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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:
MaggieMcVitie · 05/10/2012 09:53

I'm a body clutter bod! Have lost a stone so far another 11/2 to go though...

DS2 much better, although still off school - he's diabetic so if he's ill his bloods tend to go a bit wonky for a day or so...currently playing on Moshi Monsters although has spellings and homework to tackle later Hmm

Today's to do's...
Finish upstairs bathroom
Swish and swipe downstairs
Sort out cupboard under the stairs
Hoover

Also making a vat of soup and monster lasagne for searchers at lunchtime, will report back later...

SC hope you didn't think I was snapping yesterday, DH seemed more hopeful yesterday morning but as time goes on...Sad

CarpeJugulum · 05/10/2012 10:00

DS is two today! Grin

No flying except the basics to celebrate!

How the hell he's still alive with me as his mother I have no clue Wink

Flaps and non-calorific birthday cake for everyone!

Engelsemama · 05/10/2012 10:27

Thanks toffee . Am feeling better about myself now that the house is straight, DS is in bed (not asleep yet but fx), packed his bag for this afternoon (just rang MIL and I'm going to pop him round to hers if he's awake), have a mug of chocolate milk and some sainsbury's shortbread in my hand (personally imported 2 weeks ago - amazed I haven't opened them till now). Sometimes I find that writing down how grumpy I am is enough to snap me out of it!

Happy Birthday to your DS Carpe

Wow Maggie ! I must weigh myself but reckon I'm still on 0lbs lost Sad (though perhaps chocolate milk and shortbread aren't helping Hmm )

Have been rubbish at keeping up with exercise, though have been running twice this week.

Jamillalliamilli · 05/10/2012 11:41

Overdid the last couple of days and am on light stuff only today.

Still to do
Hand washing
Rescue drying from collapsed shower rail
Try and refit shower rail!
Sort out Disabled congestion charge
Hit post office
Oyster card
Ironing
Repair shoes
Write general repairs list
Collate sewing stuff into small drawers
Try and read draft legislation on SEN provision (for SEN charity)
Check English
Check C/S project progress
Prep Psychology
Sort out stuff for uni open day tomorrow
Swimming kits for tomorrow
Bag up muddy mats and bath chair wheels, get put in car, to take to lovely firemen to aim hoses at tomorrow. Try to wipe childishGrinof face
Make soup
Listen to friend for at least two hours before implosion happens.
Try to get back here later.

S/CI and the other tenants here, have a difficult and odd tenancies and situation and having fought to keep homes (and been downsized) that they wanted to sell off because they let them fall into such poor condition, but could fetch a lot as a building site for lots of smaller ?units?, they?d actually love to rehouse us!

The sketch was a painful reminder of the gap I?ve allowed to grow between brain and fingers! Brought three subtler green water colour crayons, to supplement the rubbish car pencils. Stroking them is a great alternative to comfort eating! Smile

Is the acrylics drying problem on the canvass or the palette? (or both) There is such a thing as retarder if you want to work wet in wet, and especially if you want to create ?fake oils?, but of course then you don?t learn to make swift decisive strokes? but a spray bottle used judiciously can go a long way.

Sowornout Hi, you have done more than the system?s looking for from you, and slow and steady is definitely the way to go. Smile

Blue sorry about your news. Hope you've found equilibrium and are running a muck in London happily by now.

Bitchy I somehow read your list as including steam cleaning hair! Thank you for very useful info, am following it up.

Feetheart Well done on marathon! Lot's of time to get ready for it.

Swan can I help with anything regarding statementing and understanding it? (I rewrite statements to make them meaningful and enforceable for parents going to tribunal, for a charity) You?ve discovered the open secret that parents are diverted off to fight for statementing to try and get help for their children, instead of them helping their children, I?m afraid.

Lauren hope date night gets rescheduled.

Scruffy paper clutter is huge issue round here; so much of it has to be kept for years too, but probably not in piles all over the place! Blush

Carpe enjoy wine day, and Happy birthday to small Carpe.

Mercury well done on being inspired by Dizzy (well done!) to find the pedometer.

Maggie a horrible cloud for you all to cope with there. Sad As well as the obvious wishes for her and them, I wish all of you affected, (I suspect it?s like ripples outwards of the biggest rock dropped into a lake) strength and the ability to continue lives iykwim. Sorry D/S is wobbly, hope you have a nice day of it together.

