter trays etc
8. S&S the kitchen
9. S&S the bathroom
10. Straighten the tree
11. Prepare eggnog, mulled wine or other festive beverage
12. Get the roll of binbags at the ready
13. Set up the video & camera!!! Fully charged and ready to roll!!
14. Quick whizz over the clutter and carpets..
15. Relax, enjoy yourselves and have a lovely time with your family!!
16. If it isn't done now you don't need it to be done it isn't important!

Thursday - CHRISTMAS DAY!

1. Bag up all the wrapping paper and put it outside!
2. Delegate pot washing/DW loading!
3. Slice off the remaining meat and either freeze or refridgerate for tomorrow!
4. Save remaining cooked veg for stew! It can be frozen if you don't want to eat it in the next few days.. or sling it in the crock pot with the carcass for stock!
5. Before children go to bed they must stack their new things nicely!
6. A quick S&S over the kitchen should see it looking fabulous again If you leave it by New year it will be a tip!!
7. Prepare any run and grab style food for Boxing day.. I know a lot of families have get togethers on the 26th.
8. Wipe the table/table cloth
9. Put the best crockery/glasses away
10. Go play with the children .. eat lots of junk food and delegate as much as possible!!

Enjoy your day with your loved ones, spare a few minutes thought for those who cannot be with us this year and who have lost loved ones.. 

I wish you all a happy, joyous, trouble-free fabulous New Year!! Without you lot.. I wouldn't be here either xx

Boxing Day

1. Do your dailies
2. S&S toilets and sinks
3. Get somebody to hoover high traffic areas
4. Write a list of presents that need thank you notes
5. Enjoy your gifts
6. Phone somebody you forgot to send to or to thank them for their gift
7. Keep track of the food in fridge so nothing goes to waste, meal plan if required
8. Relax and enjoy the day whatever you are doing

Narc0lepsy

Thanks for the thread.
HB I'm glad you had a good short break and hope your cold goes soon; there are some weird and long-lasting viruses around so hopefully yours isn't one of them. Glad Wren is on the mend.
Today has been trying to be Christmassy:
- went to carol service which was sadly poorly attended
- took Xmas pudding out of its bowl, prodded it and froze it. 
- checked lists of which there are currently 3: one of things to take to BIL, one of things to do before we leave and another shopping list of things to get tomorrow.
- sprayed more holly and ivy, picked more foliage and made a small arrangement for a friend I'm hoping to meet for coffee tomorrow. 
- watched the stuff you watch at Christmas on TV i.e. show jumping and Royal Variety Show.  However while doing so, I finished knitting one glove and started another. Snowman hasn't been stolen from the gatepost yet although whether we'll be brave enough to leave it while we're away is another dilemma. 

Valli

thanks for the thread.

Never finished last weeks jobs so those will be my priority.  Bathroom, DR, and then lots of quick tidies. 

roundtuit

Morning all xx 

I can't sleep. Feel free to ignore.

I think I know why I keep waking up at 5 am. A milkman delivering to a neighbour has his radio on loud enough for him to hear while he's dropping off on doorsteps...🤔

So. I'm awake but not up. I've completed Strands with no hints, completed Wordle in five, and completed Connections with no lives lost (purple line first which often happens).

I received messages from two beloved ex colleagues yesterday. First one telling me her DS has announced that he's getting married on 30th December, sending photos of her outfit, and asking for ideas for a poem about being a mother in law. Second one telling me that following on from the death of her father in law this year, and the death of her mum (six weeks from diagnosis to passing on 11th November), she has been diagnosed with cancer. A very rare one. And is waiting for surgery. No. No. No. Well yes to surgery, but nooooo.

That put losing my ear ring into perspective pdq I can tell you!

So. I'm assimilating that news, alternating with creating a poem about mother in laws, and thinking about what I need to do today / tomorrow/ Wednesday. Yet I'm blaming the milkman....🤔 

To Do Today List 

Dailies
P & S coming earlier than usual for coffee 
Bag up their presents / hand over 
Deliver card to my aunt 
Fill up with diesel 
Buy R€nnies 
Visit Pops - pick up/ drop off presents 
Clean bathroom 
Draw up military campaign - aka timings for making sure everything is cooked and ready to eat at the same time on Christmas Day. 
Clear kitchen table 
Clear kitchen worktop 
Clean out Joey 

Tuesday - at work
Take nibbles & money for breakfast butty
Take turkey crown out to defrost 
Check if anything else needs defrosting !!!

