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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Remember, remember to Fly through November, but Fledglings will chatter a lot

900 replies

BlueEyeshadow · 31/10/2013 11:06

If 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 and Cake 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 zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do someting more interesting 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!

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 Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound!

Humungous thanks to SlimChance for leading us through October and such a copy-and-pasteable OP.... Thanks

All welcome!!

OP posts:
BitchytheGreat · 02/11/2013 13:53

HeyJudith it is rather bad form to stomp onto a thread that is NOT looking for answers to what works but IS about supporting people and dump a post like that. It comes across as highly judgemental.

Just i will admit I also avoided answering and posting but am glad you said something. You were far calmer and just then the response I would have had.

Engels lovely, don't be so bloody stupid. You are having a tough time and if you need to have a rant have a rant.

Honu · 02/11/2013 15:20

Yep, still here, just a tad late. Thanks to thread leaders Thanks
Have spent past 3 weeks with builder underfoot, clearing most of the crap the extension builder left undone / did badly. House now in potentially better state but stuff now all over the place as impossible to put stuff away while he was here. So CHAOS really serious here, so I have declared ....

November really is the new January and here are my NY resolutions

  1. I will actually DO the 15 min daily declutter that I find so hard.
  2. I have created a spreadsheet which, by the end of the month, should contain 30 main meals (hopefully all different) and 30 light lunches (ditto) which we have eaten this month, with the aim of adding more later. This will form the basis of my menu planning as I can never think what we might want to eat before I go shopping.

There is just so much tut everywhere I must be able to go round clearing something up. Mid-afternoon and I still haven't done today's declutter.

GoingGoingGoth · 02/11/2013 15:22

Afternoon, bloody hell Toffee that's a list and a half , although I think Feet is coming a close second.

Engels rant away, it's what we're here for.

Had a bit of a CBA day today, woke up feeling crap, so have had DH playing nurse. Only got up after 1!

I have made my Cs cake, but leaving the mixture overnight so the fruit absorb the alcohol and plan to bake tomorrow.

CallingAllEngels · 02/11/2013 16:58

Thanks to you all. You are lovely.

elliepac · 02/11/2013 18:26

Evening all! I actually have a ta da list. Yay! My washing machine has broken. Boo!

Ta da:-
Cleaned whole house
Tidied whole house
Online shop
Paid bills
Ferried washing round to MIL's.

If i was competitive i reckon i could do a list to rival bitchy but i wouldn't want to take her list crownWinkGrin.

engels do not bloody apologise for ranting. It was not a pity party. It was, as bitchy wisely said someone whi has been going through a tough time letting off some steam. Even if it was a pity party, that would be ok too because that's why we are here.Smile

Was going to comment in some other posts but am on phone and brain has given up the ghost after this week so i shall just say i agree with you all and you all have done brilliantlyGrin.

Ds is sleeping out at a friends. DD is upstairs playing with DN (he is 20 and bless him he is spending his Saturday night playing with his 5yr old cousin. Not all youths are badSmile). DH is playing his xbox and I am going to retire to the sofa to watch Strictly.

Although before i do that I have to go to MIL's to pick up my washing as my fucking machine won't drain. Suspect clogged filter as some water is getting through but cba to sort it out this weekend and MIL only lives round the corner so takes 5 minutes to drop off/pick up.

revolvenotevolve · 02/11/2013 19:14

I actually found Judith post about her experience really interesting and a useful insight - of course people are in different circumstances but how are newbies supposed to know ?!? The thread title is already cliquey and smacks of injokes but being spiteful to people whose intentions are good is uncalled for.

BitchytheGreat · 02/11/2013 19:39

The title is deliberately cliquey and full of injokes. It is deliberately picked as such to warn that this is a long running thread. And whilst newbies are very welcome we are not interested in perfection more support!

