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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:
Fuzzled · 28/11/2011 07:07

On phone again waiting for DS to stir, giving up so off to wake him so he'll snooze later, after the fiasco that was yesterday!

Living dangerously me?! Wink

Back for proper post later!

laurenamium · 28/11/2011 08:28

Morning!also on phone!!

DD slept really well last night, only waking once Grin and is singing in her cot as I type!

No mindees today as DD was sick on and off through the day yesterday, so my list looks like this

To do:
Food shop
Clean fridge
Declutter conservatory
Walk dog
Clean out outdoor rabbit hutch
Weekly home bleugh
Wash sticky finger prints off doors and light switches
Call about wrong package
Pick up a parcel from post office
Call about my nvq not being marked
put Avon orders in (later)

Have a lovely day today everyone!

DarknessSoothes · 28/11/2011 08:51

Right today's list looks like this:

Wash carpet in hall
Wash edges of carpet on landing, and in lounge.
Move all furniture out of study into central dry area of lounge.
wash carpet in study
Put down plastic cover in empty part of lounge
stain treat rug
wash rug
return carpet washer
Wash some laundry
tidy ds' room
folding
put ds' clothes away

And if i have the energy deal with some of the mess i ran out time to deal with and shoved into the bathroom off the landing so i could get to the carpet Blush

Caffine is the way to go. Feeling slightly more human today. just and a focused chore day is probably exactly what is needed. I am not dealing with anything other then chores and ds today. Fullstop. No favours for friends, no outside people. Just me and my music. bliss.

OP posts:
LinzerTorte · 28/11/2011 08:51

Morning all,

Finally got my work finished at 1.30 am last night, but two late nights in a row are catching up with me. I didn't feel too bad yesterday thanks to my lie-in, but DH had to get up to catch a flight at 4 am so I didn't even get an uninterrupted four hours of sleep. Have just been for a short run so that's woken me up a bit, but I have the feeling coffee will be needed before too much longer.

Really must catch up with the washing today (have a load in the dryer atm which I must go and check on) and generally start getting the house back into some kind of order. Thankfully work looks like being a lot quieter this week - just one small job to do this morning and then a longer proofreading job towards the end of the week - although that can change from one minute to the next of course. Hope you get some good news today, Blue.

WhoKnows The state of our house is also getting me down; I really need to make a serious attempt to declutter.

MC The Christmas market sounded lovely - having a trip to Lidl definitely wouldn't be the same!

Darkness Sorry to hear you're feeling fragile; hope you're able to take note of today's babystep and be kind to yourself. (Have just had a look at the links - the site has all changed since I was last on there! I haven't been on for ages, admittedly.)

justonemore Yes, it was me who posted about DH getting up with the DC. He's never complained too much about getting up early with them (we always used to alternate, but he seems to be the one getting up with them more and more recently), but thankfully 5 am starts seem to be a thing of the past now.

Toffee I'm very glad that the DDs' PE kits only get sent home from school once a semester as that's one less thing to mislay! I'm sure that will change once they start secondary school, however. Hope you found it in the end.

lauren Hope your DD is feeling better today.

Waves to eveyone else - time for a Brew now, I feel.

OverflowingMum · 28/11/2011 09:12

morning all, quick list update....

So my plan for today:
up, breakfast dressed, me and dc done
clear breakfast stuff 1/2 done
bathroom S&S done
Tidy littlies room done
ds2 to nursery done yay
home done
reboot laundry done
text babaysitter to arrange upcoming dates
find calm non-messy activity to amuse dds2,3 and 4
Kitchen: surfaces,doors,done sweep and mop
Lounge: Dust,clean windows, hoover done
Dining room: tidy shelves,clear piano, dust, sweep,mop next
excavate decorations from the loft
sort through decs and decide what is going where.
Tidy girls room
strip girls beds and wash bedding
tidy our room
hoover upstairs
prepare dinner - cottage pie??
do something inspired , easy, yet creative with DDs LOL
collect ds2 from nursery
dinner
baths/stories
littlies bed
Fill in forms for LEA for dd3

so, am making progress. Now having quick cuppa and then will attack the dining room, then maybe excavate the decorations...
lauren yay for good night's sleep
linzer you must be shattered.
onemore good luck with list
fuzzled hope ds naps properly today!
darkness hope caffeine helps!

right, best get on....BBL Grin

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/11/2011 09:13

Todays List:

Turn computer off
Declutter
Home blessing
Evening routine early as we are going out
DS homework then Beavers
Go out.

