Weekly Flylady Thread 2nd February 2026

Natty68

We often see new flyers (gents welcome!) around this time of year so please don't worry if you feel you cannot keep up. Similarly if your house has been neglected it won't be turned around in a day - but if you stay you will get into some good habits which do help! Happy flying.

Thank you, Valli, for last week's 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.

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.

It is your responsibility to read the forum rules, please follow them on this thread as Flylady has been here a LONG time and is a fabulous support and resource for lots of us.

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 asier.
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

OK here we go!

Monday Madness- Bathroom and Study/Pc Area
Level One...
Clean floors in these rooms
Level Two...
Clean baths, toilets, don't forget under the rim! and sinks
Clear any clutter from desk
Dust PC and desk, if you still use these, and wipe off those cup rings!!
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches
Level Three...
Wash your bathroom mats, nets, clean blind/curtains etc
Wipe down tiles in bathroom.. defragment your pc while doing this.
Empty and clean out all the upstairs bins! (the proper bins not the rooms that look like bins!)
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required
Clear a mega hotspot!.. shred it.. and fling it..or just burn it!

Extras..

• Wipe the skirtings, door and window frames in these rooms
  
• Wipe down the doors and frames in these rooms
• Clean the radiators in these rooms
• Fling all those empty bottles and tubes
• Replace sponges/flannels/toothbrushes that are in need

Tuesday Living Room, Hall and Stairs
Level 1
Vacuum floors and sofas
Level 2
Dusting, even if around everything
Remove clutter making sure stairs especially are safe
Clean TV, other electricals and cabinets
Level 3
Wipe light switches and banister
Clean any other glass like mirrors etc
Tidy shoes, coats and bags
Vacuum under furniture (only if you won't hurt yourself doing it, don't want any injuries)
Get a winter emergency box for your car.. it's still not too late SEE HERE for ideas!
Extra Mission:Pick one or more of the following tasks –

• Clear one hotspot or spend at least 15 minutes clearing it a bit
• HHI
• Give the inside of the front door a wipe (if it's not snowing you could do the outside too)
• Wipe the leaves of your plants
• Sort through any magazines or paperwork lying around
• Clean windows and sills in these areas

Wonderful Wednesdays - Master Bedroom & Landing
Level 1
Check fire alarms are working
Remove and wash bed linen.
Level 2
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..
Vacuum mattress before replacing with fresh linen, air the bed if possible
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level 3
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort one area of clothes or linen storage making sure only what should be in there is, anything that's had it's day or doesn't belong there is removed
Extra tasks list, as usual choose one or more

• Ebay/Amazon/Car boot search, anything that can be sold which is no longer used?
• 27 fling boogie time, time for that midweek fling, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Check the airing cupboard, anything that is way past it's use by (maybe recycle for rags if possible, you could donate old sheets or towels to a local animal rescue for bedding)
• Clean the bed frame where you can, vacuum if cloth covered, wipe with a cloth if wood/metal etc
  

Thursday Bathroom and Study/Pc Area
Level One
Clean floors in these rooms (even if it is around the clutter)
Level Two
Clean baths, toilets and sinks
Clear any clutter from desk
Dust PC and desk, wipe with damp cloth if grimey
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches and mouse etc
Level Three
Clear clutter from floor
Wipe down tiles in bathroom
Delete 10 links in your favourites which you no longer use or are dead!
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required
Extra mission:
Pick whichever you want to attempt:
• Wipe the skirtings, door and window frames in these rooms
• Wash your bathroom mats, nets, clean blind/curtains etc
• Clean/wash the brushes/dust box/filters on the vacuum cleaner (ensure these are dry
before using again)
• Clean the radiators in these rooms (and behind them if you can)
• Defragment PC, or at least do a disc clean up
• Towels & Flannels- wash any grimey ones, make ones which are ''beyond repair'' into
something else (flannels, cloths etc) or get rid

Valli

I'm ahead of the curve then, having scrubbed tiles this morning.

Thanksfor the new thread Natty

ionafan

Thank you for the new thread, Natty. Sorry it's been a struggle for you, but it looks as good as ever now, so well done to you for persevering xx

I am off to bed and hoping to get a decent night's sleep. I've done quite well on the photo decluttering, but flying must recommence in the morning. Less than 4 weeks of this month to go, and I want to see definite progress on that front before St David's Day. I might have to call in K as reinforcement sometime, though - I don't think I could do a proper Spring clean on my own any more.

I hope everyone has a successful week, one way or another xxx

Narc0lepsy

Thanks for threads.

Quite a few people here dealing with loss/memories of loved ones, so hugs to you all. I've been going through another of Mum's boxes - I have 2 on the go at present, 1 is in my study and the other on the dining room table. Although Mum is still alive, it is still hard, rather melancholy/nostalgic and still feels intrusive to go through what she doesn't need in the care home but I couldn't possibly throw away. Mainly jewellery and photos at present. Anyway, box in dining room is now gone although some items are still pending a proper home but at least the table is nearly clear.

