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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Remember, remember the fledgling Flyers: dusting, and decluttering a lot..

935 replies

DarknessSoothes · 31/10/2011 16:35

Come one come all, fledgling reunite. 1st of the month and we survived the fright. Bonfire month and lets burn though the housework to prepare for the festivities of December.

As from the 1st we will be babystepping, mission and deep cleaning our way out of the C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome).

For newbies and those who need reminding here is the principles behind the babystep system.

The basic is this:

  1. Do the babysteps.
  2. When you do the babysteps with consistency add in the missions
  3. When you are doing the babysteps and missions as a habbit tackle the deep cleaning.

This thread is a mishmash of people at different stages. The lists can look long, but look carefully, some of us are reposting lists and parts of lists from day to day.

Our motto is this: Do not strive to be perfect, Progress is progress and anything is better then nothing and my personal favourite part of the fly lady system is you are never behind, just jump in and start from where you are.

So on that note here we go. With much thanks to Ellie who lead us with amusing roundups last month.

Day 1: Babystep 1 - How to shine your sink

Mission here - this will update overnight ready for the early fledglings

Tuesday's reminders are here: It's planning day

And for those of you who are eagerly awaiting christmas here is the flylady's crusing into christmas page. Personally i did some of this last year and done some this year and it does take a chunk of the stress out of christmas.

Well now that I have suitably scared you, see you all tomo!!
WinkGrin

OP posts:
justonemorethread · 25/11/2011 13:57

Taking up permanent residence in the naughty corner in preparation for the weekend.

Second the motion to honour Darkness with a special flylady medal.
Some sort of victoria cross made out of a mop and a broom, I'm thinking.

DarknessSoothes · 25/11/2011 14:48

Not today. the only thing i have done off today's list is the shopping bit. Although my mother decided she needed to take everything off the shelves in the study and clean Confused I left her to it Grin.

OP posts:
swanriver · 25/11/2011 15:15

done
shops! [not without hysterics. I went into Monsoon, decided to be efficient, purchased two gift vouchers for 2/7 teenage godchildren, only to wait for 20 mins to be told they couldn't put the transaction (which had already gone through) onto the said gift vouchers - system down Angry Angryfelt near hysterics with impatience...so much for the easy way out, should have bought them each a nice purple fluffy cardigan instead Wink Then had no time left for the toyshop.]

however, I have bought the extra school uniform bits,
ballet stuff shoes, skirt, new leotard, tight, more shoes
dd's Xmas stocking
and checked out TKMAX [only horrid things left in toy dept)

bought groceries
walked

and now it's time for pickup Smile snacks at the ready

slightlycrinkled · 25/11/2011 16:52

Waves from sanded area in naughty corner where my ostrich head is firmly buried!!

Everyone gearing up for St Nicolas on the 6th and I just want to sleep for some reason ... can't get in to the spirit of it at all ...

Sorry - behind with thread/behind with life

Twelve 8 yr old girls turning up this Sunday for 3 hr cake-baking get together (and parents dropping off and collecting etc) and house is looking pitiful even though cleaner has visited today. Didn't get my act together to tidy in advance ... Need to clean out fridges too and declutter and track down wierd aroma in kitchen. Probably one of dh's cheeses ...

Can't guarantee they won't all want to run upstairs either can I? DD's bedroom is truly 'orrible [sob] Upstairs even more pitiful

House is generally looking sad. New door furniture particularly offensive (perfect quote Swan thank you btw!! Have noted for future occasions!!)

On the positive side, I have ordered a few Xmas presents on line today. And new boots have arrived and they fit (have been stroking)

Lauren so sorry to hear about your dp's grandfather - sending positive thoughts and prayers
Swan you definitely need Wine after your day - headache (hopefully) allowing. So glad your ds's solo went well - hats off to him.
Your lists are amazing Darkness - well done - I need to borrow some of your momentum
Nicknacks loved your magical Christmas moment with yr ds
MC fingers crossed for your interview
Toffee hope your ds1 feels better soon and Blue hope your ds2 is recovering too
OFM as usual your posting '6 dc up and dressed' floors me from the start - mahoosive respect
Waves to Linzer in her freezing garrett!!
PA so glad interviews/medicals went well.
Madwoman am very partial to mushroom shades of paint -sounds luverly Envy

