Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Flinging our way through the chaos: February’s Fledgling Flyers

937 replies

LinzerTorte · 31/01/2012 08:38

Welcome to the February edition of the Fledgling Flyers' thread.

If you're living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), this is the thread for you! We follow the tips on the FlyLady website in an attempt to restore order to our homes, but advise against signing up for the e-mails; all the information you need is on this thread.

Each day, I'll be posting the links that will enable you to do any of the following:

  • start or repeat babysteps
  • repeat babysteps and do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone

or

  • reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

More information about the babysteps is here.

So please join us - there's always plenty of chat, Brew, cake, encouragement and the occasional Wine to help us on our way!

OP posts:
Jnice · 02/02/2012 18:09

Dishwasher not DS unloaded!

Jnice · 02/02/2012 18:13

Sorry for many posts. Does anyone have a cleaner? We have a couple who come on Saturday mornings. My sink is very clean now and I'm just wondering why it was so bad given the fact we have a cleaner come every week. Aibu?

Questions:

  1. I would like to give her the fly lady sink shining instructions, but want to be tactful - any ideas?

  2. if you have a cleaner how much of your daily flying is just a matter of delegation?

Thank you all for helping me learn to fly Smile

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 02/02/2012 18:31

Jnice - if the cleaner only cleans the sink once a week it will get quite grotty in between if ours is anything to go by (tea and coffee stains) no matter how thoroughly they do it. However once it's clean if you give it a quick wipe over every day it will only need a more thorough clean once every week or two, and I don't mean the full Flylady, just whatever the cleaner does normally.

DH usually does our bits of handwashing up in the evening and leaves it on the drainer, in the morning I put it away and empty the DW, then give the sink a quick clean with whatever I'm currently using, only takes a minute or so. I don't have a cleaner, but if I did I would get them to do the home blessing and maybe some of the detailed stuff but I'd still do the daily stuff.

LinzerTorte · 02/02/2012 18:39

Just about to start work again - I didn't get quite as much done in the cafe as I'd hoped. About two minutes after I'd started work, a dad that I knew arrived so I ended up chatting for him for 5-10 minutes, and had just got back to work again when a friend phoned. She was quite upset as her son's teacher has just suggested that he repeats the second year of school and by the time I'd finished talking to her, the skating lesson had finished. Serves me right for congratulating myself on successfully getting rid of two children so that I could work in the afternoon. Grin

Jnice I have a cleaner who comes for five hours once a fortnight - I resisted for ages (DH/my ILs/virtually all my friends talked me into it) but can't imagine not having one now. The main difference it makes to my FLYing is that it significantly reduces the amount of time I need to spend on the home blessing hour. I need to give the living room a quick hoover virtually every day, but otherwise don't bother with vacuuming. She mops the kitchen, hall and bathroom floors so I don't bother with more than a spot clean. She doesn't dust particularly thoroughly, but probably spends more than the 10 minutes I would spend during the home blessing hour. It probably halves the amount of time I need to spend on the HBH.

And that's about it really. I stil have a morning routine as long as my arm (and slightly shorter afternoon and evening ones too). I still need to do most of the missions as they're not usually the kind of things she does (other than mopping the floor or wiping down the kitchen counters if that comes up and it's a week that she comes); I would say I generally need to do four out of the five missions. It's really tidying, decluttering and laundry that seem to take up most of my time and she doesn't deal with any of those. So while she is a godsend, there are still plenty of other things for me to do every day - and her coming frees me up to spend more time on them.

Re the sink shining instructions, I would probably be too much of a coward to say anything - unless the cleaner obviously hadn't cleaned it at all and then I would ask her to do it. I suppose you could give her whatever cloth you normally use to shine the sink and ask her to use that, but I usually just leave mine to get on with it, knowing that I'll theoretically be shining it myself the next day anyway. (She does a pretty good job of it anyway, though.)

OP posts:
Jnice · 02/02/2012 19:00

Thanks lizner and whoknows

I know the sink will get dirty again but it's never been this clean or even close to it after she has done it. She sprays and wipes. I guess I'm just surprised as this is her area of expertise and I'm rubbish at cleaning. I surprised myself last night.

Aibu (sorry, this should be a separate thread!) To think she could do better?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 02/02/2012 19:34

Spray and wipe is fine for the daily shining, but not for the deep clean. YANBU!

elliepac · 02/02/2012 19:37

Woah, I miss just 48 hours and I cannot keep up! Hello from me to all the newbies who have joined or flown over from the other thread. I am pretty good with names (occupational necessityGrin) but i think it will take even me some time to remember everyone.