Christmas Eve- at work
Take J's presents 
Call at DB's on my way home: drop off presents. Christmas starts here - a Baileys? Why thank you.

Christmas Day 
I'm cooking my first ever Christmas Dinner.
( As a general rule I don't cook but I practiced on Easter Sunday, so that's OK then 😱)

Boxing Day
R & R 
Write a poem?

Can wait
Everything else!!!

I think that's what they call a brain dump. It does include some flying - bathroom and kitchen. I need a brew.

Good luck everyone. I mean...love to all. Have a good week. 

Rxx

roundtuit

I'm now up and dressed. 

I've taken my meds, turned over the calendars, changed Joey's seed and water, eaten breakfast, done a laundry shuffle, FUPA the airer, brought down presents for P&S, fed the birds, filled the caddy with tea bags, put out the recycling, and I'm supping a second brew.

Rxx

MinnieMousesMummy

Morning all, Thank you @Natty68 for the new list. 


Monday Mayhem
Family day out at a local Christmas market, whilst there we are visiting a Christmas show.
Go to the hardware store to get a washer for the bathroom tap
Get more wrapping paper, I thought I'd got enough, but ran out whilst wrapping last night. 
Ask DH to sort the tap in the bathroom
Ask DH to clean DSs carpet as he decided to spill hot chocolate on it. 
Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
Clean the bathroom
Dust the master bedroom
Package up V sale
Take the turkey out of the freezer to defrost - slightly ahead of myself, as it doesn’t need to defrost until tomorrow
Take the dog for a long walk
Wrap the rest of the presents
Make a timetable for Christmas Day
Finalise Mr T order for delivery tomorrow

I think that is everything that I need to tackle today. I hope everyone has a lovely Monday. 

Valli

well I woke up to a whats app pic of son and DiL ceiling collapsed in their LR.  There’s a balcony above and the cosmetic repairs that have been addressing the water seepage haven’t dealt with the underlying problem.  So the ceiling under the balcony is no more.

Fortunately they’re ok, DiL off work for school hols.  I have offered support but will stay away unless asked.  

WM, DW and TD x1.

ionafan

Wow, Valli - that's a nasty surprise for your DS and DiL!  Thank goodness they're OK.  Hope whoever is dealing with the water seepage can deal with the underlying problem and put things right very soon. xx

Thank you Natty for the very comprehensive list.  I will do my best this week, but Boxing Day will be my day to cook for 7 people (and a turkey-loving dog!) so I won't get any R&R until the weekend at earliest.

Yesterday afternoon we enjoyed our Christmas treat to ourselves: we went to our favourite concert venue in the big city for "Christmas with Sir Karl Jenkins" which was a wonderful start to the week

DGD2 has got the flu very badly and passed it on to her mum, so all our previously revised plans to spend Christmas Day with DS1&Co (rather than go out for the Indian meal by ourselves) are once again up in the air.  I shall buy something delicious - probably frozen - for me and DH to eat on 25th and then wait for a phonecall telling me whether we need to stay at home by ourselves or can eat at their house.  I very much doubt that it will be the latter.  Hey-ho-ho-ho.

I haven't wrapped any presents yet - and a few minutes ago I was on the phone to Customer Services about a missing item from one order.  Fortunately it appears that it was sent out in a separate package and with a different carrier, and even more fortunately I am not in a great rush for it (if necessary it can be part of DH's birthday gift at the end of January), but I am still hoping that it will arrive before everywhere shuts down for the holidays.

K is coming to help me clean all through tomorrow, so this morning I shall put the finished load of washing in the TD and start the 2nd in the WM and then head for the shops, and this afternoon I shall make the front door wreath and indoor candle decorations, ready to put in place after the cleaning marathon.

