Weekly Flylady Thread 9 March 2026

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, rammel, 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

Manic Monday -  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.  If there are lilies watch out for the pollen…toxic to pets and stains!  

Empty bins/ashtrays - bin bag dance through the whole house.

If you have a woodburner/real fire attend to that first - and lay fire 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 - and swap them over so that the seat cushions/sofa get even wear.

Wipe/dust coffee and/or side tables and leave tidy

Prune magazines and/or newspapers

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

Dust/wipe electrical items - use a just-damp cloth.  Don't forget the remote controllers!

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 - we don’t want grim finger grease marks🤢

Check for cobwebs and eliminate!

Clean light shades and lampshades; check all lighting is functioning as it should. If they are fabric then brush off the dust our vacuum. Glass shades can be washed but make sure they're dry before they go back.

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?

Extras

S&s kitchen

s&s bathroom

HHI

Meal plan for the week (if you haven't already) and include a 'double up and freeze one' meal - because then you can have a day off later or you’ve a meal ready to go if you’re busy spring cleaning!

If you're putting winter boots away clean them first - brush to shift loose dirt, damp cloth for salt stains and stubborn dirt, dry then polish! Future you will be thankful!

Twinkly Tuesday - Bathroom(s)

Level 1

Open windows - bedrooms as well and lets freshen up

Remove towels, facecloths etc to WM for a hot wash

Clean loo - scrub inside and out and don't forget handles.

Level 2

Clean bath/shower

Clean windows and sills

Empty bin and wash out and wash loo brush holder and put to dry in the sun - and brush too

Level 3

Clean handbasin - use an old toothbrush round taps

Sweep and mop floor

Extras

HHI

Open external doors and vacuum/sweep/wipe dust trap at bottom of door 9probably got some technical name)

If you've a coloured uPVC door why not treat it with car wax - restores colour! I use a wax for dashboards on mine and it comes up beautifully. (happy to tell you the brand if I'm asked - my door gets full sun first thing and this stuff made it look like new)

Hump Day - Spare Room/Guest Room/somewhere that needs it

Level 1

open windows house-wide for fresh air

Empty bin

clear floor/chair drobe

strip bed if there is one - and vacuum the mattress and/or turn it

Level 2

Remake bed.

Wipe sockets and switches with a lightly dampened cloth

Have a break to let dust settle

Level3

Dust all round

clean windows

clean floor

Extras

HHI

S&S kitchen

S&S bathroom

THURSDAY'S LIST

SORT ONE THING

So…

S&S bathroom(s)

S&S kitchem

open some windows for some fresh air and pick a project…

here are some SUGGESTIONS but YOU choose what you are going to tackle and it depends on the time you have available, how many there are or, simply what would make you feel that's a job well done.

shoes (could be just yours, could be everyone's) - get them out,

clean, polish, discard, donate, put in bag to take to cobblers…

DVDs OR CDs- sort through, dust, put back, add to CS bag - check if rare or unusual…might be worth listing to sell

BOOKS - remove from shelf - if you're keeping them vacuum and replace or put in donate box

IF YOU ARE REDUCING A COLLECTION BUT YOU'RE NOT SURE - BOX WHAT YOU MIGHT GET RID OF AND POP IT OUT OF SIGHT. DATE IT. IF YOU'VE NOT RETRIEVED THE CONTENTS A YEAR LATER YOU WON'T MISS IT!

TOWELS - check through - fold neatly and replace or cut up shabby ones for cleaning cloths

COATS - check - wash/donate/rehang. Read washing instructions carefully and - do they ALL need to be stored in hallway?

shopping bags…check they are still servicable, wipe out the ones you use for food and PLEASE donate any you don't use to your local foodbank. Put in car boot/by door then you don't forget them. They can be folded for easy storage and hekd in pkace by the handles)

Stationery - pens or paper OR envelopes…keep what works/what you love and bin or donate, depending on condition.

you could chose - handbags/scarves/gloves/hats/cutlery/make up brushes..