Too Immature The baby steps really do help you change habits and reassess things, though it took me two go?s round them to start really getting the hang of it, especially the control journal bit, (I hate it, but can see the point) and how to adapt things to suit our lives.
No one here to help, but I have started to understand that years of trying and failing to get son to put his belt on a hanger when taking it off so there isn?t chaos in the morning, can be conquered by making it a specific step in an evening routine for him. So here it?s about moving things off my task list, and on to other people?s, Grin and selling it to them in a way they seem to find easier, rather than expecting help, or them to do what I?m doing, too.
Agree?s to get out of Fly Ladies tent, unless you?re very organised with e-mails.

Issima I have replaced some of the babysteps with one?s better suited to us, several of them just don't work for us.

Dizzy I think the FF down side may be an excess of money and resource heavy, if I?ve got it right she advocates running a washing machine daily as well. Not on a water meter I?d guess.

Ellie what a rotten position to be in with work. Such a fine call between the rights of a long term teacher currently sliding and the children impacted by it, and doesn?t seem as if anyone?s found an answer to it.

Rowingboat I haven?t even found the body clutter bit yet, but am definitely in need of it!

Engels hope you can pick up spirits a bit and get some quality time at home soon, don?t feel guilty (pot chatting to kettle!) it is all relative and bottling things up doesn't generally get them better, am the world's worst for this.
I've lost no weight but there?s recently definitely less of me, so hopefully it?s fat converting to muscle?

Toffee thank you, I've had a delivery of sandbags for expected further deluge, and when they saw the situation they just did it all for me, and fire brigade are going to jet wash some grim stuff for me tomorrow, so good start. Hope your feeling a little less rough, though it sounds like you?re not getting much chance to recover.

Hope Whoknows is recovering too.

Phew! Waves and apologies to everyone else, but must get on.

strictlycaballine · 05/10/2012 12:46

Lunch break [falls on Carpe's birthday cake]

Feeling a bit more chipper now have actually accomplished a few things this am:

finish morning routine done
rabbits + cages x 2 done
carry everything out of hall/dining room/sitting room that shouldn't be there (this will take a long time) done hellish
tidy playroom done hastily
tidy mantelpiece and sideboard done
laundry: ballet wash, school uniform tonight ongoing
dye Barnet Fair ongoing
evening routine
also made mash to go with fish tonight and sorted out some admin for dh

[pours Toffee more extra strong coffee*] Sorry your ds2 is still suffering. It's good he has the w/e to recover. I am enjoying art course thank you very much! Smile And (wierdly - or maybe not) it is definitely helping me to be more motivated cleaning/organising around the house. Need to clear more space (literally) and time to do exercises though and dh a bit iffy about it all because I made stupid timing error (Flemish obviously not as good as I thought it was!) leaving him to do school and extra curric stuff Mon night - need to find someone to take over pronto. Hope you survive the sleepover tomorrow, brave woman that you are!!! (Not guaranteed to help your sleep deprivation I imagine!) And happy birthday to your ds1! Hope he has a fab time!

Carpe*'s Happy 2nd Birthday to your ds too! Hope he has a good 'un!

Engels don't feel guilty about feeling low - just sorry you are having such a tough time of it and having to work such long hours - it sounds really hard. Bummer about day off too. Hope you manage some r & r this w/e.

Rowingboat I'm a body clutter person or I would be if I was actually managing to lose some weight . There are quite a few of us on here. I think we have weigh-ins every Sunday for those want to (the fact that I'm not sure shows how dedicated I am doesn't it!!) - will find out what everyone wants to do this w/e. Watch this space! Lots of us on MFP (in theory anyway!! Blush) - very good resource that helps with targets etc. Well done re: hot spots!

Maggie good your ds2 feeling better and well done with impressive weight loss! Not at all re: post yesterday - totally understand horrible situation for all concerned. (I can hardly bear to look at the news when there is still no news ifyswim - goodness knows how all of you who are more directly involved must be feeling). Sounds like a wonderful community spirit you have there which is just what is needed in absolute worst of times. Still praying.

