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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

December already! Fledgings will sleigh the pre-Christmas clutter (and eat all the mince pies)

999 replies

GoingGoingGoth · 30/11/2013 19:04

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 Brew, 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!

Thanks to BlueEyeshadow and SlimChance for the November thread. Thanks

All welcome!! And remember that December is the new January! Grin

OP posts:
GoingGoingGoth · 04/12/2013 10:12

Morning all,

Returned from dentist relatively unscathed, just a small filling today and another one booked for next week Sad. I always feel like I've just not tried hard enough, which is ridiculous, as so much depends on the strength of your teeth.

Done
Beds
Dd to school
Dentist
Windows

To do
Cat litter tray
Rubbish out
Feed birds
Ironing
Laundry on
Dry laundry away
Paperwork

BBL

OP posts:
giraffeseatpineapples · 04/12/2013 10:14

Goes to google step 17 , returns with more coffee

Ooh bitchy I am impressed I fell asleep on the sofa and went to bed at 3.00am again last night

Slimchance wow 5 and a half hours of decluttering - gulp. The worst area in my house is my side of the bed 'giraffes corner' dp calls it. It is pretty much a scene from oc cleaners Blush

goth this is without question the most organised thread I have ever seen and one of the friendliest too - thank you so much for amazing round up!

Ok so realistically aiming for getting downstairs looking presentable and possibly some paper work sorting (worst chore other than tackling the 'corner' )

so far this morning, lunches (behind before the day started) exercise dvd and helped dc tidy bed rooms, school runs er thats it. Better stop procrastinating...

To do before playschool p/u - finish cup of coffee, laundry on, dishes, bs 1 shine sink (?) tidy, hoover, paperwork on desk, put away clothes maybe iron.

dizzyday07 · 04/12/2013 10:16

I am suffering from Cantbebothereditis! After I blitz the house on a Monday, and because detailed cleaning is not something I want to spend my time doing Blush I lack motivation to do anything around the house! I then feel more demotivated coming on here saying I have just shined my sink and put some laundry in when everybody else is so busy. I think thats why I tebd to drop out of the threads after a week or so Sad

It doesnt help that Xmas is looming and I am so ill prepared its unbelievable. I can't be arsed with it at the best of times but this year leaving everything very late is now coming round to bite me on the bum! It doesnt help that DH's brother who has 3 kids still hasnt given us lists of what they want. We always seem to be last to get them after it has gone round both sets of grandparents and his family HATE if you use your initiative and buy off the cuff. I need to buy some things off Amazon so really need to get the order in this week.

Ta Da (from yesterday)

  • went to Hobbycraft and got Goddaughters present (plus some fabric for me)!
  • Raided Matalan for presents for DS and mums partner
  • Helped DD did myself decorate a Smartie tube for taking to Brownies
  • Watched DD in her Brownie Christingle performance
  • Unloaded D/W and shined sink
  • Moved the Elf (he decorated the cloakroom with loo roll !)

Today I need to pop out and buy something for dinner and as its Anti Procrastination Day maybe I will get round to pinning DD's quilt together!

Swan - I take part in the Swimathon every year and usually comlete the 2.5k (100 lengths) with not a lot of training beforehand but I have decided to double the distance for 2014 so really need to get some pool time in! The other ladies on here that run 5 and 10k are the ones I am in awe of. I am SO fat I would have trouble running for a bus

Slimchance · 04/12/2013 10:21

Sorry Goth missed that you were at the dentist today! Glad it went OK!

Giraffe Well done on doing exercise DVD this morning!!

I am currently sitting in my home office wondering where on earth to start and it is a scene from OC cleaners, I promise you!! It is so bad, I don't have a strategy and there's no where to put the stuff once sorted ifyswim ...

doesn't help that computer is in here of course

BitchytheGreat · 04/12/2013 10:29

ta da
school run
walk to wake up muscles
physio exercise (part of)
load and run dishwasher
boil up hand warmers
melt one hand warmer by dropping it on the stove rather then in pan
stick fingers into boiling water by accident
Check if cooker top still hot with hand wtf ouch
find christmas cup
put pots in to soak
air house
empty lounge bin
1 load of washing on
sort out a load of internet admin

I am supposed to be doing a massive load of paperwork admin. Instead I am going to have to go to the next town to run errands which is going to completely wipe out the rest of my morning before my afternoon meeting. I love living where I live but being in the middle of no where can be a right royal pain in the arse sometimes.