There was nothing spiteful in any of the posts. And tbh to suggest as such is also missing the point of these threads. These threads are NOT about perfection. What was being pointed out was that the post was not in the spirit of the threads and that not everyone has the circumstances that allows for perfection of which the poster was suggesting was so easy to achieve. I am glad that she had the life circumstances to allow her to achieve that. But many on the thread do not and as an opening post was in very very poor judgement and came across as highly critical and rather obnoxious. And be fair that comments were not made last night because the response was far more measured that it would have been otherwise.

revolvenotevolve · 02/11/2013 19:58

she didn't say it was easy to achieve - in fact that was her point - she said it took time and effort.
You have no idea of her life circumstances so are guilty of making poor and obnoxious judgements about her in a spiteful and uncalled for way when her intentions were good. At no point did she come across as critical.
Don't bother replying to this as it's derailing the thread and it's quite clear that you have an entire code of conduct worked out that people must somehow decipher by telepathy.
In the scheme of things this doesn't matter and is very trivial so perhaps use some perspective and consider that your tone has offended people too.

elliepac · 02/11/2013 20:03

revolvenotevolve I think it is unfair to call any of the posts spiteful. They were not and were measured response. I don't think the thread title is at all cliquey and merely serves to indicate that this is a long running thread and some of us have got to know each other very well. Some posters may not wish to join such a thread which is why the title makes it clear who we are iyswim. If you take the time to search previous threads you will see that we are unreservedly welcoming to new posters. The problem with judith's post which has unnerved some posters was the assumption that it was actually very easy to fly and all it needed was not to be lazy. It may not be that the post was supposed to come across like that but unfortunately it did and justifiably hit a nerve with some posters who are really struggling in RL at the moment and see this thread as a place for support not criticism. This coupled with the fact that this was the first time the poster had posted on the thread meant that it caused suspicion.

If you have read the thread you will see that we are as far from confrontational and spiteful as you can possibly be. Any intimation otherwise without getting to know us is unfair.

BitchytheGreat · 02/11/2013 20:22

Except me. I am Bitchy. See, it says it up there in the name! js.

BitchytheGreat · 02/11/2013 20:34

Also, we specialise in thread derailing. It is kinda the point around here. There is more to life then housework. Because, let's be honest, housework is boring. And I am not defined as a person by housework. It is just something that gets done. You can not put me in a box the naughty corner perhaps but I will never be in a box!

Btw I have restocked the bar. Hope you are all enjoying the fun that is fireworks and rain, and cold It's warm and comfy in here!

MercuryRising · 02/11/2013 20:44

Bitchy poor me a wine and I will join you at the bar. As a regular rejoiner I can vouch that as a rule newbies are always welcomed warmly.

elliepac · 02/11/2013 20:48

I'm with you mercury. Double whammy tonight. Real and virtual...wooohooooGrin

BitchytheGreat · 02/11/2013 20:50

You might have to help yourself ladies I had a bit of a head start tonight glasses over there ----> and the wine is over there

MercuryRising · 02/11/2013 20:52

Real and virtual here too Ellie I intended to work tonight but after five hours in the library today wine is definitely the more attractive optionGrin

elliepac · 02/11/2013 20:53

I too intended to work tonight but feel i deserve at least one day off!

MercuryRising · 02/11/2013 20:55

After Ofsted I think you have safely earnt it Wink

elliepac · 02/11/2013 21:09

Fuck it, I'm having the whole week offWinkGrin

MercuryRising · 02/11/2013 21:13

I wish I could. Im on placement for the next three weeks in a new school and am terrified. I am teaching a whole class for the first time and don't feel anywhere near ready. Sad

BitchytheGreat · 02/11/2013 21:13

ShockShock I do hope you have half term Miss Ellie. You are supposed to be responsible for the youth of today. You skip that and we are all dooooooooooomed! doomed i tell you unless you have a minion to do your bidding

BitchytheGreat · 02/11/2013 21:14

Mercury, you are not supposed to feel ready. You will be fine. and if not we will be here to hold your hand and get you drunk afterwards.

MercuryRising · 02/11/2013 21:15

Bitchy no talk of being doomed it is adding to my sense of panic. I need reassuring that all children are lovely Grin But I agree 100% that Miss Ellie deserves to put her feet up and enjoy half term.

MercuryRising · 02/11/2013 21:16

Thank you Bitchy I know I will be fine and the world will continue to turn but Im so worried about fucking it up!

elliepac · 02/11/2013 21:25

mercury please don't worry. 99.99% of pupils are lovely. Above all else remember that this is a mahoosive learning curve. No-one gets it right all the time and if they say they do, they are talking bollocks. I've been teaching 14 years and still fuck up all the time sometimesGrin.

And stop talking about half term. I've just had it. Just feels like have had 8 weeks in 1Grin.

elliepac · 02/11/2013 21:27

I have minions tooGrin. I am all powerfulGrin.