Pace yourselves, Flyfriends, and only do what is really necessary or what you truly enjoy! xxx

MadamMim2013

Thanks for the list @Natty68, did giggle about the “I will not have people sitting up at 5am wrapping presents” 
Thankfully ours was all done and wrapped a while ago and everyone’s that needed sending/delivery has been done ✅ 
My chest is feeling a tad grumpity so have busted out the sage/thyme & Mullen tea 🍵 thankfully my left eye seems to be on the mend & is just a little bruised. Could do without the low level body grumbles, yet soooo very thankful not to have been lumbered with anything worse!

😬Eeek @Valli that must have been a shocker for your S & DiL, hoping it doesn’t dampen their festivities too much! 🤞🏼
@roundtuit there a milkman that is similar round here, not quiet when delivering.. likes to bang the neighbours gate 😖 it wakes me often! Am sad to read of your ex-colleague’s news and can only hope that the surgery is quick and successful for them 💗

I am being taxi for a friend, she’s had a run of illness this year and has been called in for another procedure today, at least it’s before Xmas and she’ll also be told the results today, not having to wait over the Xmas period is definitely a blessing for her, it’ll reduce the stress about it all immensely and she has a plan for every eventuality! 

S/S the bathroom and kitchen..
Hoovered right through..
Made sausage sandwiches for all.. 🥪  (with a little bit of sausage for the mogwai’s)
Packed away gibble from various surfaces..
Emptied all bins and done recycling..
About to put a load in the machine, think I’ll have a herbal cuppa first! 😮‍💨

Sending happy, calm and peaceful festive wishes to everyone (incase I don’t make it back on for a few days)..
🕊️🎄🕊️

Valli

Luckily they're not doing xmas at theirs.  It's been a long term issue and, tbh, not entirely unexpected, to the point where DiL (well she's not actually but might as well be IYSWIM) wouldn't have her toddler nephew visit as they were concerned about the ongoing and worsening leak which has been faffed about with since they moved in  They are kicking up a storm and they're withholding the rent.  I wholeheartedly support their actions.

The HUGE pile of ironing has been dealt with - DD left a WHITE tissue in her BLACK jeans (Insert EEK smily) but the TD worked its magic and the tissue is gone.

I've taken out rubbish and recycling including the old scratch post - we've just had a pet superstore (a very happy one ) open here and there was a £10 off a £30 spend voucher so I bought two boxes of cat food and a new scratch post.  My cat loves a scratch post and absolutely shreds them.  I will put one of the boxes of food upstairs for winter emergency supplies.  I've now moved her bed into the spare room/office next to a radiator so she's well and truly in luxurious warmth.

DW emptied, WUALTD and emptied WM into a basket to go into the dryer later but it will give the WM chance to air before the next load hits it later on.

kazmeister

Afternoon lovelies,

Thanks Natty for the list and Valli for last weeks.

Love catching up on all your updates, helps put things in perspective, lightens the day and reassures that a lot of what I stress about doesn't matter (Valli - glad DS and DIL are not hurt, although must be inconveniened).

I have been out and about this morning after my exercise routine was completed.

Went to the bank to pay money in and asked them about whether the cashpoint could have issued the wrong amount of cash and they logged a dispute. Ordered the carpet for the new bedroom for fitting 2nd week of Jan now, just hope the builder has been back and fitted the skirting and radiator by then as he promised this week!
Then headed to the outskirts of town to a butcher we started using a little while ago. They have moved to a much bigger premises and it was still rammed and you can see through to the back where there must have been at least a dozen butchers cutting up meat. I only went in for sausage rolls and a game pie and came out with 6 packs of meat 2 sausage rolls and a pork pie (no game). When I came in DH said ooh that looks nice (and it was still warm) so we had a chunk each and tucked in. Sometimes it is worth paying the extra compared to what we would have got from the supermarket, it was delicious.

Re adjusted the fridge to accommodate the extra meat until I decide what to do with it, or make room in the freezer (having gone from 3 to 2 during the renovations)

Have updated all spends and went online to pay the last builders bill and discovered £30 back in my account from the bank. That was definitely worth asking.

This afternoon I will be doing more of the damp dusting but I think I am going to mix up a bottle of the stuff you can use everywhere (expensive usually but still using the starter pack) and is makes the house smell lovely.

Will print the list off first - not so eco friendly but it works for me.