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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Fledglings flying though July into the summer.

796 replies

ColdHeartedBitch · 30/06/2011 10:19

Roll up, roll up. tis the month of school fetes, sports days and annual reports. In all this flurry of extra activities and with the summer holidays hurtling towards us at rapid speed, now is the time to tame the chaos before our very special chaos creators are able to help us. Fully intending to beat the Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome so that my personal chaos creator can be occupied by others this holiday. Good luck to all to are also striving to achieve this.

Starting from the 1st of the month we shall be fluttering our way to tamed houses. If you are new to the system it is recommend that you focus on making the babysteps your main focus. The babysteps will build up to form routines to help you to stay on top of the house once you have discovered it. First step is to shine your sink. But not just half heartidly, deep clean til it shines Instructions here

For the more established flyer we then progress onto decluttering. 15mins each day in alloted zone of the week. New zones each week. and current zones and decluttering instructions can be found here Zones will automatically update for July.

As for the advanced flyer, there are missions to do each day in the current zone

We have one rule we are NOT perfectionists anything is better then nothing, real life gets in the way and we have to do other stuff other then cleaning (put it on your list, tick it off and :) ), besides the fat fairy's moto is "You are never behind"

As such take the vomit inducing cuteness of the website with a pinch of salt, and join us for wish lists formally to do lists , ta da lists and home bleurghs. Wink

See you bright and early tomo although hopefully not too bright and early.

Grin
OP posts:
Ihatecobwebs · 05/07/2011 12:43

Quick update before I head out for the afternoon

More done
Washing up from meeting last night
S/s
Make beds
Handwashing
Clean washing away
Zone cleaning
Lunch
Get changed

reastie · 05/07/2011 12:46

I love microfibre cloths too but I just can't work out how they say they kills bugs when you don't use any potent chemicals mr muscle with them Hmm it just doesn't seem right

BlueEyeshadow · 05/07/2011 13:20

Aagh! Lovely babysitting friend is unwell again so no work this afternoon. Trying to put my proofreading on the ereader though so at least I can do something. May even tackle the pot cupboard... If I don't reappear, send out the search parties!!

ColdHeartedBitch · 05/07/2011 14:43

Its alright Ernst normal procedure has restored and i shall be propping up the bar in the naughty corner again. Although if i have a flurish i refuse to go back to the double name posting thing i did last time. I really dont know who ended up more confused me or everyone else HmmGrin wonderswhoactuallyremembersthat.

There is one post each evening with the steps. As the others said you can pretty much more or less ignore everything else that goes on in the thread if you are stuck for time and focus on that one post. Babysteps are self explaining when they are important, a lot of the early ones get ignored by the majority. The other tool that is really uselful is the crisis clean. put timer on for 15mins. pick a room and tidy up/clean in that room until timer bleeps. move to another room and tidy/clean for 15mins, move to 3rd room and tidy/clean for 15mins. Sit and have coffee and a break for 15mins. repeat. have to admit the favourite bit is the coffee step. But it does work when motivation is lacking.

OP posts:
ColdHeartedBitch · 05/07/2011 14:46

SC i have no idea where i found it but it was in my bookmarks from when i last did the round up and have a sneaky suspicion that it was something that whoknows might have used before.

If we are going to be a cult can we have some funky name please. cant beat a cult with a good name Grin

OP posts:
feetheart · 05/07/2011 14:58

Hello, I am still here, failing to post but trying to keep up - by time I had read through a few days worth of posts last night it was time for bed!

Toffee - SO glad you have had some positive times re DS. Well done both of you on the literacy and the support worker sounds good, hope DS takes to him.

MissJ - sorry to hear you have had bad news from SCBU. You have had an amazing amount to deal with over the past few months, make sure you take care of you too.
We are here if you need a listening ear/Wine/Brew/Biscuit

Well done cobwebs on resisting pressure to stay on as Treasurer.

CHB - I get tired just reading your posts

OFM - you too, you must be Superwoman - 6 DC, full-on job and 10k run. I am attempting less than half of that (2 DC, part-time job and approx 5k - though working towards 10k) and I often feel like there are not enough hours in the day. MUCH RESPECT :)

Was there something in the air re DH's over w/e or was it just us lot? Hope they have all seen the error of their ways been battered round the head with a microfibre cloth :)

Lots of computers on their last legs too. Glad to see some of you are being tempted from the Dark Side by beautiful Macs - biased, moi?

