Weekly Flylady Thread 13th April 2026

Natty68

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 upThese 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

OK here we go!

Manic Monday ~ Kitchen and dining room
Level One...
Clear and wipe work surfaces
Open the windows and let in the spring!
Level Two...
Sweep and Mop the floor
Clean the icky filters and drawers from DW's, WM's etc
Wipe the cupboard fronts, all the appliances and all those manky corners!!
Level Three...
Wipe the table, replace cloth if needed
Empty and clean out the fridge.. including the drain hole bit at the back..
Clean oven/hob
Pick a cupboard and empty and clean it out and replace only what you wish to keep!

Extras

• 32 fling boogie!
• HHI .. I really need to do this!!!!!!
• Clean the grill pan.. 
• Clean windows and sills

Mad Tuesday ~ Living room, Hallway, Stairs
Level One..
Get rid of any cobwebs that have moved in...
Remove clutter from floors, chairs and fireplace
Open the windows and let in some fresh air
Level Two..
Vacuum floors and sofas
Wipe and water neglected plants
Dust those flat fluffy surfaces
Level Three...
Vacuum under the furniture you can move
Clean windows, pictures, mirrors etc.
Change any lightbulbs that need doing!
Vacuum hall and stairs.. all the way up to the top!!!!!
Extras

• Wipe woodwork in the hall and stairs & wipe front door.. inside and out!
• HHI...
• Wash any nets/curtains that need cleaning.. put up fresh ones!
• Clean out your handbag.. how many receipts??
• 15 minutes filing

Wacky Wednesday ~ Study or other reception room & bathrooms
Level One...
Clear the clutter from all these rooms!!
Ring someone you love just to tell them so.. we never do this enough!
Level Two...
Vacuum the floors
Clean bath, toilets, shower and sinks
Wipe down the tiles and defragment the pc while doing this.
Level Three...
Wash any curtains/blinds/mats etc that need doing
Declutter and dust the pc desk
Wipe away cup rings and sticky things
Wiipe the keyboard, mouse, cables and sockets and suchlike.
Clean the windows.

Extras

• Degunge around the bottoms of the taps!
• Wipe cupboards and polish mirrors!
• HHI
• Clear a hotspot

Thrilling Thursday ~ Master bedroom & landing
Level One..
Check fire alarms are working
Clean lightshade. And remove dead insects
Fling open the window and let in the spring!
Level Two...
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs..
Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen..
15 minutes floordrobe clearance
Level Three...
Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.
Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing
Sort 10 things from your wardrobe (or someone elses) that you can get rid of..
Clear a hotspot.. or spend 15 minutes clearing one
.Extra tasks list

• 33 fling boogie time, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Clear a box of clutter from the landing
• Make any necessary phone calls and update calender with appointments for next week.

Freaky Friday ~ Childrens/Spare rooms
Level One..
Clear the floor
Vacuum the floor
Deweb and fluff the room
Level Two...
Strip the beds and wash those sheets.. and any duvets that need doing
Drag the stuff from under the beds and place it in it's proper homes!
Level Three...
Spend at least half an hour doing something just for yourself.. a nice bath, a manicure.. just your time! Make that appointment to have your hair done!!
Clean the windows

Extras

• Wash any curtains/throws/cushions etc that need it
• Wipe sticky marks from walls and doors
• Clean any tv's, pc's playstations in the room
• 15 minutes filing

Narc0lepsy

Started the day well - went downstairs to make a cup of tea, saw the sun and manage not to go back to bed but managed a lake swim before church. Lovely.

Went to church.

Went to BQ with Mr N and finally got a new lawnmower to replace the broken on, after discussion with very helpful assistant about the difficulties we'd had using a gift card online, he directed us to another very helpful person who got it all sorted; that's £50 used up from T0pcashback so a real bargain.

Did a bit more of tax return.

Processed Mum's dental invoice through her health plan.

Having established the takeaway Mexican was closed tomorrow, we had my birthday meal today instead. Yum. I've eaten too much.

Valli

Thanks for the new thread Natty.

Unfortunately going to be minimal flying from me as I have so much on this week.

I have a funeral tomorrow, doing my thing for the Council on Tuesday, shopping with my mate on Wednesday in the big mall for clothes, which I hate, and In between I'll be sorting bits, seeing to the Aged P.

There will be bits done.

Vacuumed courtesy car boot because I bought a roll of turf for Daisy's run.

DW and WM locked and loaded

Jazee

Morning all. Thanks for the list Natty.

Apologies for not posting recently. Hugs etc to anyone who needs them. I have been reading along and sometimes even flying but I'm not very well at the moment so have been off work too. I'm not looking after the grandchildren today (haven't seen them for three weeks) as GS now has chicken pox.