Slimchance · 04/12/2013 10:36

Dizzy have a Brew Sorry you are feeling demotivated. You don't have to do detailed cleaning if you don't want to - just adapt the system to suit yourself.

I am only just now getting serious after months of procrastinating and everyone is at different stages with different demands. Please don't be put off by long lists. The person with the mega-impressive list one day is just as likely to have an off-day the next and if you are keeping up with basic routines, then you are doing really well!! Personally, I think attending your dd's Christingle performance and decorating smartie tubes is much more important than detailed cleaning!

As for your nephews/nieces, would it be too boring to buy them Amazon vouchers, then they could choose what they want and you could kill two birds with one stone?

.. very impressed by forthcoming 200 length swim!

BitchytheGreat · 04/12/2013 10:44

Detailed cleaning? Wtf is this spoken torture you speak of? As for my long lists? I stick lots of random stuff in my lists, half of what make up my lists is not flying and I am still a crash and burn kinda flyer. I am trying to find the rooms. Due to life circumstances (stuff from other houses being poured into one house) it has also has also been a bit like a scene from OCD cleaners around here too SC Beginning to find the room under the clutter, one day it might even be tidy and organised.

I am currently procrastinating about paperwork and going out (i can combine meeting and errands needed to be done), and wondering wtf to do about the wardrobe that is begining to wobble itself to bits and looking like it will dump a load of really heavy stuff on top of the tv. Hmm

Slimchance · 04/12/2013 10:53

It's crash and burn here too Bitchy [currently crashing!] Please leave vat of special brew on the hob. In desperate need. Good luck with errands and wobbly wardrobe rescue!

Have decided to take it step by step:

  1. "pick c**p off the floor

[Steps away from screen]

BitchytheGreat · 04/12/2013 10:54

Yeah i have been doing that with my room. currently on day 5 of picking crap off the floor it is mostly paperwork that needs dealing with.

Slimchance · 04/12/2013 10:55

woaOhh Bitchy sorry ... wasn't referrring to your long lists in partic btw ... just meant that we all have off days ... I have more than most

right, really am turning off computer now

Brew and Biscuit for all on naughty corner counter

BitchytheGreat · 04/12/2013 10:58

On no offence taken SC but sometimes my lists do need explaining as they can be rather demoralising to others/newbies. I know that the regulars just ignore my lists and then take the piss out of me for them WinkGrin

Paintyourbox · 04/12/2013 11:00

Hi everyone,

Can I pop in and out?!

DP has been in hospital, DD had a horrible bug which I now have and as a result the house is a mess.

I just want to sleep but we've run out of towels and the bin is overflowing so I need to do something in between necking pills to get my fever down.

Targets for today:

Wash towels
Dry towels
Bedding in washing machine for BIL visit at weekend
Empty bin

Wish me luck! I'm snottiness away on the sofa at the moment!

Slimchance · 04/12/2013 11:01

So far I have picked up:
bubble wrap
scissors
old Toblerone box
catalogues
printer cartridges
toy doctor's box
a handbag
wrapping paper
random bits of printed text
tube of soluble aspirin
squished blob of blue tack
pair of trainers
and a calendar from 2009

... wouldn't be surprised if I came across a rabbit in there somewhere Xmas Confused

Ok, OK, really am going now ....

Xmas Grin
BitchytheGreat · 04/12/2013 11:03

Hello paintbox and welcome to the mad house! thread Grin

Grin SC

Slimchance · 04/12/2013 11:05

Welcome Paintbox
You poor thing Thanks Hope you feel better soon and things improve generally!

Grin Bitchy!