Today has been odd. Ta Da includes:

  • Invoices for School Assoc
  • Print and laminate signs for School Assoc Boot Sale - must put up tomorrow
  • Most of morning routine
  • 15mins in DS's room whilst looking for torch for Show and Tell!
  • Deliver said torch to school
  • Walk DD's class to and from swimming lesson
  • Work

To Do includes:

  • School pick up/stagger
  • Phone-call re event insurance - getting rather urgent!
  • Another 15mins in DS's room to put away mess created by previous 15mins - not quite in spirit of Fat Fairy but heyho!
  • DD bath and hairwash (what does chlorine do to blond hair??)
  • Sort money out for class photos (x 2 now Shock)
  • Fish-fingers for tea
  • DD to Brownies
  • Ironing
  • Watering
  • Early-ish night

Need to stagger to school now.............bye.

swanriver · 05/07/2011 16:02

Feet hi

I feel like I have achieved very little today, whilst not sitting down much either Confused

however
done
dd has written a poem about our lost pet for Brownies "caring for your pet" badge
I have shelled broad beans, reducing amount of veg in fridge somewhat
boiled potatoes for potato salad/moussaka tomorrow
picked up ds2 early from school, taken twins in traffic to pick up Ds1 from Secondary induction (ds2 was behaving badly again Hmm dd refused to walk a step] very hot, however Ds1 enjoyed his day tremendously [so that's something]

dd is not happy bunny - just in a sad, not quite herself mood
and now I need to send ds1 off to his singing lesson (I can forsee resistance)

not much housework done there...table wiped, dw loaded, unloaded, wet clothes on the line again...

still need to put laundry away, after my cup of tea. Knackered.

Toffeefudgecake · 05/07/2011 17:18

A successful day! Do you mind if I post a 'ta da' list just to make myself feel good?

Done:

School run
Shared reading with DS (taking turns at reading 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' out loud - very entertaining)
DS on Mathswhizz

Tidied up DS1's bedroom! Grin - threw rubbish out, put all books and magazines away, wiped all surfaces, hoovered, tidied up desk, washed bedclothes, put any stray dirty clothes into laundry bin, found loads of empty glasses (so that's where they were)
Put washing on
Unloaded d/w
Reloaded d/w
Dried washing outside
Second wash on
Lunch
Collected DS2 from school
Collected DS1's friend from school
Put dry washing away
Room rescue in DS2's bedroom
Room rescue in kitchen
Swept kitchen floor
Posted letters
Paid childminder

Goodness. That almost rivals a list by Ihatecobwebs Wink.

DS1 really liked his tutor Grin. His exact words were "He's great!" So that was good.

DS1's friend is the one who upset him many months ago. This is the first time he's wanted to invite him back. Lots of laughter so far and no mention of any former upsets, so let's hope they are going to be friends again.

It's unbelievable, really, but I haven't turned the computer on all day - and as soon as I do DH walks in the door and says he needs it. And it just adds to his suspicions that I spend inordinate amounts of time on MN.

Sorry for the lack of personal messages this time, but I'm being thrown off!

swanriver · 05/07/2011 19:03

toffee that's fab about the tutor and the friend, and of course the list Wink

I have sent two boys to football, and am cooking stirfry, after falling asleep in dd's bed reading to her...Brief walk has made me feel more awake, and fear of what dh will say about the washing pile Shock

ColdHeartedBitch · 05/07/2011 20:07

early links today:

Babystep 6 Hotspots This is a babystep that is key to the fly lady principle.

Zone is the kitchen so 15mins decluttering in there or the mission

antiprocrastination day so wednesday's over view is here

Right after a disaster of a day i am having an early night.

OP posts:
OverflowingMum · 05/07/2011 20:19

evening all

tofee glad you have had such a positive day, well done you! Hope DS visit with friend has gone well

swan hope dh foot is better....and dd is recovered. Glad ds1 enjoyed his day
and no, I am not covering for consultant mat leave any more...she came back at end of April (baby doing great) but .... whispers... she is pregnant again and will be off from start off Nov again Shock currently am covering for the other middle grade doctor ie my counterpart who has been whisked off to do a locum elsewhere to cover for someone else who has gone on unexpected leave...tis all a big mess LOL

reastie good luck with the passports...reminds of terrible ordeals I had getting them done for dc a couple of years ago...shudder....

blueeyeshadow hope you had a productive afternoon despite lack of babysitter

everyone-else Hi!

well, feeling a bit more in control today.
Have done fair ammount of ranting at DC, and re-written copious lists on various whiteboards strategically positioned around the house...and there seems to have been a vague sense of calm and organisation around this morning and this evening for a change YAY!