So far this morning I have cleaned windows and sills in dining room as per the list, and checked banking. Three of four wash loads done. Two are on the line outside.

Just having breakfast. I'll report back with any further progress later. Right, puzzles, exercises, washing up and getting dressed next.

Have a great day everyone.

ionafan

Happy Birthday @Narc0lepsy - hope you get cake today to round off your early birthday meal! 🎂💐🎉

Lovely to have you back with us, @Jazee - get well soon xx

Thank you @Natty for the new thread x

I am beginning to feel a bit better and managed to do some gentle flying at the end of last week. DH offered to hoover the LR but has not done anything yet to improve the state of his BR. Today my plan is to mop the kitchen floor and dust round everywhere while he is out at the leg clinic. I will also do WMx2.

I am missing my PC which went in for repair/service on Frida, not least because all my accounts are on it and I need to keep track of my upcoming car insurance and family history website renewal payments and watch the cash flow. The money is there but possibly not in the right places!

DH and I are going for our spring Covid jabs this afternoon, and it’s the monthly Old Wives’ AGM this evening. My diary rocks 🤣

Have a good week, everyone xxx

roundtuit

Morning all xx

Happy Birthday Narc0 xx

Welcome back Jazee - you were missed xx

Thank you to Valli and Natty for keeping the thread running xx

Glad to hear you're beginning to feel better iona xx

I do believe my back is slowly improving. For a few minutes this morning I was pain-free, which has given me renewed hope that this is temporary.

The Saturdailies List was not consulted this weekend but some of it was done. I can only start from where I am. Again. Not looking forward to going back to the paid stuff tomorrow; I am sooo ready to retire.

Anyhoo. I'm up, made my bed, taken my meds, taken parrots, turned over the calendars, completed the nyt puzzles, brought in my new bin, eaten breakfast and supped a brew.

Have a good week, my lovelies

R xx

Jazee

Thanks for the welcome back Iona and Round. Hope you both continue to improve.

I have done all dailies except putting recycling out, all washing is now on line, house is hoovered through of a fashion, as per list kitchen window is clean along with sill and stuff on it and I've shined the kitchen sink. Puzzle wise wordle in four, just the green line on connections and strands with no hints.

DH has left work early so we can bring Poppet home from DD. I've not always been able to walk her and DH is at work sometimes. Looking forward to a walk with her in the sunshine this afternoon.

MinnieMousesMummy

Morning all, thank you for the new thread. It's a lovely sunny day here.

My list for today

• Go up to the stables and feed the ponies
• Paid stuff (covering in local kennels, dog walk)
• Attend uni lecture
• Do uni prep for tomorrow
• Go to the country store while in town and get some horse food
• Load DW and switch it on
• S&S kitchen
• Laundry x 1 load
• Take DD to the stables so she can feed her ponies

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

kazmeister

Hi,

Thanks to Valli for last weeks and Natty for keeping the thread going this week.

I have done nothing so far this morning other than drink tea, eat breakfast, shower and read mini stories.

The sun is shining so I really should make an effort but DH has just come back in from walking doogie and has suggested its coffee time, cant argue with that.

Happy Birthday Narco!

roundtuit

I'm dressed - always a good start.

P & S have been for a coffee and a catch up.

WM has swished towels and tea towels which are now draped on the airer upstairs. (I couldn't think of a way to raise the wash basket to waist height to facilitate pegging out so airer it is)

I've WULTD, brought down the jeans I want to wear when I go the posh farm shop cafe to meet L for coffee this afti, and picked out a birthday card for J which I can post on my way home.

Flutter. Flutter.

OOh And I've opened the windows upstairs to let some fresh air in.

Rxx

ETA Watched four goldfinches play on my shed roof earlier 😍

Fayolle

Afternoon all,

Thank you for the shiny new thread and for keeping us in check, Natty and Valli.

Jazee, welcome back! We have missed you. I was thinking about you the other day for some reason, but then totally forgot, as I am wont to do. Luckily Round must have picked up my vibes.
Happy birthday Narc0. I hope you have a lovely day.

In my eternal campaign to avoid the kitchen lists, I took myself off to the allotment in glorious sunshine this morning. Rain was forecast for 2pm, so all was well. Until 11am. The light rain shower was fine, I drew the line at being pelted by hailstones and headed home. Now, true to the forecast, it is raining. I have resigned myself to some fluttering around the kitchen and DR for an hour. Towels have been washed. I have some fish from the freezer and eggs have been cooked, to conjure up a kedgeree later. First job - wield the duster around.