Waves to Fuzzled Justonemore Ellie Whoknows Pushme Nettie and eveyrone I've forgotten

laurenamium · 25/11/2011 17:44

Hiya all it's Friday and I'm sooo glad!!Grin

sc I don't think the 12 year olds would notice mess upstairs so I wouldn't worry too much Wink

Just the routines today really and took DD and mindee to a toddler playgroup, I had risked assessed it based on last time I went, it's changed and was dangerous Shock - hard toys on the bouncy castle!! Lots of unsupervised children running around, and I had to pay for the privilege Angry so we played with the balls (they are young enough to distract away from dangerous bouncy castles luckily) had our snack which was included in the fee - party rings and dohnuts Hmm which used to be banana and strawberries, much healthier!then we left and won't be going back!

Came home to a delivery which should have been a post catcher to stop the dog eating my letters when I'm out, but was instead a flame proof document protector Hmm I'm waiting for the manager to ring me back to see what they are going to do...looking like it'll be Monday now!

On the plus side my "sink reflections" book came today Grin

Hope everyone is ok, sorry for the rant and lack of personals, I'm on my phone and about to do DDs bath and then DP and my tea Smile

OverflowingMum · 25/11/2011 18:10

evening all
will try and catch up in a bit when I've got some littlies to bed!
managed to sleep better-ish last night. still shattered today though.
DC all tired and grumpy.
DD4 new tap shoes have arrived, so now dd3 and 4 are "practising" their tap in the hallwayHmm
day at work slightly calmer today.....
need to try and do some planning for the weekend...lts to juggle...DS1 to opticians,DD3 and 4 to dancing,dd3 to party....
Still I am off work on Monday as girls have an inset day so at least I can catch up a bit then...
today have managed:

6DC up , dressed and breakfasted
breakfast stuff cleared
DW loaded
laundry re-booted
bathrooms S&S
littlies room tidied, beds made
landing tidied
stairs hoovered
downstairs floors swept
kitchen and hall mopped
nursery and school run
work
school and nursery pick up
shopping in morrisons (few bits I missed off delivery last night)
dinner - Friday = easy out the freezer night Grin
now trying to summon some enthusiasm for the weekend ahead...Hmm

BBL with individuals.....

laurenamium · 25/11/2011 18:26

Wow ofm that's impressive! Shock

Toffeefudgecake · 25/11/2011 20:25

Check on DS1 done
B/fast and brew done
AM routine - D/W, W/M, kitchen, etc done
Make beds done
Room rescues done
Swish and swipe done
Laundry and ironing done
Bedroom - major room rescue made a start
Library - return DVDs done
Ring man about broken oven done
Ring plumber about broken tap in bathroom nope

Also bought presents and cards for MIL and phoned her to ask if it would be OK to come over for tea tomorrow.

It really helped to have a list today and I have done most of it. Now in the process of getting DC to bed. Have been on the Wine (hic), so feel ready for bed. Night night all.

Smile
justonemorethread · 25/11/2011 21:17

Just recovering from first playdate trauma, one definitely lives and learns.

Can you all stop being so frigging productive and come in to the bloody naughty corner please.

I really don't want to drop out of this thread because everyone is too nice but I don't think I'm flying material, really.

It's all mumsnet's fault.

slightlycrinkled do realise that you are the only one so fixated with the decor of your house, rightly so. People visiting, especially 8 year olds, are not even going to bat an eyelid.

darkness give yourself a break please - mother cleaning shelves? Wonder where you get it from?

Lauren sending lots of positive thoughts

OFM nice to meet you and definitely in awe. I don't think I could keep 6 dc alive for long, can barely feed two children.

NickNacks congratulations on clean oven!

Whoknows smiling at your clutter plus empty drawers. I have almost a pathological need to keep drawers empty. If I see the clutter (albeit in a fancy container) I know I will deal with it one day. If it's in a drawer I stress at the thought of a drawer full of crap. My bedside drawer always has to be empty!

Toffee thanks for the sympathies but I know I'm a wimp! I should be able to face up to the simple fact that children need feeding (properly)

coostoonettle · 25/11/2011 21:27

I feel really bad as keep nipping in and out. Flying is adhoc but progress is being made.
Working an extra day a week so really struggling to get on top. Dh hasn't yet managed to complete my
Household tasks whilst looking after dc that extra day when I work.

sc shock at a cake baking extravaganza with children Confused Shock good luck

I know not why I didn't post earlier when sitting at computer where I could have scrolled! Now in bed!

