Weekly Flylady Thread 25th May 2026

Natty68

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 Valli 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 addGibble ~ 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- thats 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

Here goes this Week.

Bank Holiday Bonanza! - a bit of everything, or a bit of a rest!
Level One
Lets go back to basics and shine your sink till it sparkles!!!
Sweep or vac through your entrance hall, and as far through to the back door (if you have one!) as you have the energy for.
Level Two
Wipe your table - is that cloth clean?
Replace with fresh table linen as needed, or even just clean placemats!
Make a brew and enjoy the sunshine (here's hoping it isn't raining where you are!!)
Level Three for those that really need to do more!!!
Get those feather dusters out and de-web.
Make sure to vaccuum up the remnants!!
S&S the downstairs loo / cloak.
Extras - for those that really do want more!!!

• Collect any towels that need washing and get them in the WM then out on the line if it isn't raining..
• 15 mins in the garden, lets see how much you can do in 15 mins!!
• Find 3 items that can be GOT RID OF!
• Wipe all the downstairs door handles - help stop any germies spreading...
• Ditto all the upstairs ones.
• And the final one - Make another cuppa!!!

Terrific Tuesday - Sitting Room of Sunshine and Hallway of Happiness
Level One
Open the windows and turn on some music!
Wipe and water the plants
Declutter the chairs, floor and fireplace
Level Two
Vacuum the floor now it is visible
Wash any throws/curtains/cushion that need freshening up
Clean any glass.. pictures, windows, mirrors etc
Level Three
Vacuum under any furniture you can.. please don't injure yourselves!
Wipe sofas and dusty places
HHC in the hallway.. sort those coats and shoes and mess!!
Extras

• Tackle any phonecalls you NEED to make.. Is now a good time to switch energy providers? renew the 0% credit card? .. Have a check! Do you NEED a hair cut? Make that appointment today!
• Binbag dance... grab a bag fill it and fling it!
• Spend 15 minutes tackling a hotspot!!
• Wipe the woodwork in these areas

Wondrous Wednesday - Superb Study & Bathrooms of Bubbliciousness
Level One
Declutter the floors
Empty and wash out bins
Clean any windows
Level Two
Clean the bath, sinks, toilets, showers.. shine the taps!
Vacuum/mop floors
Declutter the pc desk
Level Three
Wipe the keyboard, mouse, sockets, switches and telephone
HHI
Clean under any furniture you can move but don't usually bother moving
Extras

• Delete 10 dead links out of your favourites
• Do at least 15 minutes of filing
• Grab a cuppa.. and if it is nice.. go sit outside for a bit an enjoy life!! If not you can sit here and talk to the rest of us!!!!
• Scrub down the tiles

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU STAY HYDRATED WITH FLUIDS, STAY OUT OF THE SUN, CLOSE THE CURTAINS AND OPEN THOSE WINDOWS. Today is forecast to be another hot day and we don't want any casualties through heatstroke or dehydration!!!

ionafan

Thank you for the new thread, Natty - and I hope you're feeling better this week xx

I went to church this morning and on my way home called at MrT's for a small top-up shop. Apart from that, I haven't done a great deal today: it was simply too hot. Rosie isn't hobbling as much today, but it was not the weather to take her out on tarmac only!

I am going to bed very soon so that I can get up early tomorrow morning and start planting up the patio pots with summer bedding while the back of the house is still in the shade. I'm sure the petunias and lobelia have doubled in size since I bought them last weekend.

Enjoy the good weather while we have it! xxx

roundtuit

Morning all 👋

Thank you to Valli and Natty for the lists. They remind me of what I should be doing. I will be on list today as towels and tea towels will be swished and pegged out.

Saturday became Sassy's Day - she was free flying all day to make up for me leaving her to go to work Tuesday to Friday. She's getting braver - nibbled my phone and uses me as a landing post! I needed the down time too after an intense couple of days at the paid stuff.

Yesterday Sassy insisted (she thinks she's the boss) on flying free in the morning but stayed happily in her cage all afternoon even though she was free to leave whenever she liked. The Saturdailies merged with the Sundailies as I learned to work around keeping her safe.

