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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

October-fest: a fledgling (at best) might spruce up its nest (then take a rest?).

988 replies

strictlycaballine · 26/09/2012 10:37

Welcome to the October 2012 Fledgling Flyers thread. Park your mops, buckets, microfibre cloths, golden dusters and spiders-web-removing-implements here!

A huge "thank you" to Whoknows and Pushme for leading us throughout September!! (Hope you are recovering well Whoknows - take it steady!)

If your house is a mess and you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and Wine along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in weekly designated zones of the house; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with more time to do other more interesting things instead! At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

  • start or repeat baby steps
  • repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone
  • reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started, and the flylady system here and here Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound.

All welcome!!

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 15/10/2012 10:18

If you bookmark the Launch Pad you can find most things from there

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

GossipWitch · 15/10/2012 10:30

Still haven't moved, needs a kick up the bum...

GossipWitch · 15/10/2012 10:36

Shit just rang H/A and they're coming out between now and 4 shit fuck shit, kick up the bum recieved!!!

BitchyDragons · 15/10/2012 11:13

Morning.

I have started the day at a very slow gentle pace. laundry, calendar updating and general procrastinating. There is so much to do that I have no idea how to get it all done. Or even where to start. Need to do paperwork. Need to tame ds' room.

GossipWitch · 15/10/2012 11:32

Well after a mad hour I have :-

got dressed to laces, well slippers
made bed
5 min room rescued bedroom
put dp's clothes away
room rescued lounge, with a hoover too,
RR hall landing stairs and bathroom
hotspotted comp desk
hoovered kitchen
dp washed pots,
put another load of laundry away
put some washing in

I am sweating like a pig but I can have the engineer in the house without being to ashamed of my own idleness.

strictlycaballine · 15/10/2012 12:16

Morning all!

Very quick one as I am super late having wasted most of the morning trying to find an elusive piece of paper [grrrr] own fault completely!

Well done Gossip that's great going! (Freezing here too btw)

[links arms with Bitchy in joint feeling-overwhelmed-ed-ness]

Consils home blessing hour saying that Flylady is meant to be super-organised, her site is in a terribly disorganised state imo!

Hope your ds2 feels better soon Toffee

[Hands calming brew to Swan]

Well done on the weight loss Engels hope you and your lo have a lovely day today!

Castlelough' podcast sounds great and great news about 2nd place!! Exciting stuff, esp given ground!! Well done on weight loss too!

[Hands cheering brew to Carpe] hope your ds feels better soon. It's always sad when friends move away - have a lot of that here (xpats on 2 or 3 yr furloughs - so can really sympathise)

Dizzy must be lovely to have your son back and congrats to your dd for her swimming efforts!!

Waves to Whoknows and eveyrone else. Sorry for such cursory personals but have to dash!

Have a good start to the week everyone!

OP posts:
laurenamium · 15/10/2012 12:23

Sorry for being AWOL! Just a quick dump, it's my birthday so there's not even much on it but at least I'm around!

I'm getting my carpets cleaned Grin happy birthday to me from me Grin so i have been round and picked up all of the things on the floor ready for the man!

To do:
food shop
DD and mindee to playgroup
Walk dogs
Friends this afternoon
pick up things for carpet man
DD laundry away
My laundry- ongoing
My laundry away
Home bleugh- pushed til tomorrow due to carpet man
Date night- getting very regular!

CarpeJugulum · 15/10/2012 12:26

Update:

I have:
? Done morning routine
? Done WAH job
? Phoned garage and booked car in for MOT & service
? Phoned nursery and enquired - they'll phone me back
? Phoned electrician (finally after a year!) about sorting mains smoke alarms (using temporary atm) and blown light in bathroom
? Two loads of washing (and hung outside in sun)
And spent lots of time hugging sickly son and watching CBeebies.

GossipWitch · 15/10/2012 12:26

happy birthday lauren :) hope you get the chance to have a few glasses of Wine later :)

CarpeJugulum · 15/10/2012 12:28

X-posts!

Have a happy birthday laurenamium !

Have Wine and cake on me Grin

BlueEyeshadow · 15/10/2012 12:37

Happy Birthday Lauren!

BitchyDragons · 15/10/2012 12:47

It has taken me nearly 2hrs to update my diary. Shock And I am stick not done

issimma · 15/10/2012 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BitchyDragons · 15/10/2012 13:09

Stick? Confused STILL

GossipWitch · 15/10/2012 13:32

Well it turns out the thermostats not great but if I turn it until it clicks the heating works!

issimma · 15/10/2012 13:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ToffeeWhirl · 15/10/2012 13:38

Yes, issimma, the new fridge is here. Nothing in it yet, so I'm just admiring it whilst it's empty and clean Grin. It is self-defrosting, so nno more wasted hours chipping ice blocks off the back wall - and it has a bottle rack too!