Mr N did a big fly round the spare room and bathroom as BIL is staying Thurs-Sun. My continuing contribution is to finish the lounge/diner and to meal plan.

Went to a fantastic Argentine Tango show last night, Vincent Simone for all who remember his Strictly days. Just incredible. Not a bone between them; nobody could possibly bend as much as those dancers.

Church this morning and managed to complete 2 pairs glove in time to give them to the Waterways Chaplain. She had a lovely text thanking her/us again from a boater who has just moved into a disused metal lifeboat with no insulation or heating.

Mr N rang and spoke to our friend and his sick wife. They are just about holding up but she had been let out of hospital then readmitted a few days later, "had a terrible time" and discharged herself, we don't know any details but can just try to support them from afar as best we can at the moment. It's been another batch of "one of those days" as 2 of my stepsisters have been in hospital; one has been discharged today. Hard to keep track of it all.

Swimming lake was very cold on Saturday so instead of an afternoon in the garden I continued with the study of doom. Consolidated various balls of wool so most is in one place (a large box under the spare bed) with just a few overflow bits in a basket in my study.

I haven't yet unpacked the china I took over from Mum as I don't know where to put it….however I binned one of our old cracked plates from the kitchen rack so at least that is a start. Long term plan is to gradually retire our 'everyday' china which lives in the kitchen and use Mum's.

Have a good week everyone.

Jazee

Morning all. Thanks for the list.

It's grandchildren day today but I'll do what I can before they arrive. Right, best get dressed and walk Poppet.

Have a great day everyone.

roundtuit

Morning all xx

Thank you for the lists Valli and Natty xx

I haven't worked out how to type in bold yet. Sorry iona you did say but I can't work out how to highlight a word. I do wish they'd leave things alone.

I'm up, made my bed, taken my meds, turned over the calendars, completed Strands with no hints, completed Wordle in four, completed Connections with one life lost, eaten breakfast and supped two brews.

I spose I should get dressed. And open the curtains....maybe not, I think I hear the window cleaner.Don't want him to fall off his ladder with shock 😲

Rxx

roundtuit

Paid the window cleaner, then went up to get dressed. It's OK, he's seen me in my dressing gown before. Poor man 🤣

I've put out the recycling, fed the birds, done a laundry shuffle, and set WM swishing with the things I removed from CoD and the sheet I used to cover Joey's cage. I've put the gloves in with the rest - they can take their chances 🤞

Rxx

MinnieMousesMummy

Afternoon, Thanks for the new thread. It's a very wet and windy day here today.

My list for today

• Do paid stuff
• Attend uni lectures
• Do some work on uni assignment
• Empty the living room bin
• Load the DW and switch on
• S&S kitchen
• Check banking, update dd and make a budget for this month
• Dust the laptop
• Take DD to the stables so she can feed and check on her pony

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

ionafan

Afternoon all. I did fly this morning! - PUPA and hoovered all through downstairs except for DH's domain; dusted LR and DR; wiped kitchen worktops and mopped floor; S&S'd bathroom; done WMx1. DH's bedding is due for a wash tomorrow so I'll tackle his room then.

I have also done the "1st" of the month banking check and money transfers, and I have cancelled one standing order which has outlived its purpose. I mustn't forget to pay some family history society subs and get my free ticket for an online event on Saturday..

And I've completed today's online jigsaws whilst drinking a coffee.

Rosie went out for her walk with L earlier and is now telling me that it's lunchtime. I'd better oblige! It's an excuse to give her a snack containing her monthly treatment chew, which she won't eat on its own. My brain would benefit from some (human) food too.

xxx

Fayolle

Hello all,

Thank you for the thread and well done Natty for persevering with the new look site.

I too have done some flying, but not very joined up. I cleaned all toilets and basins, swept the floors. The clean room look lasted maybe all of 5 minutes grrrrr. Towels have been washed and are waiting for me to rescue them from the td. DH amd I have moved a bookcase from the LR to its new home on the landing. I have a pile of books to leave the house (including 2 cookery books!!). DH and DD both have their books to look through so that won’t happen any time soon and the piles will collect dust. I have just completed a freezer inventory and cleaned out the fridge shelves. The freezer inventory arose from when I went to get 2 hm ready meals put for Friday evening and they were nowhere to be found. Whoops.

Narc0, I think photos and jewellery and two of the hardest things to sort through so don’t beat yourself up x

Pollybear

Afternoon all. One washload done, mostly dry but a few things waiting for the heating to come back on later. Dusted, polished and vacuumed through downstairs and washed the kitchen floor. Walked DD2's dog for an hour and then fed him. Finally finished reading the paper about half an hour ago. It seems to take me longer every day in between other stuff but I don't want to give it up.

Hope everyone's OK x