[sneaks away properly this time]

Slimchance · 04/12/2013 11:05

[glugging special brew on the way]

ToffeeWhirl · 04/12/2013 11:14

SC - sorry your DD is suffering anxiety/low self confidence. Please PM me.

Bitchy - well done on the early night - it will pay off in the end, even if you do feel like death when you first wake up. Sorry, but your later list did make me laugh (especially the 'wtf ouch' bit Grin).

swan - hmm, maybe get your DH to take over the job of sandwich making from now on if he's so bloody good at it!

Goth - you shouldn't feel guilty: my dentist says that it's luck/genetics whether we have good teeth or not, as well as how much we care for them. It depends on the condition of the teeth you inherit, as well as their position in the mouth (crooked, crowded, etc), so decay is not always down to poor toothbrushing or too much sugar. My DS1 eats loads of sugary stuff (teenager - won't be told) and he has never had a filling. DS2, on the other hand (who is only eight) is only allowed limited sweet stuff and has already had two fillings.

giraffe - DH and I both have a corner like that, one on each side of the bed. Sadly, our bedroom tends to be the dumping ground for all the homeless clutter.

dizzy - please don't stop coming here. We're not all busy all of the time. One of the things this thread is good at is consoling us when we fall behind with our chores (hence the naughty corner). And Flylady is all about focusing on what you have achieved, not what you have yet to achieve.

Well, I am sleep deprived today, thanks to sitting up till the early hours with DS1 last night (OCD-related) and then being called back in to him at 6am. He then had the cheek to fall back to sleep, leaving me wide awake. Still, at least I made good use of it, so I have a 'ta da' list. And, in his defence, he has had to come back early from school because he's feeling sick and has gone straight back to sleep, so maybe he was sickening last night.

Ta da :

Two loads of washing on
One load in tumble dryer already
Made beds
Put clean sheets on DS1's bed
Hunted for - and failed to find - DS1's PE kit
Swished and swiped in bathroom
Replaced bathroom towel
Emptied DS1's bin
Emptied kitchen bin and put recycling out
Unloaded d/w
Breakfasts for the boys
Made packed lunches and filled water bottles
Reloaded d/w
School run
Cooked my breakfast
Phone call from DS1's teacher
DH brought DS1 back home by car
Tucked DS1 back in bed
Ate cold pancakes for breakfast
Polished brass on doors
Wiped down front door (was this a mission?)
Dusted in sitting room (don't know what possessed me - I don't usually dust!)

Am considering doing some ironing, but am sorely tempted to go back to bed and catch up on sleep. DH has gone to the dentist (seems to be a theme on this thread at the moment), then is going to collect some work for us to do this afternoon, which means this is my only chance to nap today. He was clearly angling for me to go to the PO for him, but as he has had a good night's sleep and I haven't, I managed to get out of that one!

Bank account is not in a good state at the moment Sad. And, of course, there are presents still to buy. Oh well, same for me and millions of other people, I suppose.

ToffeeWhirl · 04/12/2013 11:19

Spent so long writing my long, long post that I have missed whole conversations Blush.

Paint - welcome to the thread. Really sorry you and your family are having such a hard time with illness. You are doing the right thing to focus on the essentials only (clean towels, by the sound of it!). Hope you get better soon.

Love your random clutter, SC Grin.

BitchytheGreat · 04/12/2013 11:35

ta da
school run
walk to wake up muscles
physio exercise (part of)
load and run dishwasher
boil up hand warmers
melt one hand warmer by dropping it on the stove rather then in pan
stick fingers into boiling water by accident
Check if cooker top still hot with hand wtf ouch
find christmas cup
put pots in to soak
air house
empty lounge bin
1 load of washing on
sort out a load of internet admin
empty contents of wardrobe top box
empty 2 shelves to rehome heavy files from box else where
consider where to rehome shelves emptied struggling with this one
Consider where to put the pictures which are being stored on the top of the top box also struggling with this one but a few more options
pull out spare wardrobe (one of those wooden/canvas cover one I had from student days and has been in storage) and measure size and see if it will work as a replacement.
Discover need a bigger box for the medicine box, and Blush at no of bandages that are owned and are used
Split medicine tub up into two tubs

