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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Anybody interested in joining me for a flylady thread, starting with the babysteps?

570 replies

Carrotsandcelery · 14/08/2011 19:26

I joined a thread which started in January and it made an enormous difference to the condition and calm of the household.

I have lapsed Blush and thought I would go back to basics and start again.

Anyone want to join me?

My dcs go back to school on Tuesday so I thought I would start on Tuesday morning.

OP posts:
GossipWitch · 25/08/2011 12:02

Wow, I am so proud of me! (sorry for blowing my own trumpet) I have a bathroom that could knock socks off my neighbour's impeccable bathroom, I am currently on a 15 minute break before I set to my last fly lady task, until tonight any way, then its back to the usual mundane chores. I have a fly baby upstairs who is improving his room, however is also armed with selotape ...
And a fly baby downstairs who is being very good at potty training (no bottom clothes on).I'm off for a well deserved ciggy then on to this mornings final task :)

Canistaysane · 25/08/2011 12:37

I haven't got much done yet cause I had visitors(unexpected) this morning. Also with dh in bed this morning it limits what I can do( no Hoovering or upstairs work). He is up now so I can finally make a start on things wish me luck.
TO DO:
Lunch
Get dc dressedHmm
Wash up/dry up
Decluttering
Find enthusiasm from somewhere Wink I think I need to pay FlyLady a visit.
Right better get on with it.

GossipWitch · 25/08/2011 12:45

Good luck cani I always find watching something like how clean is your house a real bit of motivation, or imagining your home completely trashed by dc's and then you not touching it for a week then them trashing it some more, and the amount of added work you have to do to straighten it out, (ds2 just kicked my coffee off the table, ) and it taking a whole day for each room, arrrrggghhhh. That might help to give you a gentle toe poke up the bum. ;)

Canistaysane · 25/08/2011 14:53

Thanks GossipWitch, I like your motivational post, Since I last posted I got busy.
Have done:
Get dc dressed
Lunch
Wash up
Clear living room floor of toys
Hoover up.
Now having a tea break for a bit then start again with something.

Carrotsandcelery · 25/08/2011 14:56

Come on Cani - you can do it!

Well done Gossip getting the fly babies on board!

My main remaining task is to walk the dog - only problem is I am aching all over as the exercise class was 15 mins longer than usual. It was great but I am suffering now!

I may have to test traybake no 2 for motivational purposes

OP posts:
Carrotsandcelery · 25/08/2011 14:57

Cross posts Cani - I knew you could do it! Grin

OP posts:
bessie26 · 25/08/2011 17:21

Wow gossip you are really going for it today! Grin

Breaking news here is that I have finally put the kids laundry away! Just as well as I've got another load lined up to go in later!!

Robotindisguise · 25/08/2011 18:36

Hello all. Today I have -

Cleaned the microwave
Rescued the kitchen
Done 1.5 hours of ironing (I hate ironing)
Done three loads of laundry
Could be worse - the kitchen was in quite a state
Oh and swished the downstairs loo, but that took seconds

bessie26 · 25/08/2011 19:44

Today I have:

  • finally put kids laundry away
  • washed another load of kids clothes - in tumbler now, so I'll have another basket to put away soon!
  • managed to get a video clip of DD2 chuckling to show DD1 & DH Grin
  • started trying to set up the printer on the new laptop (I never managed to get it working on the old one!)
  • got DD2 weighed

Still to do:

  • room rescue (bedroom)
  • empty all bins & get all recycling sorted (wheelie bin men here tomorrow) - this will be my 15 min for today's baby step
  • make dinner (DH @ supermarket)
  • wipe fridge out while it's empty
  • shine sink
Canistaysane · 25/08/2011 20:55

Since last time I posted I built a train track for the dc, It's given them hours of fun! Grin
As for house work, Note to self: (MUST TRY HARDER TOMORROW). Feel like a failure todaySad

AngelDog · 25/08/2011 21:08

Not much done here either. DS had a better night but I've been a bit tired & grumpy again. :(

cani, it sounds like you did have a fairly productive day. Hope tomorrow's even better.

robot, bessie & gossip, you all sound like you're making progress.

Done:

  • washed up after breakfast
  • tried on new shoes
  • 1 load of washing washed & hung up
  • cooked dinner
  • big shopping trip
  • wasted too much time on MN again Blush

Still to do:

  • evening routine (pray, do physio)
  • clear kitchen table & wipe surfaces
  • wipe floor under high chair
  • tidy away toys
  • freeze various bits
  • make breadcrumbs
  • mix more squash cakes up & freeze
  • put out bins
  • hang up washing currently in machine.