Linzer - I am definitely feeling better as a result of the decluttering, this time last week it was really getting me down. I just need to push on and finish it, rather than just grinding to a halt and letting it all creep back like I usually do.

Darkness - sounds as though you and me have a similar plan for today, I am staying in till school run time, bunging on some music (and the kettle) and getting the house SORTED. No friends (till tonight), no school helping/attending stuff (practically a daily occurrence at this time of year, the curse of the PTA), no shopping, no errands, no distractions. Hopefully.

Right, kettle's just boiled, pot of Brew here for anyone that wants it. If you see me back on here before 6pm tell me to go and declutter.

laurenamium · 28/11/2011 09:22

Good luck with jobs today linzer and darkness

OFM you never cease to amaze me with the amount you get done! Shock we are still in our pyjamas!

BBL

laurenamium · 28/11/2011 09:23

Cross post with whoknows

Good luck with your decluttering!! Grin

BlueEyeshadow · 28/11/2011 10:03

Thanks Linzer ! Well, DS2 has gone to playgroup. Dashed home and turned the computer on impatiently to find... no news at all. Grr! If this job's so urgent, why won't they let me know so I can get started on it??!

So, have got the clean laundry piled up everywhere. Need to start putting it away now.

Toffeefudgecake · 28/11/2011 10:27

DS2 didn't wake up AT ALL last night Shock. When I asked him about it, he said he just forgot Grin. Why didn't I do this before?

Back in a minute with a list.

BlueEyeshadow · 28/11/2011 10:53

Glad it worked out so well Toffee - it's amazing what the right incentive can do, isn't it?!

DarknessSoothes · 28/11/2011 11:03

Fabulous news toffee

That must be bloody annoying blue

List update:
Wash carpet in hall
Wash edges of carpet on landing, and in lounge.
Move all furniture out of study into central dry area of lounge.
wash carpet in study
Put down plastic cover in empty part of lounge
stain treat rug
wash rug
return carpet washer
Wash some laundry 4th load has gone in - quick wash loads of the sofa throws
tidy ds' room
folding
put ds' clothes away

I have cold wet feet from cleaning the carpets. The carpets dry quick enough but I don't like cold feet. carpets look lovely though. I need more coffee and something nice for lunch, or a house work elf to do all this for me.

Dear santa,

pretty pretty please will you lend me an elf to get this house into shape?

many thanks

Darkness.

OP posts:
NickNacks · 28/11/2011 11:16

Working but mindees are engrossed in playdough atm so quick list

Move tree done
Wash on
DW on after lunch
Lunch
Plug stereo in and charge ipod done
Hoover downstairs
Mop kitchen
Make playdough with mindees done
Wrap some presents done one but will do more later
What's for dinner?
Txt a shopping list for him to get on way home

DD is teething so she's a bit evil today. Have given her half a spoonful of Calpol and seems to have done the trick -the wonder of Calpol! :)

Children are calling so will dash for now.

Makingchanges · 28/11/2011 11:37

Morning all

Not a good morning here this morning. DD overlaid and therefore we were rushing to school. Was expecting DDs main present to be delivered today and as DH is working from home left him to keep an eye out whilst I went to do the shopping. He went upstairs and missed the parcel Angry. So not I have to go to post office to pick it up and set it up tomorrow and she will have to have it tomorrow evening.

I have a manic day today though so here is my list to keep me focused.