Tonight I have tidied up for the cleaner coming. janis my cleaner comes once a week for a couple of hours though am thinking of upping it. She does all moppig, polishing, hoovering etc. Basically my home bless. She is a godsend and i love coming home on a Friday night to a clean house!

Am going to finish dinner now. Back later!

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 02/02/2012 20:14

I also cleaned DD windows (did I mention that earlier?)

toffee I am low carbing and doing Idiot proof diet - so no sugar and lemsip which is my usual staple when ill is full of sugar, so beechams tablets are helping sort me out.

I feel so much better than yesterday and better again from this morning so heres hoping I am on the mend properly and it a one day forward one back scenario.

DD is off to a friends tomorrow evening for a sleepover so I am going to strip and re do her bed, sort out her bedroom again and hoover her floors, re do upstairs floors.

hi elliepac

NickNacks · 02/02/2012 20:18

Thanks for the support everyone!

After I posted DH came home from work and we continued our chat row . Anyway I think it had an impact on him. I got up and out before he woke up and he called mid morning to see if I needed anything from the shops. He was going out to buy a new tv for our bedroom (old one died last week).

Holy cow he went and outdid himself! Came home with a reasonable sized tv, not an ego inducing massive one, a wall bracket, a shelf and a drill. This man has never drilled or DIY'd in his life! I now have a lovely wall mounted tv with shelf for sky box. Granted they are both wonky but I appreciate the effort and he has to start somewhere. He has gone out with his mate for a curry after putting dd to bed.
We shall see how long it lasts!!!

Tomorrows list.

Morning routine
Declutter hall
Trip to charity shop
DH to the dump
Hoover upstairs
Clean bathroom
15 mins sorting bedroom

laurenamium · 02/02/2012 20:57

Grin at your DPs drill nicknacks!

Ta da:
Hoovered
Walked mine and mams dogs
DD to jingle tots
School run- had them longer as school was shut
Cleaned kitchen *2 and shined sink
Planning for February
Friend visited this afternoon Smile
Living room hotspot
Mission- sorted the coats and shoes box
Cleaned some of the toys
Tidied up the toys

BB tomorrow with tomorrows list and hopefully personals!

DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 02/02/2012 21:05

Nick I am impressed! That is one way to really make an apology! Grin

Been a slow trudgy kind of day. DD and I had a mad 15mins after putting DS to bed and got lots of little things done, that girl is a demon with a babywipe!

DONE
Get up
Get DS his bottle
Get dressed to shoes (Babystep 2) only perhaps to slippers instead
Make a cup of tea
Laundry
Breakfast for everyone
Wash up (and so it begins)
Get kids dressed
DD to school
Make some cakes to take to friends
Phone some insurance companies for trailer quotes
Pick DD up
Lunch
Horses
Go to friends for early dinner
Kids bed
Tidy toys
Tidy and sweep hall
Tidy and sweep dining room (left from lunchtime)

TO DO
Laundry
Shine the sink
Shower and bed

Jnice · 02/02/2012 21:16

Thanks for the tips!

So, I think I will print out the instructions for cleaner. Ask her to put a deep clean on the list for every other week. To be fair I asked her to use environmentally friendly products and I buy them in. She may not know how to use baking soda and vinegar to shine a sink - in seriously impressed by the result and I know I can safely feed kids with anything that's been in there.

Flyingoutofcontrol · 02/02/2012 21:16

Evening all.

Just popping by to update on DS as I'll have stopped wibbling forgotten by tomorrow. I officially (at 16mo!) have an asthmatic wee boy. Sad He was an absolute star through the whole nebulising/face mask process, whereas I was maintaining the confident, positive mummy exterior while being a bit of a jelly inside with an internal monologue of "shit, shit, shit".

He's fine now, and is the proud owner of an inhaler and spacer (the latter now slightly chewed Grin

So now chilling on the sofa with a large glass of Wine

MummyNic · 02/02/2012 21:36

Evening all... Day 2 of flying and I've done the ironing, cleaned loo & sink & am about to shine my kitchen sink.
Just running a bath as have had a tough few days at work and am going in for "bonus" 5 hours tomorrow Sad

I've noticed that I'm picking up after myself more!!!

I'm going to start decluttering tomorrow: starting with at least one of my wardrobes Blush

LinzerTorte · 02/02/2012 21:39

Glad your talk seems to have had an effect, Nick. Grin

Flying That must be a worry for you - I didn't realise that asthma could be diagnosed at such a young age - but at least you've got a diagnosis and can take measures to keep it under control.