AAARGH! Only an hour before I need to go to bed - better get on with it!

To do tomorrow

  • cook coq au vin to see if it's OK enough to make for a friend
  • take DS out for some exercise
  • work out what to take for bbq for Saturday
  • go to Sainsbury's for chocolate & clothes sale

I'm out seeing a friend in the afternoon so I doubt I'll get that much else done.

bessie26 · 25/08/2011 21:24

angel sains has a chocolate sale?! DH just got back from there & didn't say anything about it Hmm mind you he did buy me a big pile of G&B bars! Grin

cani I love building our train track, but DD1 always bosses me about telling me where to put the track!

AngelDog · 25/08/2011 22:02

No, it's a clothes sale - and chocolate, bessie - sorry to get your hopes up with my poor grammar!

  • bins done
  • kitchen surfaces cleared
  • toys tidied
  • things frozen
  • breadcrumbs made
  • about to do washing and go to bed
missmakesstuff · 26/08/2011 09:13

Hello all,you have all been busy! I have made an unexpected return - well didn't get there yet - DD was ill again on Weds night, vomited all over herself poor thing, then when I got to bed finally, I started feeling ill, so spent all of yesterday trying to entertain her whilst running to the loo! didn't even shine my sink yesterday, felt like death.

Feel better today though, have finally eaten something. DD really not herself still though, but we are hoping we can go to see my parents this evening instead.

Doing nothing yesterday meant the house is tip today though, sink full of washing up etc, so I need to tackle that today, plus driving via the dartford tunnel at rush hour, wasn't the plan!

My list today, before 3pm:

washing done and hung out
dry washing away
washing up done
sink shined
hoover (DD had mostly floor picnics yesterday whilst I lay groaning on sofa)
get rest of stuff together for camping
repack car so DH fits in it
lock up and go!

After 3pm
sit in traffic for hours on M25 whilst praying that DH doesn't get what we had halfway round said traffic jam. hmmm.

Carrotsandcelery · 26/08/2011 09:55

Morning all!

Aww miss - I am so sorry you missed your trip. I hope you and minimiss perk up soon. Sounds to me like a day to curl up on the sofa with some dvds and cuddles. Go easy on yourself, especially if you will have a busy evening.

Today we have an easy one babystep 11 and thank goodness for that because I am really not up for it today. I went out to play last night and didn't get to bed until 1pm. I had great fun Grin but just want to curl up now with some chocolate, a cup of tea, a book and a cosy blanket. I also ache from the middle of my back to my ankles from my exercise class yesterday - I loved it though so I am still grinning!

So far I have managed to:

get dressed to shoes
make packed lunches
get dcs to school
tidy worktops a little bit
drink tea and eat toast Grin

On the list for me today is:

unload and reload dishwasher
clean work tops
make fajitas for tea Grin
walk dog (unless dh is running tonight as dog will run with him)
deal with a pile of paperwork on the sideboard (2 min hot spot)
put on a load of washing if we have enough now
room rescue the master bedroom
15 mins decluttering in the study - Yikes!
hot spot the pile of hangers growing in the spare room

Can someone give me a mahoosive boot please so I don't spend the whole day on mumsnet.

OP posts:
Canistaysane · 26/08/2011 10:04

Cyber boot coming your way Carrots thought I'd return the favour!
I have decided to post later on with a Done list rather than a to do list. That way I might feel less pressure on myself to get stuff done. I need to get washed and dressed in a minute then I can start my day. See you all later!

Carrotsandcelery · 26/08/2011 10:42

Thanks Cani - I must have felt it as I have unloaded and reloaded dishwasher, cleaned worktops, made fajitas and put a not quite whole load of washing on.

Time for another cup of tea!

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Carrotsandcelery · 26/08/2011 12:50

Afternoon everyone.

How are all of you getting on?

I got stuck on mumsnet for ages but eventually went and started my room rescue in the master bedroom, which turned into my 15 minute declutter and my 2 min hot spot as well Blush It does look a lot better now though. I have stripped the bed, dusted and hoovered so it will be much better to relax in.

Do all of you have set days for changing sheets? I seem to remember my Mum used to do her bed one week and our beds the next week on a set day so we all got fresh sheets once a fortnight. That doesn't sound very often but sometimes when I think of when I last changed the sheets I am Blush so maybe a routine like that would be better.