That's not an exhaustive list.. you choose!

TGIF- Kitchen and Dining Room

Level 1

Open some windows (not just in the kitchen!) for some fresh air 

Check fruit bowl - add to washing up if necessary!  Remove anything 'going over' smoothy anyone?

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!  

Empty toaster crumb tray and wipe down

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.

Clean chairs/stools/high chairs - and don't forget legs and rails!

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  If you have a drain hole make sure it's not blocked

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 paying particular attention to manky crevices - wipe out the slot where the drawer sits!

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

Sweep/mop/vacuum floor

Clean chairs (and highchairs) - don't forget under the seats where sticky fingers linger.

Clean windows in both rooms.  

EXTRAS

HHI

S&S bathroom 

Easter is coming - make some plans - play dates and me time!

make sure you know when Sports days etc are scheduled for

Narc0lepsy

Thanks for the thread.

not a brilliant night's sleep but got up in time to go to church. Shiny gloves admired and another congregation member (A) asked if I'd make her some, any colour. Have now finished one of M's gloves so have started A's gloves as I'll see her on Tuesday eve for church group then not for a couple of weeks by which time it might be spring. Not that I stand much hope of finishing a pair by Tues eve…..

Did some pruning while Mr N did some weeding, despite him having a cold.

Booked some ballet tickets.

Booked Trave1odge in Somerset for visit to M at the weekend, paid a few ££ extra to get the late cancellation option in case she isn't up to seeing us.

Cooked roast dinner.

Rather small amount of drumming practice.

Bit of general kitchen clearing.

ionafan

Thank you for the new thread, Valli xx

I will see what flying I can do this week. It's my busiest week of the month, though: Monday evening is the Old Wives' crafts session; Tuesday afternoon I have Knit & Natter followed by the Lent Course, then NT Centre evening meeting; Thursday I have a dental check-up and must walk Rosie again; Friday I have to prepare something for church on Sunday; Saturday I am going to the Family History Show at Malvern; Sunday I might be lucky enough to see DS1!

I've spent most of this weekend trying to track down someone else's ancestors, with limited success, and having exhausted all possible approaches that I can think of, I'm going to say that I can't do any more with the limited online resources to which I have access.

I'm still coughing 😒

Hope Pops gets home safely, MMM's DD's wrist heals well, Natty's meds take effect, and everyone else who is feeling under the weather (for whatever reason) gets some sunshine to cheer them up this week xxx

Valli

Up at sparrow's cough (8:10 lol) as I was following DD to garage as she's dropped her car off for it's MOT and service - she can't really do it on a workday and she has 3 days off. To pack, apparently.

WUALTD. pegged out washing. Ironing next.

roundtuit

Morning all xx

I hope everyone is well and that the sun is shining where you are ☀️ .

It's misty, damp and cold here. I walked up to DB's to feed the cats earlier. At home I've made the bed, fed the birds, put out the recycling, done a laundry shuffle, and WM is swishing towels and tea towels. I've also supped two brews and eaten two breakfasts. I'm obviously in hobbit mode.

To Do Today List

Pay rent

Pay electricity bill

Return Pops' mail

Wipe out Pops' fridge

Check Pops' house for water leaks*

Buy Pops' shopping and put in fridge

Feed the cats

Pick up P & S and taxi them home

*no idea what I'm supposed to do if I find one 🤔 🪣🤿

Hopefully things are running smoothly in Benidorm, and the paperwork is sorted ready for them to take the taxi to the airport at 11 o'clock our time. Plane leaves Alicante at 3.10pm Spanish time. All flylady posivibes appreciated 😘

Live to all

Rxx

wendywitch

Morning All,

Woke up to the 2nd day of thick fog.

No GS today or for a while longer as GD was born a week ago (3 weeks early, c-section) so they are all at home having family time.