Have managed a few little nagging bits today....
Posted letter re dd3 statement
went into school office and found date for Y6 leavers mass (having had to argue with V grumpy school sec who tried to tell me date was on last newsletter - which it wasnt when she checked!
Helped dd3 hand out party invitations
Spoke to grumpy secretary again about ds2 nursery place
rang Dyslexia Action to re-arrange initial meeting re dd3
rang other nursery to finalise details about times, vouchers , etc...

also:
2 loads of washing
general tidying
mad busy day at work
3.7 mile run
dinner done, eaten and cleared

so...now going to put another load of washing on, then relax for a bit before bed...
also have to do some forward planning for wk/end... am actually thinking of not going to BBQ we were meant to (have not actually said we will go, have said maybe as I knew it was complicated!) as I think it will be just be too much....would be good to have a less hectic wk/end..sometimes I think I just need to say no more!

Right...BBtomorrow Grin

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 05/07/2011 20:53

Evening all

Cobwebs- good luck with the interview

Toffee - well done to DS1 for overcoming the issues with his friend, I remember you posting about that.

CHB - I haven't seen that link before, this was the one I was using Daily Reminders. Is there no end to the differing routines Flylady has up her neatly rolled up sleeve?

Waves at everyone else.

Well, much as I would like to post a ta-da list, I really haven't done any Flying beyond the basic daily routines. Just about my entire week of school time is filled with either paid work or school helping yet again this week, the DCs have activities to be ferried to every night after school, by the time DH has got home, we have done reading etc and eaten it is well into the evening and I just feel like flopping.

Did make a really yummy dinner tonight though, spare ribs cooked in chicken stock and chinese spices in the slow cooker, then covered in BBQ sauce and baked for 10 mins, with egg fried rice. Unfortunately the DCs didn't really like any of it much (apart from DD enjoying a bit of fib meat).

Going to go to bed early with a book tonight.

neverputasockinatoaster · 05/07/2011 21:17

Well, the sink is shone once more!

I am making a list each day on a wipey board thing and I love wiping them off as I've done them.

Sadly the 'putting washing away and not just dumping it on the spare room bed' portion of the list keeps being transferred to the next day!

I must admit that coming into a clean kitchen each morning is nice ( we're not good at washing up in this house Blush and so shining the sink means I have to wash up and its sooo much nicer)

Onward and upward!

elliepac · 05/07/2011 21:59

Evening all! Not stopping. 9 exam papers to go and then I can get my life back.

swan must say your round-up last night made me Grin.
I too have an allergy to putting washing away, it is possibly my most hated task after ironing. So I don't do it Grin.

Back tomorrow with a slightly clearer head and possibly some flying to report.

swanriver · 05/07/2011 22:44

Roundup Smile

Ernest is a bit surprised by how little cleaning we do Blush perhaps this is a particularily bad week BlushBlush

OFM is tackling the dc organisation with strategic whiteboards, and has dealt with many irritating but potential-to-unravelone'sexistence small and not so small matters by just getting on and doing them. She is also saying No when things get too busy, which is a very important life skill.

Ellie has nearly finished the marking, and intends to tackle the dry washing soonish.

Whoknows has had a very busy day helping and working, and still cooked delicious spare ribs, making use of her slow cooker (an important trick up any Flier's sleeve for meal prep) Mine love spare ribs.
I think sticking with Routines is good enough, don't despair.

CHB is linking beautifully (aren't links an iceskating term too?)

SC is saving the day at paid work - it's still early days to worry about holiday plans going awry

Blue disappeared into pot cupboard a while back - no clanking after 11pm!
She also was trying to get paid work done, as well as looking after toddlers.

Cobweb has been looking after the dog, her mum and her ds, as well as UNUSUAL activity in the ZONES that place that most of us prefer to forget.

Reastie looks beautiful, and is immortalized forever in her passport as such, also has taken baby to a class (very important to get out with babies)

Sock has noticed a difference in the morning when the sink is shining, which is great Smile

Toffee tackled her son's bedroom and loads else, reaped fruits of organising a lovely tutor for ds1 and best of all, her ds had a great day with his old friend.

waves to anyone I've missed, Silken Positive Scatty and Push also Janeyif you are lurking

and Pink how did Old Woman in Shoe go? is that soon, or been, or today, sorry if I've forgotten.

uh oh, Dh has put on dw, that is my cue for departure, I don't think I am allowed to wash up the Wok after all.

swanriver · 05/07/2011 22:47

oh Feet sorry to miss you too, hope you are relaxing now after that very busy day, and all the PTA stuff too.

