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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

It's September so the Fledgings Fly, as we wave our clutter bye bye

805 replies

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 30/08/2012 21:22

Welcome to the ongoing Fledgling Flyers thread for September, thanks to Bitchy who kept us posted through August.

Right, most of you should know how this works. It's a three pronged attack.
Phase one: The babysteps master these and you will be working like clockwork.
Phase two: Adding in Decluttering this will help you keep on top of the amount of stuff contributing to CHAOS.
Phase three: Missions Targeted activities to keep the chaos at bay and starting the deep cleaning.

The golden duster of Flying is stage 4: deep cleaning. This is for most me anyway, somewhat unrealistic and in theory you don't need to worry about it until you have finished decluttering that's never then. Just do it if you want to.

Now for those of you who are completely lost, lets rewind a bit.
CHAOS: Can't have anyone over syndrome. We've all been there

The fly lady approach works by breaking the house down into tiny activities which you do repeatedly until they become habit and don't feel like chores any more. The house is split into zones, each zone is tackled for a week before moving on and comes round again at the start of the next month.

There are lots of experienced Fledglings on here, hence lots of advice and support and chat about anything except housework some days. the main thing is that you can post any time you like even if you haven't lifted a finger around the house that day because with Flylady you just pick up again the next day and off you go again.

We advise against signing up for Flylady emails as they can lead to a great deal of clutter in the Inbox, each days steps will be posted on this thread to save you having to find them yourself.

In the meantime here is a link to the Flylady website for anyone who would like a browse.

Getting started Remember - don't subscribe to the emails!

OP posts:
CatsInChaos · 22/09/2012 10:14

Morning all, I'm still lurking on and off. Busy day yesterday so didn't get near Mumsnet.

Gonna try and have a bit of "me time" this morning and do some painting (picture not walls) Grin. DD seems happy watching a bit of telly and DH has taken DS out.

Hope everyone is o.k. - haven't had much chance to read all the thread from yesterday. Blush

Suppose I ought to try and do some laundry too!

elliepac · 22/09/2012 11:21

Ta da:-

Living room tidied
Living room polished
Living room hoovered
Kitchen cleaned
Washing up done
Washing on
Dryer on
Dining room tidied
Dining room polished
Dining room hoovered
Hallway tidied
Hallway hoovered
Shit shoved in cupboards so no-one can see

Upstairs I go.

elliepac · 22/09/2012 13:13

Ta da part 2:-

Ds room tidied
Ds room polished
Ds room hoovered
Dd room tidied
Dd room polished
Dd room hoovered
Our room tidied
Our room polished
Our room hoovered
Bathroom cleaned
More washing sorted

Still to do:
Washing to put away
Pack ds off bf's
Food shop
Go to dsis's for tea with dd
Collapse in front of tv in nice tidy houseGrin.

elliepac · 22/09/2012 14:21

Ta da part 3:-

Washing away
Washing on line
Ds gone to bf's

I'm on flying fireGrin.

BitchyDragons · 22/09/2012 15:20

tsk you don't want to be getting bad burns. You'll stink the place out Shock

BitchyDragons · 22/09/2012 15:20
Wink
elliepac · 22/09/2012 15:56

Grinbitchy , I am now smoking hot flying style Grin

BitchyDragons · 22/09/2012 18:27

Grin enjoy your tidy house Ellie.

I am off out. Again [tired].

elliepac · 22/09/2012 18:45

I willGrin. It will only last until MondayGrin.

Ta da part 4:-
Tea at dsis's
More washing on

To do:-
Collapse in front of tv with Wine.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 22/09/2012 20:11

Re stinking the place out, I think the shit shoved in cupboards is probably going to be worse than the smoke......

Well done Ellie

OP posts:
elliepac · 22/09/2012 20:40

GrinGrinGrin whoknows.

pushmepullyou · 22/09/2012 21:35

Hello everyone Smile

Sorry for disappearing and thank you so much to whoknows for carrying on with September despite my enthusiastic promises at the end of August Blush

I've been internetless for the last couple of weeks and also having the attic converted, which has been much much more trouble than I was rather optomistically expecting it to be! Still not finished despite the builders assuring me that it would only take 2 weeks Hmm. The house is properly grubby and I am properly exhausted. haven't caught up with the thread yet so hope everyone is well and happy.