I'm hoping having time alone might encourage me to do jobs around the house.

So far I've done a chest freezer inventory while I was getting my soup out for tonight's dinner. I've also unloaded the DW, put the TD on to finish a few bits off. I've put sofa throws, covers and cushions on to wash and put clean bedding and jumpers away. I did get sidetracked by some old bits in the bedroom that have now been thrown away.

I've put the plastic recycling out but won't put the paper or food out til tomorrow evening (collection Wednesday morning).

I don't have plants or flowers to sort out but I have decluttered half the coffee table. I don't know what to do with the stuff left as it's actually stuff I use.

I've dusted round ish, it's better than it was and leather wiped the sofas.

I'm now having a coffee and rejigging my meal plan and shopping list while waiting for the WM to finish then I'll put that in the TD.

TTFN

ionafan

Everything crossed for Pops, round xx

This morning I have

• sent an email to the person whose ancestors I was researching
• checked my finances
• put 6 enormous pork shoulder steaks in the SC with beans and lots of veg - that should do us 4 meals
• gave the kitchen a more thorough clean than usual, though not to the extent of cleaning windows
• hoovered ***and mopped** the kitchen floor
• also hoovered the DR, LR and hallway, with a detour into the cupboard under the stairs where we keep coats and shoes - the new hoover stick thingy has green lights on the front of the roller head, which showed up a huge amount of Rosie's hair that had floated under the shoe rack, so I moved that and cleaned it all up. Then of course I had to empty the dust canister!
• PUPA in the LR and DR
• watered all the house plants
• emptied bins all round the house (except in DH's bedroom and the man cave)
• drunk coffee

That'll do. Lunch next.

xxx

MinnieMousesMummy

Good afternoon all, So far today I have had a busy morning, but not much flying has been done. I have been busy with some paid stuff and sat my exam for uni (feeling rather unsure about how it went, so keeping my fingers and toes crossed it has gone ok)

My list for the rest of today

• Attend uni lecture
• Do paid stuff (I've got a dog walk to do, a kennel visit and some slides to finish for tutoring tomorrow evening)
• Make a start on sorting out my schedule for next week
• Load the DW and switch it on
• Put the ironing away that I did yesterday
• Take DD to the stables so she can see her pony whilst I feed it.

I think that is everything that I need to tackle today. I hope everyone has a lovely Monday. Hugs to those who want/need them.

Honey_Bear

Flylady posivibes heading Pops's way for a safe journey home.

Irritating app issue sorted, and phone call to the vet made to circumvent the problem so I didn't have to worry about not being able to make it work.

Front door curtain taken down and run through the WM because it's got muddy pawprints all over the hem and I can't have that the first thing that people see when they come into the house. Will peg everything out now.

All flat floors vacuumed. Airlock dusted and windows vinegared. Now going back to finish the windows in the letting rooms, and I'm airing the duvets.

Valli

Washing line dried apart from thick hoodie which can go out again tomorrow. Been to cancer swim; stuff in WM

Remains of compost either shoved down holes made by rabbits or thrown on rhubarb and under blackcurrant bushes as mulch/incentive to produce abundant harvest. She hopes.

HUGE pile of laundry ironed. Ebay sale posted (and just when I was contemplating taking it to CS). All other listings have ended; trying to find oomph to relist and augment.

2 bags of clothes etc taken to CS after visiting PO enroute to baths. DD taken to collect her car. Pondering what to assign as tomorrow's task.

Blackcats

I clustered some admin tasks together for today - faulty phone posted back to supplier who can hopefully fix it, small gift posted to a relative, got and some cash out for my dad.
spent an hour tidying the garden and planting up some pots with pretty spring flowers.

DH put up a new washing line - well not exactly a new washing line because it's been sitting in its box in the shed for 2 years but hey ho it's done now.

Dusted and cleaned every slat of the living room blind and cleaned the skirting boards plus a quick dust.

Washing put away