Weekly Flylady Thread 20th July 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 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- 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.

Magical Monday ~ Kookin Kitchen
Level One..
Clean floors
Shine the sink and taps making them sparkle..
Level Two..
Clear and wipe kitchen surfaces
Clean cupboard door fronts and the front of appliances
Sort fridge bringing what needs using soon to the front
Level Three...
Wipe window sills, clean any marks off windows if required
Wash the washer drawer out if it's gunky
Clean OVEN yes I know you all hate that one, wonder how many choose it!
Extras

• Clean inside of fridge
• Clear one hotspot
• Take a duster and wipe around the tops of your door frames, as many as you can manage in 5 minutes..

Twinkling Tuesday ~ Luscious Living Room and Delectable Dining Room
Level One
Vacuum floors and sofas
Level Two..
Clear the table and put a clean cloth or a nice vase of fresh flowers on it.
Dusting, even if around everything
Remove clutter making sure stairs especially are safe
Clean TV, other electricals and cabinets
Level Three...
Clean any other glass like mirrors etc
Tidy shoes, coats and bags
Vacuum under furniture (only if you won't hurt yourself doing it, and yes that does includes all you pregnant ones too, don't want any injuries)
Extras:

• Pick one or more of the following tasks
• Clear one hotspot
• Clear one shelf, dust and replace items after giving them a wipe over
• Clean any other glass in these rooms, mirrors, picture frames etc
• Clean windows in these rooms

Wishful Wednesday ~ Mystical Master Bedroom & Limpid Landing
Level One..
Remove bed linen and wash, replace with fresh linen
Level Two..
Check fire alarms are working
Vacuum floor in bedroom and on landing
Sort out your makeup and toiletries if you didn't do this last week..
Level Three....
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs aboutVacuum mattress before replacing with fresh linen
Eat a frog!
Extras

• 27 fling boogie time, time for that midweek fling, go on grab a bag and clear that clutter
• Clean windows in these rooms
• Sort one drawer, making sure only what should be in there is, anything that's had it's day or doesn't belong there is removed
• Wipe tops of door frames, even if just what you can do in 5 minutes

Thrifty Thursday ~ Barnacled Bathroom and Studious Study/Pc Area
Level One..
Clean floors in these rooms (even if it is around the clutter)
Level Two..
Clean bath, toilet and sink ~ let's have twinkling taps.
Clear any clutter from desk
Dust PC/laptops and desk
Wipe keyboard and mouse (these usually have more germs on than your toilet so important)
Change bath mat and towels.
Level Three..
Clear clutter from floor
Wipe down tiles in bathroom
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required
Extra:

• Clean tops of wardrobes
• Delete 50 emails
• Sort out computer bookmarks and delete any that you don't need/require/haven't looked at in 5 months.
• Sort a wardrobe or part of, a drawer or set of drawers making sure it has what needs to be in it and any 'extras' are put where they should be.
• Clean window
• HHI
• Clean pet toys/children toys

ionafan

Thank you Natty - I will join in when I can this week.

I’ve slept all afternoon and am about to turn off the light now, ready for more zzz.

Hope everyone has a good week xxx

wendywitch

Morning all,

I haven't caught up on the thread so all I can say is hugs to all those that need/want them.

I've been so busy helping my Mum out and taking her to visit my Dad I'm worn out after it all so not much has got done.

I don't know what I last said but my Dad has been moved from the hospital to a care home where he's being assessed to see if he can come home. I know it sounds horrible but I still hope they say he can't come home. Mum won't be able to cope so it'll end up all falling to me and I mentally couldnt do it. If he's not doing what they tell him in there you can imagine what it'll be like back at home.

The care home is further away than the hospital so its costing nearly £20 a day to visit by taxi as my mum can't manage the bus. So we've had to cut down the amount of times we visit.

We're not going today as I have an appointment later but I still have to go to their house to check on Mum and feed the pigeons.

Yesterday when I got home I went to put the kettle on, looked into the back garden to see that it had all been cut down and cleared! My neighbours had come in and done it all! He does ground work at a local golf course so was able to borrow their equipment. He said he'll be back to do the hedge today! I was so grateful. He said he also plans to reseed it later in the year.

I'm going to have breakfast, go to my parents then come back and start jobs.

roundtuit

Morning all xx

I'm up, dressed, made my bed, taken both lots of meds, turned over the calendars, fed the birds, refilled the birdbath and the hedgehog's dish, put out the rubbish and recycling, put new bin bags in bins, swished two loads and pegged them out, and WULTD.

NN has the mechanic who likes to play his radio to the entire street mending his van. 🙉. I hope it's not an all day job!!

To Do Today List

• Bin broken sandals
• Check when hair appointment is
• Check window washers on car

A millionty one other things I ought to do, but one week post second surgery I'm pacing myself. No need for waggy finger Fayolle 😊

Rxx

Valli

Morning all

been to feed SD's cat as he's gone back to the homeland to visit his brother. I am booked for swimming later and then the chiropodist at 4 - a cunning move as my feet will be nice and clean post swim!

I did the bathroom yesterday, full clean and mop so the house id looking much better. I am pondering washing out the dust 'bin' on my stick vacuum - filter definitely needs a clean too.

SandyShores

I went to the gym first thing and then came back and got distracted by a coffee and a call with DD.

Finally got around to getting ready to go out, and did a drop off at the recycling centre, then two bags to the CS. Quick trip to the sainsbugs for some essentials and a pack of granola squares - after unpacking everything, another coffee called!