Who was it who ordered the storage bags from Lakeland? I have been trying to find it on the thread. Were they any good?

OP posts:
AngelDog · 26/08/2011 13:21

Carrots, it was me who ordered the storage bags - I've not got as far as getting them out of the packaging yet. Blush I probably won't get round to it till Monday now as things are a bit hectic, but I'll let you know what they're like. (FWIW, my mum had some of the Lakeland ones which were made of just plastic, and they tore eventually. I had a cheap version of those from Ebay and they tore pretty quickly.)

In theory I do have a set day for changing sheets & towels, although I've got out of the routine since coming home from holiday a couple of weeks ago.

I do sheets on one day of the week and then bath towels another day. I only change each fortnightly, though, so one week is towels and the other week is sheets. Handtowels get changed weekly or twice a week, on the day I change towels.

We have fortnightly rubbish collections so my laundry routine is written according to whether it's a green bin week or a black bin week. Not that there's any connection between the laundry & the bins, but it helps me remember which week I'm on.

missmakes, take it easy and make sure you get lots of rest. Hope you and DD are feeling better soon.

Not a great morning here. I couldn't get to sleep when I went to bed, then DS was wakeful so I didn't get to sleep till gone 2am. Shock I was feeling like the disorganisation is spiralling out of control, but I feel more cheerful this afternoon. :)

Done:

  • up & dressed
  • went to Sainsbury's - twice as I left my purse behind the first time!
  • finished strip washing some new nappies
  • hung up wet washing

To do now:

  • wipe table & high chair
  • load dishwasher
  • fill nappy bag ready to go out
  • make DS some lunch
  • empty shopping from pushchair

Later:

  • pop to Morrisons on way back from friend's house to pick up something I forgot on both Sainsbury's trips. Blush
  • cook dinner
  • put on more washing
  • put away dry washing (if dry)
  • make chocolate brownies
Carrotsandcelery · 26/08/2011 13:59

Oooh! Brownies! Yummy! Grin

I will wait with baited breath to hear how the storage bags go Wink

I am trying to summon it to walk the dog but got distracted by the sadlyshineypenguins thread. Poor dog!

OP posts:
bessie26 · 26/08/2011 15:10

I am a saddo & have a laundry routine.

Mon - kids clothes
Tues - our bedsheets one week, our towels the next
Weds - our clothes
Thurs - kids clothes
Fri - DH work shirts & other whites
Sat - kids towels
Sun -,kids bedding

I got some vacuum bags from amazon. They seem really good, but I haven't had the clothes in there long so can't really recommend them yet.

We've been out playing this morning so have dine nothing apart from move a bit of laundry around.

Canistaysane · 26/08/2011 19:02

Hi all, Went to doctors today about deaf ear and low mood. He suggested I try St Johns Wort and I have to get my ear syringed next week.
I am going to try and carry on with the Baby steps as I want my house to be more organised. Please forgive me if I can't keep up with you all though.
My water supply problem will hopefully get sorted next friday as long as they can locate where the leak is.
Today:
Have been to town to get some school uniform
Been to doctors appointment
done some washing up and tried to do drying up but I have somehow hurt my wrist so dh had to carry on drying up.Sad
What is it they say" it never rains it pours"(all the problems come at once)
OH and I also will be having blood tests to see if I have Arthritis.(it's in my family so don't know if that increases the chances.) I've had Knee problems too. Sorry about this moany post but just thought I would update you on how thing areBlush
Hope you are all o.k.Smile

Carrotsandcelery · 26/08/2011 19:27

Aww Cani, sounds like you are having a bit of rough patch. Sad
Be good to yourself and listen to your body. I hope the blood tests are helpful.

I think a lot of us Mums find ourselves going through some really low patches. It is a part of life. I have found that eating healthily, taking gentle exercise and doing a few things each week that are all about me helps. It doesn't solve it, I know, but it helps.

Talking also helps so feel free to write as many moany posts as you like. If it were that easy none of us would need this thread. We all need a little support along the way.

Don't put yourself under too much pressure to "fly" - just jog along gently beside us with what you feel up to on a day by day basis.

Have a very mumsnet contraband too.

OP posts:
Canistaysane · 26/08/2011 19:31

Thanks for being understanding CarrotsSmile

Robotindisguise · 26/08/2011 21:24

Oh dear Cani - you have been in the wars. Don't push yourself too hard if you're in pain Sad