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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

If you're house is cluttered and you're Mad as a Hare, join March Fledgling Flyers and get it all square

942 replies

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/02/2011 09:21

Following on from the February Fledgling Flyers thread, welcome to March. This is the thread that follows the Flylady website (loosely) for getting your home decluttered and your housework into routines, whilst dispensing tea and chat freely.

A big thank you to PushMePullYou for leading us through February ably assisted by ToffeeFudgeCake. We had a huge influx of new posters as well, which was lovely, anyone else who is lurking, please say hello, you will be very welcome.

We have a fairly relaxed attitude to Flying and take some of the babysteps - such as getting dressed to lace-up shoes - with a pinch of salt. We also strongly advise against signing up for the FlyLady emails.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, using one of the following methods:

  1. Babysteps
  2. Babysteps + 15 mins daily decluttering
  3. Babysteps + daily missions

Following the babysteps helps to establish daily routines and build a weekly plan.

If you are overwhelmed by the mess in your home, start with just one thing: shine your sink. It's amazing what you can achieve by just doing a bit at a time!

OP posts:
MollysChambers · 11/03/2011 12:31

Have read on Flylady site that links are fine but copying to other sites is infringing copyright. Seems fair enough to me.

funambulist · 11/03/2011 12:40

Hello all,

apologies again for not posting much and not managing to "chat" when I do. Since I've started trying to follow the Flylady system life seems to have got 10 times busier. I am hoping that that is because I am now catching up with all the things I should have been doing all the time. I love reading posts by people who have got their clutter under control and are just maintaining a tidy home rather than fire fighting all the time.

I went for coffee with friends again today (what kind of mad socilite am I!) so am once again behind with the day's tasks although I did swish and swipe upstairs before I left the house (which I usually don't managae Blush so it's not as bad as it could be. I also ran around and did a few things before posting so that my done list wouldn't look too short!

Done

swish and swipe - upstairs only
shiny sink
dishwasher unloaded and restacked
hot spot x 1
mission - accidentally! The cabinets looked a bit grubby so I wiped them down while heating up my soup for lunch. Delighted to find that I've done a misson!
shopping
coffee with friends

To do

Get ready for school pick up
card and flowers to bereaved friend
hang out wet washing
put away dry washing
hot spot x 1
mark DS1 maths
cheques to the bank
various emails
put away shopping
piano practice - I haven't been putting this on my list as I do it so rarely I'm ashamed but feel I should admit that I ought to be doing it after reading swan's posts.

I'm not going to post a might get done list as it never does get done. Sad

GoneHopefullyForgotten · 11/03/2011 12:50

Fly list:

Friday's to do list:
tame bathroom. done
Dryoff bins and plastic tubs doing
hang plastic sheet to dry.
bleach bathroom floors x2 done
Clean bathroom x1
finish tidying landing done and hall
finish washing in progress
ironing
put all clothes away
hoover through landing and bathrooms and half stairs done
tip run
tame kitchen done
pack ds' stuff for wkend at dad's
take ds to the contact transfer point

systemsaddict · 11/03/2011 12:52

Just read a nice blog / book about doing things in small chunks - 10 minute solution - which seems to fit nicely with the Flylady system so thought I would pass it on! nice and motivational (I am writing / reading today and struggling with both - hence finding such things online!)

Toffeefudgecake · 11/03/2011 12:54

Molly - I have also been following the news about the earthquake in Japan Sad.

Nicknacks - I agree - it's really difficult to get housework done with a small baby. Flylady has some tips here - www.flylady.net/pages/FlyBaby_Baby.asp. A friend of mine with a five-month-old baby puts him in his bouncy chair or on his playmat by her feet and chats to him whilst she washes up - not easy, but the only way she can get it done. I tried having my second baby in a sling whilst I did housework, but found it too awkward. I also used to make batches of purees for both babies in the evening, so that I didn't have to do any cooking in the daytime. And I used to swap baby gyms with friends as having a new baby gym to play in would keep my baby busy for a bit. But, essentially, it's bloody difficult and, in my opinion, catching up on sleep should always take priority over housework.

Nettie -glad you had a lovely night out. Sorry you had housework to do on your return though.

Linzer - starting the day with coffee with DH sounds good to me Smile. Looks like you have a busy day ahead of you now.

Alice - don't give up! How about a crisis clean? See www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_CrisisCleaning.asp. That always makes me feel better.

Snot - well done on getting your assignment done, as well as everything else.

Feet - hope you have a good day at work and find a good deal on the insurance.

Still - have a lovely time with your friends. Sounds as if you have done loads in your house. Very Envy of all your decluttering.

Gone and Still - Flylady doesn't mind us linking to her thread, but she objects to us posting her stuff onto another website. However, I'm not sure about becoming a sub-category in 'Good Housekeeping'. Feel quite happy where we are, really.

MissJ - caught a glimpse of you back there! Hope your DD is feeling better and that you are both getting some sleep.

Am still on minimal Flying duties, thanks to DS1 being at home and having work to do. So, today...

Done:
B/fasts
DS2 to school on time (in spite of the fact that the novelty of the reward chart has now worn off)
Unloaded d/w
Reloaded d/w and did saucepans from last night Blush
Tidied kitchen
Home ed with DS1
S&S in bathroom
Washing machine on

To do:
Put washing in t/d
Check through yesterday's work before emailing it back
Lunch
Declutter house with several boxes ( System's system Wink)
Write childminder's reference
Dinner
Evening routine
Wine
Bed at decent hour

For the second day running, I don't have to do the school run this afternoon, as DS2 is being collected by his childminder and going back to her house for dinner. This means I can get on with work without interruption, which is brilliant. The school run does chop the day up in the most inconvenient way (not as much as for Linzer, though, I admit).