Roundtuit has reminded me to put some washing on. @Valli, I hate washing the filter out but am always shocked with the amount of dust in there when I do. In fact you've nudged me on to do my own now.

I want to get the Vax out this afternoon (once the coffee has gone down) and also do a bit more decluttering from the garage (it's coming on nicely now). And I want to have a S&S around the kitchen.

ionafan

Evening all. I've had a reasonably productive day, though not a lot of conventional flying:

• FUPA clean laundry
• checked finances
• S&S'd the kitchen
• updated the church webpage
• sorted church council papers for tomorrow's meeting
• researched train times for a meeting in Cathedral City on Saturday
• checked my duties on a revised church rota
• entered revised electricity and gas payments on my monthly outgoings spreadsheet
• sorted old school photos to pass on to a former teaching colleague [fer-ling!] …
• …who I then met for coffee and a light lunch at our local arboretum 🙂
• allowed DH to choose tonight's meal as he had been home alone all day
• promised L the dog walker that I would look at some straight sewing that she wants done, before committing myself to actually doing the work
• gave my money plant (which lives in the bathroom) a shower to get rid of the dust on its leaves
• watched all three of this evening's quiz programmes and a bit of other stuff on TV
• took a late phonecall from DD: the family returned from holiday yesterday and she was told today that she will be working in Second City tomorrow and Wednesday, so the two of us are meeting up tomorrow evening for a meal and a catch-up 😀

I intend to get to Knit & Natter tomorrow afternoon and have already written a stupidly long to-do list for myself which I need to try and to complete before going out - including giving the bathroom a good clean while there is no laundry hung up in there to dry (that is, until I've done the WMx2 that is top of my list!).

Goodnight, sleep tight! xxx

Valli

grr at the cat who has caught and killed a bird IN THE HOUSE on my nice clean floor. Cue vacuum reassemble with new filter to gather up the feathers and down.

washing brought in bar filter which is hanging from the line in a net bag. Checked SD is home thus don't have to go and feed Trigger the cat. Swim stuff in WM

Narc0lepsy

Hugs to WendyWitch, it's not easy helping loved ones make major transitions/relocations in life while running your own home.

Good progress Roundtuit, keep resting as required.

Apart from Sunday when I gave myself a lie-in, I've managed to get up and do gardening at 7-ish for the last 4 days and it is beginning to make a difference although what was a lovely big garden when we moved in 35yrs younger is now getting quite a challenge. We're slowly getting better at finding more labour-reducing solutions.

• dw on as I went out to the garden, did some shrub pruning with new secateurs (bought on Sunday when we visited garden centre to look at sheds and secateurs, got sidetracked by a few plants but in my defence they were reduced and we've put far fewer hanging baskets/annuals in this year owing to hols and hot weather. Also noticed that what I'd dismissed without properly looking as an expensive greengrocer at the centre was actually very good quality and not bad prices at all. So that's one to remember as it can be on my way home from the gym).
• went to Body Pump
• Have been doing the final stages of the put-aside baby hoodie for vicar's impending grandchild; now urgent as the little one was born healthy on Saturday. It's the most advanced knitting I've done and not easy wool (although beautiful); I've just started the hood. I don't think I've ever worked on a circular needle before and it's so small!! Never mind, the end is in sight and I've told Mr N never to let me tackle another ……stick to fingerless gloves and baby MaryJane shoes in future.
• went to Alexander lesson. Why can't I learn to breathe properly? How hard can it be?
• watered greenhouse and veg. I need to look up when to pick aubergines as this year I've grown 'patio baby' which grow in small bunches, apparently they need to be about 5-8cm so I'll be out there with a measure - they look about 3cm at present. They seem plentiful anyway.
• Mr N and I went online to look at garden sheds. We found one nearly as good a quality as the one at the garden centre but less expensive and on offer, so have noted it down and will ponder a day or two. Rather a daunting task, the process of clearing/emptying/disposing of the old one and erecting the new one but a) it is much needed because of the previously mentioned rotten bits and b) we're going for one with 2 doors on the long side which should make it easier to get in/out big stuff like the mower and shredder. Part of the 'ok we accept we are getting older'.
• went to zumba

Well this is more garden-type flying today as posts go, and I've omitted the falling asleep on the sofa which presumably doesn't count. However a fair amount has been achieved, relatively.

wendywitch

Yesterday feeding the birds was later than normal, more brunch than breakfast as I had a call from the epilepsy nurse. Good thing I'd checked my diary cos id thought it was in the afternoon.

Anyway, my med dosage has been put up again due the amount of auras I've been having (mini seizures). I did explain to her everything that's going on and that I thought they were down to stress.

I did 2 loads of washing and put the DW on. Cleaned round the worktops, fridge and sink. Also hoovered round but didnt get around to cleaning the floor. I shall try again today. I did get side tracked by "sorting through things" which of course I never finished.

I'm not visiting my Dad today as DD2 has the day off so is going with Mum. I have both girls and the kids coming for dinner tonight so I need to get something done in the front room so there's room for the kids.

I'm going to finish my coffee, go do the birds and come back and get started.

Valli

Good morning all.

First job done while still in bed - I'm in a health scheme and can claim for chiropody treatment (I think they pay 2/3 of each claim) so I have submitted my claim.

Got swimming stuff to peg out befoe I go to the vol. job.

Hope everyone has a good day.