BitchytheGreat · 04/12/2013 11:53

ta da
school run
walk to wake up muscles
physio exercise (part of)
load and run dishwasher
boil up hand warmers
melt one hand warmer by dropping it on the stove rather then in pan
stick fingers into boiling water by accident
Check if cooker top still hot with hand wtf ouch
find christmas cup
put pots in to soak
air house
empty lounge bin
1 load of washing on
sort out a load of internet admin
empty contents of wardrobe top box
empty 2 shelves to rehome heavy files from box else where
consider where to rehome shelves emptied struggling with this one
Consider where to put the pictures which are being stored on the top of the top box also struggling with this one but a few more options
pull out spare wardrobe (one of those wooden/canvas cover one I had from student days and has been in storage) and measure size and see if it will work as a replacement.
Discover need a bigger box for the medicine box, and Blush at no of bandages that are owned and are used
Split medicine tub up into two tubs
Look at ds' books shelves and realise there is no where for a lot of the current books to go and panic as he will be getting more books at christmas
Tidy tops of bookcases in hall
find box of photos that need putting into albums and had been forgotten about.
2nd load of washing on
ironing

... Need. more. special. brew...

Swanhilda · 04/12/2013 13:42

Dizzy I love all the things you get done. I love the fact that you and Bitchy doing sewing and craft and exercise Blush

I am sitting here, after reembarking on my low carb diet (sardines for lunch Hmm

looking at 3 items to be ironed Hmm

Achieving nothing!!! I have just read a book on Home Edding Asperger's children but now I'm sad because I've finished it and there's nothing left to procrastinate with (and all the contributors all put such a lot of effort into Home Edding I'm sure I couldn't possibly manage...which was my safety net Sad

Sipping Lemsip, cold back with a vengeance.

SC I am seriously impressed by your list of achievements today. Child feeling down is awful Sad Dss go through phases of telling me they are doomed, but they snap out of it and cheer up, possibly communicating that they find things difficult helps them enormously. FT said don't try and rally children when they say things are hard, just listen to them and they often come up with the solutions themselves. Is her school just expecting too much from her, because they think she has the ability? Maybe she has ability, but she will need to be a year or two older before she directs her talents. In the meantime she might be learning all sorts of other skills by being allowed to go at her own pace.

Gosh I feel uninspired today Sad Maybe I just hate the thought of visitors, it really does bring me out in a cold sweat/paralysis. I need to make dh's Cake. That might bring me to my senses.

rowingboat · 04/12/2013 13:53

I'm at work having a quick cuppa and just had to snort at bitchy and the testing cooker ring with hand. Ow!
Toffee my bedroom is also a dumping ground. My friend told me it was a sign I didn't love myself enough because I made myself live in the city dump. I'm sure yours is not on a par with my tip though!

Paintyourbox · 04/12/2013 15:28

We have towels- yay!

Ta da's

Two loads of towels washed
One load dried, second in dryer now.
Bedding in wash
Bin emptied
Quick scoot round with hand held vac after DD spilt crumbs all over the rug
Washing up done
Wipe kitchen surfaces
Ironed clothes for work tomorrow

I feel totally shattered now, going to need a very early night tonight!

Swanhilda · 04/12/2013 15:38

done
Dh present shopping and card
ingredients for birthday supper tomorrow
stained glass window book for dcs to make cards
3 stocking fillers
exercise

Swanhilda · 04/12/2013 15:45

toffee hope you had your sleep. I managed a short one in morning.
Sandwich was for ds2's lunch (we have Wednesday and Tuesday sandwiches as he does touchtyping during lunchtime) so that was what annoyed me - Dh implying I was a careless mother Grin when ds2 is not in the slightest bit bothered by that sort of thing, as long as sandwich has the right sort of cheese.

No, am going to give up on ironing. Clothes will have to be put away unironed, and I'll iron them as and when, as children due home any moment. Dd has just phoned.