  • Wrap DDs presents
  • Wrap DHs presents
  • write on cards and put up birthday banner for DD
  • Library books back
  • E-mail 1st volunteer job about availability this week.
  • Check online re job updates
  • Ring a school re visit and application
  • Print out job bumff for 3 jobs I have seen
  • Buy cake for DH and DD. We didn't see any of the party one from Saturday so they are having a joint choccy one on DDs request
  • book meal for tomorrows celebrations with extended family
  • Email 2nd volunteering job re training in December
  • Email supply agency re availability or lack of this week
  • Book graduation tickets for my graduation
  • Book photos and gown for graduation
  • Sort photo frames out for DDs school photo to give to gps etc for xmas presents
  • buy lots of batteries!!!
  • Apply for job went to visit on Friday
  • Sort through the 8 large boxes from Amazon Black Friday (whoops) Blush
  • E-mail 2nd supply agency re update on registration
  • Locate a book for next book club round
  • Ironing pile in spare room
  • Sort out letter to Santa for DD
  • Update diary of dates that are scattered on pieces of paper around house
  • Sort through the under stairs hotspot
  • Weekly Shop
  • Weekly meal plan

Ok BBL

Toffeefudgecake · 28/11/2011 11:42

Could you send that house elf over in my direction after you, please, Darkness?

Right, that was a long minute. Very nice man turned up to mend my oven, so I now have an oven I can cook the Christmas turkey in. However, he did manage to leave a giant scratch on our kitchen floor when he pushed the oven back into its slot Sad. Not a lot I can do about that. Oh well. Will try not to obsess. There are more important things in life...

House once over (hoovering, polishing door knobs, emptying bins, etc)
Ring chemist re DS1's medicine
Shopping - buy stuff to make sausage casserole in slow cooker
Cook tonight's dinner and bung in slow cooker
Room rescues - sitting room, dining room, DS2's bedroom
15-min declutter in our bedroom
Hang our bedclothes out to dry on line
Text friend re playdate on Wed
Text childminder re babysitting
Wrap MIL's presents
Organise Xmas wrapping paper, cards, etc.
School run - collect DS2's friend to come home with us
Dinner
6 - 7pm Ocado delivery
Reward DS2 for good behaviour at bedtime and through the night - Club Penguin

That'll do for now.

DarknessSoothes · 28/11/2011 12:33

List update:

Wash carpet in hall
Wash edges of carpet on landing, and in lounge.
Move all furniture out of study into central dry area of lounge.
wash carpet in study
Put down plastic cover in empty part of lounge
stain treat rug
wash rug
return carpet washer
Wash some laundry 5 loads of quick wash sofa throws all done now 1st load proper washing on
tidy ds' room
folding
put ds' clothes away
remove old nail varnish nail varnish with glitter in it is a bitch to get off.
repaint nails
30mins decluttering in my room
new plan of action

Just about to go make a fry up for lunch. Proper fuel for list ass kicking me thinks. I don't want to go to bed until things are tidy. Not sure that the state of the house will allow that but we'll see!

OP posts:
laurenamium · 28/11/2011 12:43

I'm loving the letters to Santa darkness Grin

Good look with applications mc

toffee would you like to send your ds over to teach dd how to sleep through? Grin

Just a quick update:
Washing/ drying one washing one drying
Food shop done
Clean fridge done
Pick up parcel from post office done
Ring about wrong delivery done
Ring virtual college about nvq done
Home bleugh -next
Declutter conservatory
Clean out outdoor rabbit hutch
Wash sticky finger prints off doors
Avon order

BBL Grin

laurenamium · 28/11/2011 12:47

Must add

Walk dog

To my list!

swanriver · 28/11/2011 13:13

Toffee well done ds2! Most of the time we are very attentive to our dcs, we read them stories at bedtime, let them play, chat to them and I suspect they run rings round us Occasionally Dh forgets to be attentive and turns old fashioned, just because he can't take anymore sees clearly that they are running rings round us. And they usually do exactly what we say then.. The trick is to be assertive but not stressed Confused We have sort of cracked bedtime though...Lights out at 8.30 most of the time, ds1 asleep by 9.30. Still bedtime seems to take up a large proportion of the evening from 7.30 onwards. They were essentially pretty good sleepers from babies, which made it easier. But our children are much older. We have to keep resetting the boundaries though, that never stops. We are battling all the time to make the dcs more organised though Sad and stop ds2 relying on us to remember everything for him.