Yet another not-particularly-early night here, but I've just finished and sent off my work so maybe I'll manage it tomorrow night. My aim is to make it to bed before I'm too exhausted to read!

Had the plumber (or whatever exactly he is) around again earlier to have another look at the bathroom-to-be; his quote was very reasonable, so we're getting him to do the job. He's also found us a tiler, who's coming round to have a look and give us a quote tomorrow. Now DH just needs to do something to the floor, involving either concrete or cement - I can't quite remember which. I should probably know, but I'm hopeless at anything DIY-related. Fortunately, DH isn't. He's also getting rather ambitious and has decided that when we move upstairs (so that the DC can each have their own room) we should partition off part of the room and have a walk-in wardrobe. The ceilings are so slanted that it would probably be more of a stoop-in wardrobe, but I like the idea of it.

Links... ah yes, I knew there was something I still had to do. Grin

OP posts:
LinzerTorte · 02/02/2012 21:58

Links for Friday

The babystep is simply to carry on doing the first two babysteps: keep shining your sink and getting dressed to your shoes/slippers/other footwear/whatever makes you feel ready to face the day. Feel free not to explore the BigTent group, however, unless you want to be bombarded with e-mails. Grin

The second and final mission in Zone 1 is to dust the windowsills, lights and ceiling in your dining room and hall.

Friday's daily focus is to declutter your car and handbag. It's also Paperwork/"Clean Out" Day & Date Night in FlyLady's Basic Weekly Plan.

OP posts:
Neenook · 02/02/2012 22:12

Hi everyone

Well we're back from DH's hospital app and all good (phew!). He's recovering from cancer so every appointment makes us both hold our breath a bit until we hear it's all still clear.

We were a bit late back (nice lunch out) and by the time we got home and had picked up DS's from my Mum's, PIL's had arrived and let themselves in...and for the first time ever I wasn't embarrassed by the state of the house as it was actually quite presentable Grin - loving the fat fairy tonight!!!

Ta da's
Swish and swipe Not done - will do in the morning
Get dinner prepped so only a 10 min job when we get home
Make up DS2 a bed in our room
Change bed linen in DS2's room
Hoover Not done
Drop DS's at school and dog at my Mum's

Also have...
Finished ironing Grin
Filled and emptied dishy twice
Kept house fairly tidy and presentable for two whole days GrinGrin

It is amazing how my stress levels have dropped and I realised today that despite all appearances to the contrary, I don't like or react well to chaos!

Hope you are all well and have had good days, will catch up with the thread tomorrow.

dizzyday07 · 02/02/2012 22:17

Today I've been quite productive even though after going to bed earlier than normal (1am), DD and I lay chatting in bed this morning then had an allmighty rush to get to school on time Blush. At least clothes were laid out/bags at the ready so I could concentrate on shovelling her into her uniform and breakfast down her!

Ta Da:

  • Up and DD to school
  • Bought and fitted a new fuse for my car's rear demister
  • Shopping bought and put away (didn't exactly meal plan beforehand but bought bits to turn into meals)
  • Got birthday pressies and cards - thanks for the Lego suggestions but I got some Glow-in-the-Dark Scooby Doo jigsaws Grin
  • Room Rescue in Lounge and Dining Room
  • Hot Spot of Windowledge done
  • DW unloaded
  • Laundry in and hung to dry
  • Carrot Cake Muffins and Jam Tarts made after school
  • Uniform ironed for the morning
  • Dishes done and sink shined - think I'm going to make sure I sweep the kitchen floor every evening too

DS is home and looks like he hasn't slept in days. Sad He's very huggy which is most unlike him! They have talked to the landlady and can break the lease next month so just need to get his bits out as soon as. We need to call the Uni and ttell them he's not returning then have Student Finance to sort and find out how much he now owes them. He'll stay until the beginning of next week and then go see his Dad to tell him what's going on. He will hen sign on and get on with finding himself a job.

BlueEyeshadow · 02/02/2012 22:18

After a morning where I got a surprising amount of house bleugh done while DS2 pottered about, I've blitzed the kitchen and downstairs loo this evening so they're all sparkly too. :)

Tomorrow the boys are having an extra day at the CM so I'll see if I can fit in a bit of extra flying as well as work.

To do
Laundry and put clean stuff away
Tidy handbag and car
Mission
Hoover inc. sofas
Pre-roast squash for risotto

Grin at the slightly wonky TV, NickNacks

Flying - that must have been tough. DS2 has an inhaler but hasn't used it for months, maybe even a year. He used to love it though! Maybe it'll improve as he gets older?