Right, must get on with some work now.

Minda · 11/03/2011 13:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Toffeefudgecake · 11/03/2011 13:01

Thanks for that link, Systems. It all helps.

GoneHopefullyForgotten · 11/03/2011 13:15

Another one caught up in the coverage of japan. Should go iron and pack. And eat lunch. 1.5hrs to do 3 hr pile

GoneHopefullyForgotten · 11/03/2011 13:16

Thanks systems have booked marked and hopefully will remeber to read.

LinzerTorte · 11/03/2011 13:20

Have just dropped off the DDs with DS's friend's mum (as usual on a Friday, DS went there straight from kindergarten) so now have just under an hour before I have to pick up DD2 again to take her to the party (present now wrapped!).

Toffee Good luck with the work; it's great that you don't have to worry about the school run this afternoon. I'm still waiting for confirmation before I can start on my 71 pages, which probably won't be until next week now.

systems That link looks really interesting - will read it properly later when I have a bit more time.

funambulist I've also been out for coffee two days running - it's a hectic social whirl, isn't it? Grin

Somehow I now have only 40 minutes left (although do get another hour or so to myself after the "party run") so really must go... waves to everyone else.

missjulie · 11/03/2011 13:37

Feel sick, so sick, DH is sailing from Bali to Singapore!!!!! :(

funambulist · 11/03/2011 13:42

missjulie hope you hear from your DH soon. Do you have any way of contacting him? Is he with a travel company who can give you some information? Thinking of you and keeping everything crossed that you get good news soon. Let us know if you hear anything.

GoneHopefullyForgotten · 11/03/2011 13:44

Hope you hear from him soon MissJ

missjulie · 11/03/2011 13:46

He works off-shore on the boats, and can be anywhere in the world, for any length of time. The communications on the boats is just awful, and this boat, the only way i have of contacting him is by email, and it can sometimes take up to 10 days to get a reply. Keep trying to phone his work, based in Aberdeen, no luck yet, shall keep trying. He has been in Bali for 26 nights, and was due to do the 4 day sail to Singapore.Shall keep you posted.

funambulist · 11/03/2011 13:51

Poor you. Hopefully he and the other people on the boat will be trying to contact their work to let them know that they are okay and you will hear from them soon.

LinzerTorte · 11/03/2011 13:52

Thinking of you MissJ; hope you hear from your DH very soon.

snotdroolanddirtybums · 11/03/2011 13:55

nick, i used to play boo round the door. id be brushing/doing dishes/laundry or something and after a dish/foldedone item or similar i would run in shout boo! and run back to carry on doing what i was doing each time getting a little longer. it just reasures that you'll be back. it is really hard getting things done when they are in that stage just keep reminding yourself it doesnt last long and its just a stage Smile

just off the phone to my mum and found out due to living in a bubble and ben and holly taking over the tv ive missed the news and everything thatsgoing on atm. sounds awful Shock

list update

make beds doing now Blush
email assignment putting it off
take ds1 to eye clinic done
hover downstairs done
get ds3 from childminder done
get ds2 from nursery done
get ds1 from school done
sort laundry
do more laundry
take ds2+3 to football
dinner

LadyInPink · 11/03/2011 13:56

MissJ thinking of you at this stressful time x

Hi everyone

So far I have:

Watched DD assembly - done
Done several hours in office - done
Made chocolate brownies for friends babyshower - done (made loads so please do have some)
Had decorator round for quotes - done (nearly an hour that took as whole house pretty much needs sprucing up)

To do:

School run
Help at DD Rainbows group
Pick up friend for a playdate
Cook their dinner and something for me
(DH is making his own as i'm out at Rainbow group)
Find and wrap baby shower pressies for friend
Bedtime routine

See you all later Smile

snotdroolanddirtybums · 11/03/2011 13:59

missjulie-just seen your post. hope you hear from him soon, must be very worrying for you

Toffeefudgecake · 11/03/2011 14:11

Oh, MissJ, just seen your post. Poor you Sad. I hope you get through to Aberdeen soon and get some news. Keep us posted. We're all thinking of you.

swanriver · 11/03/2011 14:45

MissJ communications are probably v. bad, I hope you will hear from him asap.

Hats off to anyone looking after baby. I looked after niece (8 weeks) this morning for 3 and half hours and I am exhausted - especially by all that singing! She certainly didn't like anyone rushing from room to room - I had to stay with her, cuddling and talking the entire time. I think she did sleep in her pram for about a further 20 minutes when we returned from a long walk (she slept then) so I suppose there was about 20 minutes that SIL could have done housework in per morning!!!

Very enchanting though Grin Brings back happy memories Smile

Dh is back this evening -
need to tidy kitchen
landing
bathroom
put out decluttered rubbish

missjulie · 11/03/2011 15:01

THANK GOD, LIAM IS FINE! JUST GOT EMAIL FROM HIM TO SAY ALL IS AOK! PHEW! THANK YOU FOR HOLIDNG MY HAND!!! XXXXXXX

MollysChambers · 11/03/2011 15:03

Oh thank goodness for that!

May I suggest Wine this evening!

Minda · 11/03/2011 15:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyInPink · 11/03/2011 15:05

MissJ so happy to hear that x

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