DS2 has an infection, but nothing that a bit of cream won't sort. We went to the library on the way home and he stocked up on new 'Tintin' books. Haven't seen him since we got back, as he has been immersed in them.

Happy Birthday, Lauren.

Hope to get back later for proper catch up.

ToffeeWhirl · 15/10/2012 13:39

no, not n-no, obviously.

GossipWitch · 15/10/2012 14:23

House smells horribly dusty but at least its warm, may have to de-clutter a bit in my bedroom i.e. clothes and shoes that belong to me... :( but it is only so that I can make room for more on a spending spree, that I am planning soon, with money that I dont really have, but I am justifying the spending spree, with the fact that I only have 2 pairs of jeans that fit me, and one of them are currently at a friends house, and I'm not entirely sure that I own any tops without a hole or snag in it some where. But knowing me, with it being so close to Christmas I'll not do it, and refuse to have any picture's taken near and around xmas time as I have got trampy clothes on... again.

BitchyDragons · 15/10/2012 14:35

ta da
check emails, fb, mn.
Send first batch of emails.
3rd load laundry on
Update ds' calendar
Find phone no for sorting out ds' friend to play.
put dw on to run
Kit to be handwashed in to soak.
Update my diary
Sort out ds' kit
Sort out ds' swimming kit for this week
find database needed for manipulation
make up ds' football kit
folding up to date
Sort out passport stuff of application - why does everyone need this these days? Confused
get really really really pissed off with yahoomail which seems to be completely broken today Angry
Deal with second batch of emails

Consils · 15/10/2012 17:51

What is meant by, 'rags'? Cut up out tea-towels? Jay-clothes? Sponges? Dishcloths?

Thank you for the home blessing. I have nearly changed my sheets and done my mission. The tights are in the trash. I have bought, 'sink reflections' so I may be more enlightened soon.

The mop bit on my steam mop keeps flopping off; does anyone else get this? I am tempted to stick it on with tape.

I find throwing away magazines really hard. I need a long train journey. I subscribe to the Spectator and Private Eye but rarely read either.

CarpeJugulum · 15/10/2012 19:15

I don't use rags. I have e-cloths instead.

Think it just means a cloth... probably!

deleted203 · 15/10/2012 19:52

Done no housework Sad. Stick me in the naughty corner.

I have, however:-

Got up at 7.00am - dragged duvet straight.
Swished and swiped bathroom
Fed DCs breakfast - went to work at 7.45.
In work til 4.30pm
Went to ex MIL - cooked her tea
Picked up DS from childminder
Food shopped
Bought sympathy card for MIL
Got home at 6.15pm, cooked 3 course meal
Ate it.
Unloaded and loaded dishwasher
Filled in form for DS for half term activities

It's now 7.45 and I've got to put DS to bed and read a story and then I reckon I might collapse into bath and have an early night. I've just done a 13 hour day and I haven't stopped once. I am ignoring even things like the 2 min 'hot spot' bit. (And the shining of sinks).

I can either work or be vaguely house-workey. I can never cope with both, unfortunately.

elliepac · 15/10/2012 20:26

Evening all!

Busy day at work today and have only just finished preparing lessons for tomorrow. Have also been a good girl on the flying front.

Ta da:-
Washing on
Dryer on
Dinner cooked/cleared away
general tidy downstairs
DS parent's evening (he's painfully quiet apparently Hmm wish he was like that home!)
DD bathed
DS to cubs and back
Packed lunches made
UNiform/clothes laid out for the morning
Swimbags packed for tomorrow night

Happy Birthday lauren! Enjoy another date night Wink.

sowornout i too can work or housework, rarely both. I am a brilliant flyer at the weekend, unfortunately am shite the other 5 days of the week Grin hence needing this thread!

carpe if it makes you feel better, my living room is merely a branch of toys r us in disguise. I tidy them all back upstairs every week or two and then they sneak back when I am not looking, sneaky feckers,,,I reckon they have secret lives like those in Toy Story. I can only dream of the day when my living room is a peaceful haven from the outside world Grin.

engels well done on the body clutter Smile

Have got to go and finish my work now Sad. But I am going to snaffle some party food first from the naughty corner....to feed my brain...honest Grin.

issimma · 15/10/2012 20:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.