I think it is great ds1 is havign such a sociable time at new school...my ds1 still hasn't brought anyone home (although he has had friends from old school over this term) There doesn't seem to be any time to arrange any visits. Possibly neither of us can face itBlush

OFM hope day is going well, I love the idea of the three little girls doing something calm and creative....or are they all playing hide and seek and happily laying out their toysWink

Feel utterly exhausted already I suppose at thought of all the things I should be doing now (MC and Darkness Shock;
but have done a bit of house bless with help of cleaner

big food shop, and away in freezer, fridge
Also sorted dd's clothes cupboard
More online basket filling for Xmas Confused
PE kit out for tomorrow
Scouts out for tonight
changed ds1's sheets, and two washes in, and one hung out
sorted whites/coloureds into piles
big tidy of kitchen last night too before bed

MC aargh I find parcel delivery the most frustrating thing on earth, I suppose that's why I keep reverting to on foot shopping lugging bags home
It is easy to miss the bell though isn't it, don't be too hard on DH. Sometimes they don't press it hard enough or give up too easily before putting slip through letter box.

OverflowingMum · 28/11/2011 13:38

afternoon all
MC I HATE collecting parcells,drives me mad.
swan, yep the calm quiet bit didn't really work out LOL Lots of mess and shouting until I gave in and let them on their ds's Blush

Some great lists there today all - good luck with them all!

Ok...list update:
up, breakfast dressed, me and dc done
clear breakfast stuff done
bathroom S&S done
Tidy littlies room done
ds2 to nursery done
home done
reboot laundrydone
text babaysitter to arrange upcoming dates
find calm non-messy activity to amuse dds2,3 and 4 Hmm
Kitchen: surfaces,doors,donesweep and mop
Lounge: Dust,clean windows, hoover done
Dining room: tidy shelves,clear piano, dust, sweep done,mop
excavate decorations from the loft done
sort through decs and decide what is going where.done
Tidy girls room
strip girls beds and wash bedding
tidy our room
hoover upstairs
prepare dinner - cottage pie??
do something inspired , easy, yet creative with DDs LOL done
collect ds2 from nursery
dinner
baths/stories
littlies bed
Fill in forms for LEA for dd3

so , am making progress but am now running out of steam!
Have made another batch of mince pies with DC though, and then done 3 trays of salt dough decorations which kept them quiet for ages!
now need to re-tidy the kitchen and dining room and then tackle our room and the girls room which are now both worse than ever since excavating the christmas decorations Hmm Need to reboot laundry and text babysitter too....
On the plus side DD2 and DS1 main presents have been delivered so that is something else I can tick off. Yay.

BBL Grin

NickNacks · 28/11/2011 14:08

Can I join the club of non sleeping children?? Mine all settle beautifully but DD wakes at least once at stupid o'clock bt annoyingly she doesn't want for anything. She's past needing a feed/change and sleeps in a gro-bag so she's not cold and although she has a dummy 9/10 its in her mouth when I check on her. We had Fri/sat good nights but typically as i had to get up for work this morning, she woke twice last night.

Could do with a nap especially since she and mindee are napping right now...

OFM Do you have a recipe for the salt dough decorations, please? I made playdough this morning, is it similar?