Justgettingonwithit how exciting about your visit to a fire stationGrin [hoicks bust a la Les Dawson] I do love lovely young men in uniform Wink Your list doesn't look particularly 'light' to me - take it steady! Sorry about ongoing housing situation - landlords sound dire - must be acutely stressful. Thanks for acrylic tips!! Now I know why everyone has spray bottles!! Tutor also recommended covers for palettes that keep everything moist. Also investigating retarders. Bet your sketch is much better than you think it is - you sound like an expert!!

Must go or hair will turn purple whereas I am aiming at wet elephant colour Wink

Huge waves to eveyrone!

OP posts:
strictlycaballine · 05/10/2012 12:47

Sorry Carpe don't know why you turned out unemboldened there! Hope your little lad has a lovely day!

OP posts:
BitchyDragons · 05/10/2012 12:52

Ta Da
4th load laundry on (ds had wet bed which always equals a couple of loads. plus various training kits. Plus normal washing = a lot of washing)
folding
ironing
2 hours training
long hot shower
pack ds' bag for contact
have a good hearty breakfast.
Consider plan of action to get rest of crisis tidying/ clean done.
shopping
Move some furniture
Sort out the toy corner so it looks presentable (ie surface tidy only)
Tidy up landing
Load car for contact run

BBL

deleted203 · 05/10/2012 13:16

Much love to all - particularly Trazzle and everyone else who is struggling with life.

Ta Da (so far).

Swish and swipe
Hoovered downstairs
Put load of washing on

Men are currently fitting a carpet for me. This means when they are done I can go in that room and look smugly round at how pristine it is (As though I had had anything to do with it Grin) and then I can go in and fill the room up with clutter--

To do

Get DDs passport sorted out (properly)
Go to bank
Pick DS up from school
Another load of washing
Make up spare room for guest tonight
15 mins decluttering in 'the Zone'

Best get on!

deleted203 · 05/10/2012 13:17

Oops! I meant to cross out the whole sentance about 'fill the room up with clutter'. Is that my subconscious taking over - or simply Mumsnet sabotage?

GossipWitch · 05/10/2012 14:32

Is this the same group that I keep coming on every few months full of promises then kids mess it up for me, and then I find crocheting more important ? doesn't make much sense I know but I would like to join :)

BitchyDragons · 05/10/2012 15:43

Perhaps Gossip. Jump on board.

Am going to drive stupid mileage and then grab an early night. very tired today.

swanthingafteranother · 05/10/2012 17:13

taking it easy today, (dd at home)
did the big shop! And am writing it all down on budgeting sheet Shock
friend for coffee this morning
another Open Day yest, and drink out with friends, and Cranach the Elder caused a few rows too, Garden of Eden etc. Long long walk, lost car etc.

Dd is writing a newspaper article about Rosehips
Ds2 is wandering around (I'm now trying the "let them get bored" technique)

Ds1 has yet to appear

dw ON
need to take out the bin
retrieve car from where it is parked at back of beyond.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 05/10/2012 17:45

I too am taking it easy although I do have a good excuse. Starting to feel a lot more human now but that is when the danger starts, I must be really careful of lifting etc for a good few more weeks yet. So, I'm in the naughty corner sitting on a big soft cushion. [wine ] anyone?

Gossip - this may well be the same thread, we've been flapping our wings for three years and many people have come and gone, repeatedly in many cases. Welcome back and if there's anything you don't understand just ask.

DH has run himself ragged all week trying to make sure the house and DCs are taken care of with me sitting in bed shouting reminders. Friends have been ferrying the DCs about. It'll be harder next week when DH h to get back to doing longer hours at work, he's only been doing 10-2 this week. I'm hoping he is starting to appeciate the amount of housework and general organising I usually do suspect he thinks I don't do much

strictlycaballine · 05/10/2012 20:40

[[//Plumps up cushions and inhales Whoknow's Wine (sshhh, don't let Bitchy see that we've re-opened the bar Wink])

Great to have progress report Whoknows - I was wondering how you were getting on - good to know you are feeling more human. Hope you can make the most of this weekend in terms of r & r and resist over-doing it next week!!

Safe driving Bitchy Well done re: list

Your dc always seem to cover very diverse & interesting topics in their hwk Swan - wish the education here was as broad and curiosity-provoking

Arf at Sowornout's possible Freudian slip! Smile

Good to have you on board GossipWitch

Feeling pretty happy with my efforts tonight (unlike yesterday!) Finished my list + all did missions for entire week in one day (going against all Fat Fairy rules) + cleaned fridge. Have trouble 'putting away papers and magazines' because have nowhere to put them. Have not actually done any chucking out or Fling Boogies though. Nor have I made progress in boudoir. Intending to do 75 mins of paper decluttering tomorrow.