Waves to all. Night!

swanthingafteranother · 02/02/2012 22:53

Nicknacks He loves you! That, or you must have put the fear of God into him Grin

Sorry, slightly inebriated and I would be more if I hadn't dropped the glass
just been to a prayer group about channelling your emotions..tonight was Anger! Grin

And lo and behold I have come back to sleeping children and a very very manky kitchen Hmm can I face sorting out, or shall I pretend I am going to jump out of bed tomorrow at 6am..proably a bit of both, but no sink shining tonight..

Flyingout Ds2 was diagnosed as asthmatic in winter when he was 10 months, but to my amazement he completely grew out of it by the time he was two.

waves to everyone else, and I must admit, that stupid as it sounds, I hate having a cleaner (recent development initiated by friends and DH), it makes me completely anxious and ruins Monday Shock I suppose I will get used to it. I hate telling other people to do things, and I hate having to tidy up for the cleaner. But I am nuts!!!

swanthingafteranother · 02/02/2012 22:56

Dizzy glad ds is back home safely. Next year is a whole new life, and job this year sounds a brilliant start. Dh went to uni when he was 24! and it never did him any harm to work for a few years before he went. Another lady I know has a son who has just started second attempt at uni (hated Aberystwyth and his subject), and a whole new course and it is brilliant.

swanthingafteranother · 02/02/2012 22:58

neenook glad hospital gave all clear for your DH

thewaffler · 03/02/2012 00:17

dizzy pleased ds back home and you're makinging progress with his situation. cq thinking of you, children growing up without a mummy makes me cry just thinking about it. Cancer is a horrible horrible disease that touches so many, neenok amazing news about dh and a well deserved meal out, fantastic. Waiting for scan results or doctor appts are an anxious time, SIL has been battling for last couple of years (as well as bastard pct who wouldn't pay for original treatment) she went for result last week and told treatment is working, she's still got a long way to go and tumours still there, but shrinking, hurrah. Bless her, its the first time in so long that results have been good, so there's light at the end of the tunnel.

As for me - routines completed - I do use lists at home, but not on here, all MN'ing completed on phone using one finger, so lists take too long, will also explain the often appalling spelling or randomness of words.

In addition - phoned and booked dd on swimming lessons course, starting this sat - dh to take her for some daddy and daughter time.
Phoned repair people for dishwasher, broken down again (first time on Xmas day, fully loaded, marvellous)
Phoned breastfeeding counsellor - not in, hopefully speaking to them tomorrow, issues re bf ds, been fine for 5 months but not sure how much he's taking on now.....

Main Ta da = sorting under our stairs, much of this consisted of moving crap to kitchen so dh can take to his craphouse aka the garage. Didn't feel as satisfying as I hoped, but ateast its done.

As per my first ever attempt of menu planning this week, did a baked risotto. Am not blessed in coooking department, so far efforts have been edible, today dh informed me that it tasted of sick, not a flavour I was going for. Told him he will be tasting same dish next week, as u perfect and tweak them, maybe next time I may hold off on the parmesan.

linzer before ds, I had attempted 30 day shred a couple of times, did finish it once, but after about 3 false starts of 10/12 day shreds. No shredding for me today, tend to find if I don't do it first thing, will ebbs away. Unlikely to fit it in tomorrow either, although for rhe first time ever, ds and dd, napped in their own rooms (nor on me for ds, this is progress) At The Same Time, amazing.

Comments on.dieting/looking after yourself, why do I find it absolutely impossible to drink water? It's free ffs and readily available, often try and fail to have the bottle out, to remind me, but always fail, do manage lots of coffee though.

Chocolate - generally, don't have a sweet tooth, never buy any when I'm out or at supermarket, when its open and in my house, different rules apply, I'm like a woman possessed. Last easter dd was given 6 easter eggs - she was 1 and I knew she wouldn't be eating all of them, but they sat there taunting me. Had to get dh to hide them, but in a momentbof weakness went on rampage trying to find the stash, he was crap at hiding them, so quickly worked way through them, dh can have a bit, wrap it back up and put it away, and not think about it again, this is a sheer impossiblilty for me.

Anyway, ds has stopped feeding, so off to bed again, likely to be woken again around 3, rubbish

Night all

thewaffler · 03/02/2012 00:19

Sorry, what a ridiculously long post Blush

BitchyKicksAss · 03/02/2012 01:18

Well my run of early nights has been stopped. Ds broke his arm. Just got back from hospital. Flying has needless to say, has been put on hold. Will be looking after a feeling sorry for himself child at least over the weekend and into next week so don't anticipate any flying getting done.

Swipe left for the next trending thread