Tomorrow's babystep is another exciting routine . This is the after school/work routine, so hopefully not too challenging for most of us on a Sunday! I've never really got in the habit of this one tbh, mostly because by the time I get home from work it is generally time to start the bed time routine, although I suppose making tea could count even though it seems to have been mostly beans on toast this week

No missions tomorrow as it's Sunday, which I seem to remember is renew your spirit day in flylady world. It will be cleaning up more plaster dust day here Grin

Off to catch up with the thread now. See you all later

rowingboat · 22/09/2012 23:09

Hi all, it was a day off for me, but have a bit of sleep deprivation going on, mainly through waking up with indigestion or earache. Poo!
I
Thank you for the suggestions, will try to commit to my obvious hotspots tomorrow, at least one - the kitchen table, in fact tables in general!
15 minutes of decluttering per day is good. Does that include sorting out papers and recycling do you think?
Kitchen is a disaster here and sitting room pongs so lots to do after tired day. Will get up early before work tomoz and at least wash up and hang out washing!

BlueEyeshadow · 22/09/2012 23:18

Evening all.

Today's been fun but knackering, so really should head off to bed!
It's DH's birthday, we've been shopping, out for a pub lunch, and to the church harvest supper/ceilidh... Was all good, and the dancing should have worked off the lunch!

Oh, and whoever was asking, (can't remember, sorry) - yes, swimming with DS2 was fun yesterday as well.

Renewing spirits tomorrow may well involve doing as little as possible, as per swan's wise suggestion.

Night!

BitchyDragons · 23/09/2012 01:30

Grin whoknows

Thanks for taking over PMPY Do shout if it gets too much end of this month. I am happy to cover if needed. Sometimes rl just gets in the way.

MsOnatopp · 23/09/2012 08:31

ellie I hoped you enjoyed your telly and wine

ChitchatAtHome · 23/09/2012 09:13

MsOna- It's so nice being able to have drop in visitors, isn't it?! I invited a friend to drop past Friday evening, knowing I didn't have to rush around getting things tidy.

Ellie - Wow, you are on a roll!!! Grin at the smoke and shit smells!!!

Blue - sounds like a wonderful day and evening.

Rowing - hope you've had a better night's sleep.

PMPY - do you think they teach them the 'it will only take a few weeks' when they start out??!!

Cats - hope you managed to get some nice painting time.

Bitchy - hope you've managed to get some rest.

Had a lovely day yesterday (although the drive around the M25 was horrendous), the safari park was great, we all had
a great time, a fun run around and a nice dinner. However it turned out to be quite a late day, so we're taking it easy this morning, and giving church a miss.

To do:

15 minute kitchen tidy up
10 minute lounge room tidy up
(to get it back up to tidy)
15 minutes declutter in bedroom
something fun with the DSs this afternoon

strictlycaballine · 23/09/2012 10:43

[shuffles in with clip board, wearing specially designed Flylady elf and safety high viz clothing (including shoe laces) ... cordons off purple puddles and distributes fire extinguishers to deal with hot spots. With smoke taken care of; takes huge gulp of fresh air, grabs shovel, wrestles bucket off Bitchy and heads off in direction of cupboards ...]

I don't know what you were on yesterday Ellie but I want some of it Grin

Giving church a miss today here too Chitchat so much to pack in. [Going to nick your five things tip btw] Oh and good news you found the vicar supportive. Congrats to you and MrsOnatopp for kicking C.H.A.O.S (can't have anyone over syndrome) in to touch! Brilliant (and v. encouraging for the rest of us) that system is working for you both.

Huge enthusiastic wing flaps to MrsDoolittle Pushme and thanks for taking over. I'm v. happy to do October if no one else is burning to do it. Will need to put bones of new thread in place on Wed, as am going away Wed-Sun but will be back for 1st baby-step on Sun eve. Sorry you are going through building hassles - sympathies - it's always more intrusive/disruptive/filthy/dusty than one imagines isn't it.

Blue belated happy birthday to your dh

Hope you can catch up on some shut eye tonight RowingBoat (Have you tried sleeping with raised pillow?)

Cats contemplating starting a painting course myself (have to decide today) but it's quite a serious commitment in terms of time so I'm wavering a bit. Hope you had fun with it yesterday. I find it seriously relaxing because you have to focus on it and can't think of anything else.