Going to try and have an early night tonight!

Take care everyone.

OP posts:
strictlycaballine · 05/10/2012 20:43

**

OK everyone, well done for getting to the end of a difficult week. And newcomers - you have just completed your first week of Flying ? congratulations!

Tomorrow's baby-step no. 6 for Saturday 6th October is here and it's a very important one about 2 minute hot-spots (and putting your bills in one place). Highly recommended.

No zones or missions tomorrow because it is the weekend but just for info (and especially for Tooimmature Grin) here are the zones for October:
Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room (October 1-6)
Zone 2: The Kitchen (October 7-13)
Zone 3: The Bathroom and One Extra Room (October 14-20)
Zone 4: The Master Bedroom (October 21-27)
Zone 5: The Living Room (October 28-31)

Therefore, starting next week, we will be in the kitchen.
this is a really useful article about how best to tackle zone cleaning

The habit for October is: getting rid of paper clutter here

Any further questions have a look at the flight plan tomorrow which should automatically update by date.

Oh yes, and as it's Friday, think I will link to some reminders for once!

Have a good weekend everyone. G'night!

OP posts:
strictlycaballine · 05/10/2012 20:52

Going to check Trazzle's thread for any updates.

Trazzle doubt you have the time, but if you are lurking, we are all behind you and your little boy all the way x

PA Hope you are feeling stronger

Maggie Thinking of April Jones' and her family and everyone in and around Machynlleth.

OP posts:
Trazzletoes · 05/10/2012 22:41

Thanks all for your support. Hoping to bring DS home on Sunday night/Monday for a few days before his next round of chemo. A total lack of immune system means my house must be spotless.

Shit.

It is very VERY far from spotless.

Chemo started today. If all treatment goes to plan (unlikely) he'll be cancer free around Christmas 2013. Of course, he'll never give me grand babies of his very own but if he lives to see 21 then I couldn't care less.

strictlycaballine · 05/10/2012 23:10

Trazzle amazing that you found the time/mental energy to post here with everything you're dealing with right now! Thanks so much for the update: we're all thinking of you. Here's hoping you can get home on Sunday for a bit of "normality" after all the shock and trauma. I'm sure it will do you both good. Sorry you are facing such a long haul but good that the treatment has started so promptly. On a more practical level, will any of your relatives be able to help with cleaning as you should probably be conserving your energy? Don't be shy about asking - people like having something tangible to do to help. Thinking of you and your little trooper tonight x

OP posts:
Trazzletoes · 05/10/2012 23:14

Can't sleep. There were air bubbles in the chemo meds that go straight in to his vein. I am convinced that they are going to kill him.

strictlycaballine · 05/10/2012 23:51

Trazzle no wonder you can't sleep! Is there anyone (night nurse?) you can ask about it?

OP posts:
Trazzletoes · 05/10/2012 23:54

Yep. They've told me its fine.

Doesn't help.

deleted203 · 05/10/2012 23:59

Trazzle all my love and best wishes to you. I'll be keeping you and your ds in my thoughts. I'm glad the treatment has started - hopefully you get nearer day by day to your ds being well again. Please try and trust the nursing staff if they say it's fine. Try and get a good night's sleep because you need to rest when you can.

strictlycaballine · 06/10/2012 00:09

Totally understandable to be worried/wired in circs. Ditto what Sowornout said about trying to get some rest although I guess easier said than done. Hope you have something there to try and distract you from racing thoughts ...books, sudoko, knitting similar or sometimes just 'not trying' to sleep can help. I would usually recommend ironing (puts me straight to sleep) but not very practical on hospital ward. Any other mums about?

OP posts:
strictlycaballine · 06/10/2012 00:38

Trazzle going to bed now but will come and check this as and when throughout the night in case you post (dh snores loudly so am often up and about stuffing cotton wool in my ears) Hope you manage to get some rest if not sleep x

OP posts:
deleted203 · 06/10/2012 00:54

Trazzle I'm still up and thinking of you.....hopefully you are asleep. Going to bed shortly - hope tomorrow is a good day for you. x