BlueEyeshadow · 05/07/2011 22:53

Thanks for the round-up swan - I have emerged triumphant from the pot cupboard and corralled all the lids into a plastic bag. Grin

Sounds good news all round Toffee - yay!

Busy day tomorrow - music, work and house bleugh.

Can't see straight anymore so waves to all and retires with a yawn. Night all.

swanriver · 05/07/2011 22:57

Also, hello to
NicwNacw glad to hear that Dss had such a lovely weekend (it always takes a while for the dust to settle after camps etc, my house is always strewn with clothes for days afterwards)

Bartlett and baby bartlett

Droitwich I am taking your squirting regime to heart

Nettie if you have reached the Perth heartland yet - hope family is cherishing you

and anyone else, I am hoping you will post tomorrow near evening and then I won't forget you!

swanriver · 05/07/2011 22:59

oh, Blue I have a lovely retro saucepan lid sorter --snatchedfromthetip (can you believe someone was trying to declutter it?), it is a joy forever, truly!

Stillchuckingit · 06/07/2011 00:52

Oh dear. Only just finished work. I'm wide awake. No Flying whatsoever. No exercise today either. Not quite what the doctor ordered.

Fab round-up Swan!!

[Looks around for CHB, leaves out Wine in naughty corner]

Waves to everyone ...

ColdHeartedBitch · 06/07/2011 01:21

I really am predictable SC Blush

Wine much appreciated, perhaps if i drink enough there might be some sleep tonight (before i have to start the day?)

Hope you manage to grab some sleep too and dont have to work tomo.

OP posts:
PositiveAttitude · 06/07/2011 07:03

Morning ladies Grin

Feeling spritely and raring to go this morning!

Thanks for the round up Swan, not sure I will be able to pop on mid evening, so please dont forget me! Grin

Nearly there Ellie. Think of the 6 weeks holiday! Grin

Hmmmm WhoKnows, you have me drooling this early in the morning. Smile

Oh SC, please take things a bit slowly! Good that you are so much better, but dont take a step backwards by doing too much. (were you not saying the same to me a while back? - Its easier to say to others, isnt it?)

Blue -well done on sorting out your cupboard. I have a plan to sort mine today! Hmm

So glad that you have had a good day Toffee. All sounds good! Smile

I have just realised that I ahve not filled in the form for the NHS european card thingy. Holiday 3 weeks today - eeek, not sure how long these things take to arrive!
Also just been reminded by TV advert that I need to do my tax credits form.

SOOOOOooo List today:
NHS card application
Tax credit form
Other forms while I am in the mood! Hmm
Sort out Dresser full of pots/pans/baking trays/odds and sods Shock
Work
Taking DD2 out for lunch
DD2 and I are going to have our feet nibbled by fish for a "treat" this PM. Shock Hmm - really looking forward to it, but equally a little freaked out too. I have been told to Tweet throughout by my colleagues, so that they can share the experience with me! Hmm
Home to cook tea
Awards evening with DD4 this evening

Weird day for me today!!
Must get stuck in before my enthusiasm wears off - or my brain wakes up and I wonder what on earth I am doing being so damn energetic this early in the morning! Grin

Have a good day everyone. Smile

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 06/07/2011 08:01

PA - do it online, the EHIC thing. Mine took a couple of weeks to arrive I think.

PositiveAttitude · 06/07/2011 08:24

Thanks WhoKnows - darn website is down this morning. Will try again from work and if not will do the phoneline one.

Ta Da list so far!!!! Grin - told you I was on a roll!!
Pots cupboard sorted
Rabbits cleaned - tried t get this done before the black cloud exploded above us, only half managed and am now like a drowned rat!!
Quick dash to Morrisons to get batteries for DS's school trip today for camera. Hmm
DW unloaded and loaded.
arguement discussion with DS about the stupidity necessity of a raincoat while going to the beach for geography trip.
Sandwiches

ColdHeartedBitch · 06/07/2011 09:31

Morning PA!
No idea where the link came from then Whoknows, i like it though.
Tired and sluggish so countering with a caffine overload. So much to do and did nothing yesterday so cant not do anything today.

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