To Do Today List

Get dressed ✔

Wash towels and tea towels ✔

Write S's birthday card ✔

Wrap S's birthday presents ✔

WUDUPA ✔

Clean Sassy's cage ✔

Feed the birds ✔

Refill the bird bath ✔

Put out the recycling ✔

Fill window washer thing on car ✔

I'm getting a right telling off here - Lady Sassy does not like being ignored 🤣

Have a good day. Keep cool.

Rxx

roundtuit

Twot 🥵

And it's only 9am 😳 xx

Valli

ooh I have had enough now (of the heat)

Thanks for the new thread

I've stayed out of the sun and shall continue to do so

ionafan

I've been out in the garden for half an hour, watering all the pots in the shade and replenishing the birds' and Rosie's water bowls. A beautiful glossy male blackbird sang his thanks 😃

Rosie, DH and I have all had our meds, and DH and I have breakfasted. It's very hot outdoors already, but the house will stay cooler as I pull the blinds down as the sun moves round. The LR stays cool, as does the utility.

Off to grab a shower now before L comes to visit her favourite client ❤️

MinnieMousesMummy

Morning all, Thank you for the new thread.

My list for today

• Get the kids to school
• Open the windows and let some air in
• Paid stuff (covering in kennels, admin for a client)
• Attend uni meeting
• Empty the DW
• Wash up the dishes in the sink, dry and put away
• Spend an hour doing some uni course work
• Attend doctor's appointment
• Bring the bins back in once they have been emptied
• Look into debt consolidation to see if this would be a better way forward, as I think I could save myself some money. I think I will leave things as they are for now, as it looks like it will cost me more.
• Take DD up to the stables so she can bring her ponies in, as they have a vet appointment tomorrow
• Sort bags, clothes and lunches for tomorrow

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

Jazee

Morning. Thanks for the list.

So far - dog walked, dailies done, one wash load and another dog bed washed, hoovered through, sorted out craft cupboard for kiddies, did puzzles. Will be leaving soon for DGD1s birthday party. Unfortunately other side of family won't be there now as DGS is in hospital having struggled to breathe in the night. Fly lady vibes for him please.

ionafan

Flylady vibes for your DGS, Jazee - hope he makes a speedy recovery xx Enjoy the birthday party, and I'm sure your DGD1 will be delighted with her cake because you made it 😍

L has been and gone, minus several treats. Rosie is much better today and hardly limping, but it's too hot for me to walk her anyway. Like me, she is moving from room to room, looking for the cool places. I was planning on finishing off some family history this morning but time and the sun are against me, as it's just coming round onto the back of the house. The computer work will just have to wait until the sun goes behind the trees at about 5pm. Procrastinating, me???!!!

DH's clothes that I washed on Friday and are currently hung up in the bathroom need to be FUPA, today's load needs to take their place, then the little yellow jacket that has decluttered another 100g of wool (my Knit & Natter project) needs sewing up. I shall start the next project - mauve - tomorrow.

I have made up a pint of strong black decaff coffee and for the rest of the day's drinks we'll make do with iced lattes. As the temperature is in the high 20s already, I might even go mad and add ice cream…

xxx

Blackcats

Anyone noticed that it's a bit warm today? 🤣

I've done some filing and shredding and tidied up the shelves in our office. I'm taking a couple of books to the bookshop at the swimming pool tomorrow.

I also swooshed round the living room, dusting the furniture and wiping the skirting boards.

DH has been a superstar and cleaned a rug, 2 chairs and the sofa in our garden room. It looks so nice and fresh now.

I have some ironing to do but I think it's probably a breach of elf & safety regs to operate an iron on Bank Holidays especially when it's also the hottest day of the year.

Valli

So I have handwashed the blouse I bought from the garden centre attached to the posh neighbours' house - and yes, I am aware that buying clothes from a GC is a recognised sign of old age and i didn't wring it out at all given the it's as hot as a TD out there anyway. Line dried DS/DiL's bedding - in record time. Roughly tidied kitchen, stacked DW. Emptied shed freezer as the poor little thing has been thrumming away non-stop (and no doubt costing a fortune) which meant I had stwe and mashed spuds for tea. Switched it off. WUALTD. WM loaded. metal flask type water bottle cooled in fridge and filled with cold water and brought up to bed along with fan and flannel for brow mopping. Little portable fan being charged on power bank as I have errands and must leave the house.