Mess surrounds, goes to naughty corner for rest of November!
BlushGrin

DarknessSoothes · 26/11/2011 04:56

Am too wrecked to focus my eyes.

Linkies
no missions it is the weekend

saturday is family fun day

Babystep is a reading one just realised i forgot to post the links thursday night so here is friday's babystep which is also a reading babystep.

Hope you all have fab weekends. Just in and ready for bed sat's list is the same as fri's.

OP posts:
Fuzzled · 26/11/2011 10:25

Morning all!

Well, didn't get a chance to post yesterday as DS was being a bit "enthusiastic" about not napping so life got a bit frantic. Am totally in awe of Darkness tho! Having a coffee just now prior to heading out to get my suit jacket taken in/up/altered as I need it for a christening next week and I've lost enough weight that it's just looking silly; but it's a good jacket and I love the material so I'll see what I can get done.

On the upside, see here for my success story Grin

My ongoing list looks as follows:
? towel washing
? bed washing
? DS washing
? bathmats washing
? our washing
? lay away washing
? tidy dining room
? buy gate for utility room got a security lock for the door instead
? hoover & dust... everywhere
? thorough clean of bathrooms
? sort out kitchen
? write thank you notes for DS's christening
? write Christmas cards
? Christmas shopping
? pick up DH's suit
? buy more dressings for my scars

So not much further forward, but hey ho!

Right, off to finish my coffee and head into town to get jacket done and maybe some shoe shopping to go with the nice new dress Wink

slightlycrinkled · 26/11/2011 12:44

Morning all. Just diving in and out. In midst of crisis declutter/clean. Lovely bright weather for once which is helping.

Have just undergone rather unsettling dead mouse experience ...followed by vigorous hand scrubbing with Dettol - so just spending 2 mins on here to calm nerves and stomach before doing battle once more. Lots of carrying of piles of stuff up and down stairs and then up and down again.

Thanks for reassurance Lauren and Justonemore I know the 8 yr olds probably won't notice but I'm worried about the parents ... banking on lovely baking aromas as distraction!! It's just so hard to get an old, crumbling house to look clean. You hoover on one day and it needs doing the next. And there is NO proper storage.

Nettie well it's a bit of cheat really. Have large "play date" social debt so decided to repay in one fell swoop!

Darkness please send your mother over here!! Smile

Fuzzled that's great news (and you needed some of that!). Enjoy your new slinky self!

Justonemore whoknows I have a pathological wierdy thing about drawers too!!!!! So happy to know it's not just me!! Sea of clutter everywhere but my drawers are either empty/or very organised.

Btw Justonemore don't tell anyone but I'm not really Flying material either!!

OFM congrats on your productive day everyone. Going to try and emulate you now ...

Better get back to it. I may be gone for some time ....

Enjoy your weekends everyone!

Toffeefudgecake · 26/11/2011 14:16

Have had another productive day so far (sorry, Justonemore). Falling into bed (possibly literally as, according to DH, I consumed just a tad too much Wine Blush) at 10pm last night probably has something to do with it. So, my ta da list today is:

B/fasts done
Everyone dressed done (yes, that's an achievement too)
D/W empied and reloaded done
T/D emptied done
Laundry actually put away for a change done
W/M on done
Extraneous washing up done
Kitchen bin emptied done
Recycling put out done
Dining room tidied before DS1's English tutor arrived done
T/D on done
Kitchen hotspot tidied done
Downstairs is tidy! Admired done
Proper lunch made - spaghetti with pancetta in egg, creme fraiche and parmesan cheese, with salad done
Second lunch made for DS2 who wouldn't eat the above Angry done
Phoned mum for a chat done
Waved goodbye to DH who is out with friends for the day and may be coming home in an unfit state done
Phoned MIL to confirm time we are meeting her today done

Taking the boys out for the long walk into town to visit MIL now. Oh lord, have just remembered I haven't tumbledried DS1's jeans yet and have 15 minutes - Shock.

Hope you all have a very nice Saturday.

Smile
laurenamium · 26/11/2011 16:13

Well done on the list toffeefudge that's impressive! And dont leave us justonemore you do fly!!