Good luck with job search Madwoman

PA [thumbs through slow cooker recipe book] have been wondering if you could take revenge on rodent visitors in a different way ...Wink

Lauren (re rabbits) it is just like angry birds game Grin like someone is juggling black and beige furry cushions underneath the window Grin [Can I borrow your dd for tidy-up duty pls btw? Smile I'm decluttering the bedroom atm and I need someone low to the floor Grin)

Hope WI were welcoming Trazzle

Eyes hope you are having a stress-free w/e after those long work days

Huge waves to Swan Feetheart Honu Justgettingonwithit OFM Castlelough Nicknacks and everyone else I've missed

Glad to see people are getting out and about. Had lovely day too yesterday; dd at party for afternoon so dh and I had rare five hours alone; went to art exhibition, a couple of antique shops then pavement café; then we all went out for a Chinese meal which dd (thankfully) enjoyed and ate. Dh (hero) has whisked dd away to office this morning so they can do 'homework' together so have precisely 1 and a half hours NOW in which to declutter main boudoir before heading out this afternoon to look around a display garden, hear a choir and meet a friend for tea. So I am NOT going to go downstairs and get distracted by the messy kitchen or play room. I am NOt going to 'just glance' at the Sunday papers. I will not go and make a coffee. I will not Mnset. [SC sets timer, sprints to boudoir, grabs decluttering boxes and locks herself inside]

Have a great Sunday everyone!!

ToffeeWhirl · 23/09/2012 10:53

I have had a good night's sleep at last! Slept for roughly 10 hours last night after requesting a lie in this morning and then going to bed early for a change. Annoyingly, I don't look fresh-faced and 10 years' younger this morning - more puffy-eyed and 40ish Angry .

Happy news - we have the holiday dog back with us again! The owner rang up and asked if we'd dog sit for one day and a night. Oh, what a joyful reunion! I have never seen such a crazy, happy, licky dog when she saw us. Dogs are very good for your self esteem, aren't they? The boys were so, so happy to see her again and DS1 said he had a good night's sleep because he was cuddled up with her all night. She stinks of manure, but he didn't seem to mind (note to self: make sure DS1 has a bath and hairwash tonight).

Lousy weather here today. We were out all day yesterday, so I don't feel too bad about staying in for most of today. We are going to put the woodburner on because it's so chilly. I can see a long walk on the Downs with the dog, followed by hot chocolate in front of the fire...

Ellie - Shock I hope you are going to have a break from Flying today. Your lists are terrifying me.

ChitChat - safari park sounds fun. Good weather for it yesterday too. Sorry to hear your DH is having tests. How worrying for you all.

MsOnatopp - how brilliant to have your Flying appreciated Grin. You must be doing really well with your routines.

Blue - glad DH's birthday celebrations went so well. Enjoy doing as little as possible today.

rowingboat - sympathies re the sleep deprivation. It's hard to keep up a tidy house when you are lacking energy thanks to lack of sleep. Hope you catch up on sleep soon.

PMPY - thanks for taking over thread leadership. And thanks to WhoKnows for leading us so far.

Cats - impressed you managed a MN-free day. I rarely manage that!

PA - keep the stories coming . DS1 and I have started reading your notes. He now knows where you are on the map and something about life in Cambodia. He is transfixed by the stories! Much more fun than Maths lessons Grin.

Sorry, have run out of time to do any more personals, but waves to Bitchy, Swan, lauren and everyone else.

strictlycaballine · 23/09/2012 12:19

[pause for lunch]

forgot to wave to Toffee!!! [sorry] V. good news you were able to catch up on a bit of rest.

Envy at walk on downs

ToffeeWhirl · 23/09/2012 12:36

No need to be envious, SC - the walk is off, thanks to pouring rain Sad.

elliepac · 23/09/2012 12:54

Afternoon all.

Apologies for scaring people yesterday, think I scared myself a littleGrin. Those of you who know me well should be reassured however as you know i will never maintain this level of productivityWinkGrin.

Ta da this morning:-

2 hours spent on GCSE exam analysis
Washing x 2
Dinner prepped for cooking later
Ironed uniform
Washing up

To do:-
Dinner
Evening routine
Bathe children
Type up exam analysis
Washing away
Shoe shop

Back later.

ToffeeWhirl · 23/09/2012 13:55

Phew, glad you have seen sense, Ellie.

Have been for a walk after all. Very, very wet. Clothes now hanging on radiators and the smell of wet dog permeating the house.

madwomanintheattic · 23/09/2012 18:04

Ellie, you are on fire. Grin

I have a personal ta da that I am more than chuffed to post:

Four hours of freaking ironing! Grin

There's more, as I am the queen of slovens in this department, but I have been putting it off for three weeks.

To do:

Finish the damn ironing. Today.

madwomanintheattic · 23/09/2012 18:07

And lol, PA. I confess that during my ironing marathon, I noticed that all of ds's gap t-shirts say 'made in Cambodia', and I thought 'ooooo, that's where PA is'.