Quick list update-

Move tree done
Wash on done
DW on after lunch
Lunch done
Plug stereo in and charge ipod done
Hoover downstairs
Mop kitchen
Make playdough with mindees done
Wrap some presents done one but will do more later
What's for dinner?
Txt a shopping list for him to get on way home
School run
Add branches to tree
Hmwk with DCs
Get boys to fill bookcase
S & S
TD on and hang wet washing

Right off to wake the sleeping bears, give them milk and a snack, wrap us all up and head off on the school run to get 5 more!

BBL!

laurenamium · 28/11/2011 14:29

nicknacks I can't remember the exact salt dough recipe and sure ofm can help but I can remember that when we made salt dough decorations at Uni (yes I was assessed on my decoration making skills Grin) that it's really good for kids apart from children with eczema as it irritates hands/skin Grin

OverflowingMum · 28/11/2011 15:20

nicknacks salt dough: 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, 2 cups plain flour and mix! You can add other stuff - oil meant to make it easier to knead ( I never find the need for this) or lemon juice that apparently makes them harder (never bother!) and I'm sure there are other variations out there! Make up the dough, roll out and cut out using Christmas sheped cookie cutters. PLace on baking tray and bake on V low heat for 2-3 hours to dry out and harden.
We were adventurous today and added red food dye to half the dough so have some pretty reddish looking decorations now too!They can be painted /decorated after they have hardened and cooled too.

right, I'm shattered. Am sitting down for 1/2 hour before collecting ds2. Havent tackled the upstairs yet, but have made cottage pie.

BBLGrin

BlueEyeshadow · 28/11/2011 17:02

MC / swan - I read somewhere that the new delivery system only gives the postmen a ridiculously short time at each house so they pop a card through if you don't answer pretty much immediately...

Still no news on the job. Going nuts with frustration now!!

Have you seen this Linzer ? The Year of the Translator

Flying is all pretty much CBA at the moment and routines have slipped. Sigh.

Makingchanges · 28/11/2011 17:32

Grin Its lovely that you are sticking up for DH Swan but he was skiving and should have been sat at the side of the door working, then he wouldn't have missed the postman and I could have set up DDs present today and she could have opened it tomorrow morning. I'm more [grr] that he was skiving when he complains he has soo much to do and that is why we are arguing so much I think and hes not helping the stress levels.

OFM Saltdough sounds great, might give that a go on Wednesday when the school is closed.

Right list update so I can see what is left

  • Wrap DDs presents done except for Toy Story Jessie that I have hidden so well I can't find Hmm
  • Wrap DHs presents Done
  • write on cards and put up birthday banner for DD Done cards will do banner when DD gone to bed
  • Library books back
  • E-mail 1st volunteer job about availability this week. Done
  • Check online re job updates
  • Ring a school re visit and application
  • Print out job bumff for 3 jobs I have seen
  • Buy cake for DH and DD. We didn't see any of the party one from Saturday so they are having a joint choccy one on DDs request done
  • book meal for tomorrows celebrations with extended family done
  • Email 2nd volunteering job re training in December
  • Email supply agency re availability or lack of this week Done
  • Book graduation tickets for my graduation
  • Book photos and gown for graduation
  • Sort photo frames out for DDs school photo to give to gps etc for xmas presents
  • buy lots of batteries!!! done
  • Apply for job went to visit on Friday
  • Sort through the 8 large boxes from Amazon Black Friday (whoops) done DHs birthday present needs to go back but otherwise all good.
  • E-mail 2nd supply agency re update on registration Done they are waiting on paperwork from me, they have been waiting 6 weeks as they didn't tell me I had to send it. Really Angry at supply agencies at the minute. An added bonus of getting a job would be I could tell the supply agencies what I think about them
  • Locate a book for next book club round
  • Ironing pile in spare room
  • Sort out letter to Santa for DD
  • Update diary of dates that are scattered on pieces of paper around house
  • Sort through the under stairs hotspot
  • Weekly Shop Done
  • Weekly meal plan

Also been shopping and bought DD more presents as DH doesn't think I bought enough toys. We have enough toys in our house to stock Toys R us. Hmm

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