I took DD to meet Santa for the first time today, the queue was two hours long Shock so we stroked the reindeer and looked at Christmas decorations instead Grin

So lists:
Wash up/dry/shine sink lunch and breakfast done will need to do teas
Hoover done
Walk dog done
Hand in notice to Saturday job done
Do Saturday job done
Meet reindeers done
Filing
Risk assessment review
Accounts
Attendance
Put laundry away
Washing/ drying one load done, one washing, one waiting
What's for dinner Blush
Make DDs bed

Fairly easy doable list if I pull my finger out!

OverflowingMum · 26/11/2011 17:48

ahhhh was just about to come on and catch up.....BUT DS2 has got hold of a pair of scissors and cut large chunks out of his lovely hair Shock Sad wail!!
He had lovely floppy curls and now looks like we'll have to get it cut it cut all grown up and V short....sob!
DH just about to depart to aprty with dd3....I may BBl if I ever regain control of the household......

LinzerTorte · 26/11/2011 18:27

justonemore Don't drop out - I'll join you in the naughty corner!

I've done no proper FLYing for weeks and today has been no exception - have spent almost all day shopping (stocking up on Christmas goodies at M&S and Tesco) and now it's back to work.

Nettie DS would love to meet your DS - I'll definitely let you know next time we're in London. Am currently thinking about next summer post-Olympics. Grin

Must get back to work, but waves to all. Smile

Toffeefudgecake · 26/11/2011 18:38

OFM - oh no! Not curls! If it's any consolation, the hairdresser cut all DS2's baby curls off at his first proper haircut - and they all grew back again Smile.

Linzer - good to see you popping in! Well done on Christmas shopping

Lauren - Smile at you stroking reindeer instead.

Am feeling a bit battered after trying to keep the boys calm and well behaved at their grandmas this afternoon. Seems to be an impossible task, particularly after she has given them cakes, followed by jelly and ice cream. They went absolutely crazy after tea, rolling around on the floor, shrieking. She loves them to bits, so I think she was happy just to have them there, but I then had to shepherd them home (at least a half hour walk uphill in the dark) and it was one of those awful, endless walks that you can only have with small children, full of demands, whinges, arguments, disobedience, etc etc. I am so relieved to be home at last. I did try to distract them by pointing out the Christmas decorations and lights in the shops, but I think they were overtired and overexcited by then.

Definitely going to get DS2 to bed as early as possible tonight, then DS1 and I can tuck ourselves up on the sofa and watch telly together. Was going to do some ironing, but I have gone off the idea.

Hope you all have a pleasant evening.

justonemorethread · 26/11/2011 19:55

Blimey you all I wasn't being serious about dropping out! Anyway, after family non-fun day I am going to scoff my dinner and flop on the sofa in my pyjamas. surrounded by toys. There.
I might be trying to be a better 'housekeeper' but I'm not a bloody skivvy either!

NickNacks · 26/11/2011 20:06

Just a quick post from phone to tell you I put my tree up today, bought dh's Xmas present and finished writing the Christmas cards.

Off now to get sil and bil from the airport so be back later!

DarknessSoothes · 26/11/2011 20:43

And yet again today i have done fuck all Blush
Spent most of it asleep and tbh the only thing i am fit to do is to go back to bed.

Naughty corner is the way to go.

Right linkies:
No mission

Sunday is pamper yourself day/spirit renewal day

babystep = what's for tea?

OP posts:
DarknessSoothes · 26/11/2011 20:46

Oh bollocks. Blush Lets try that again...

Sunday is renew your spirit day

OP posts:
Fuzzled · 26/11/2011 20:58

Nothing done. Shattered. Stitches achy and itchy. Bed now.

swanriver · 26/11/2011 21:05

um, not much to report.

friends over for tea and sandwiches
more concerts,more choirs

done
xmas choc thankyous for music teachers/accompanists/aural teachers/orchestral directors
football/tennis
violin lesson
cooked lunch
washed up lunch
backlog of horrid saucepans
washed dishcloths
cooked tea

lots of Wine last night, it turned into quite a jolly datenight chat with dh Smile
several more dead mice here SC. I could thank the cat or blame the dustbin situation Blush

OFM dd wore her new tap shoes (or are they tap shoes maybe they are just common or garden character shoes) to her concert, unfortunately they have now parted company with soles...Confused
Have you read Sons and Lovers Shock where Mr Morel takes Paul to have his haircut?

Merlin is over, I had better go.

swanriver · 26/11/2011 21:07

or was it Paul, maybe it was the eldest....