Neat and clean in 2017 - it's the January Flylady thread

[CotswoldStrife]

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Welcome to the January Flylady thread, where we try and maintain our nests in good order by following the Flylady method. We'll post links each day to the Flylady website for the babysteps, daily focus and extra missions in the current zone. The habit of the month is shining your sink (or whatever other place in your home motivates you).

If you are just starting, Flylady recommends decluttering the weekly zone before doing the detailed cleaning and not to do too much at once!

All are welcome, so feel free to join us anytime.

Well I woke up all motivated, packed DH off to work and walked the dog.

Got home to a call from DH to say our caravan has been stolen from outside his factory. It was a real professional job, someone's come along with a transporter and some kind of lifting machine and literally lifted it over the penguin bollards that are around it, onto the back of the transporter and it's gone - with wheel clamps and hitch locks still attached. We've got it all on cctv.

Police are worse than useless, they couldn't be less interested beyond giving us a crime reference number.

And for an extra kick in the tits, we weren't insured to store it at his factory as it wasn't an approved storage facility (in fairness we did know this but thought it couldn't possibly be stolen with all the security we had in place)... so that's bye bye to about 14 grands worth of caravan and all the gear inside it. I could weep - in fact I have.

Ta da's

• Washing machine emptied from night before
• Puppy walked
• Started a clear out of spare room and all paperwork in there (whilst frantically looking for caravan insurance docs)
• Tip run

To do's

• Put a wash load on
• Wipe down kitchen
• Iron uniform (I'm back to work tomorrow)
• Run hoover round kitchen and dining room
• Sort and file paperwork properly (this will be ongoing over a few days).

With regards to paperwork, how long do people keep things like wage slips, old bills, old car insurance docs, etc?

I've not done this before and I'm not feeling very motivated today so hopefully this will kick me into shape a bit.

Our Christmas house guests left this morning so I'm starting to make inroads into getting house back into shape.

Almost finished washing up and loaded first load of laundry into the machine. Kids are dressed and fed and currently quiet which is a miracle in itself.

My toddler is very busy and has to be involved in everything so any tasks take 3 times longer than they should.

fly how awful for you
Gallic I remember those days well(lil zoo just turn 9)I used pop mine in bath with damp sponge and tell them clean bath whilst mum does rest.gave me time yo do sunk toilet and floor without trip over a toddler(enthusiastic that's it clean taps til shiny whilst I do sunk taps etc). Ahh those were the days!!

Whoops post too soon!!
Got diary.thankfully dd2 mention whilst we there needed new stationery (Biro's/pencils)do pick those up usually tell me last minute so quite pleased I at least got notice
Lunch eaten and dishes washed

Just a question.any one got a messy eater that's not preschool? And what do you do with them?D's is just turn 11 and you can always see where he sat to eat. His plate was surround spinach leaves and tuna(from his rolls)and were under table too dispairs

Haha, yes, I've perfected the art of cleaning the bathroom while kids are in the bath. I tend to wash-up while they eat and I have to sweep and mop kitchen floor while the toddler has a nap because he loves swinging the broom around.

Father Christmas brought him a hoover and cleaning trolley so I'm hoping that helps. I've also discovered his little broom is quite good at dusting skirting boards.

Gallic I'm genuinely thinking of getting my dd a toy hoover for her birthday next month because she loves to help me as well and the hoover is her favourite.

Ta das
Dishwasher on
Washing hung up
More washing on
Laundry put away
Got birthday present for DD friend
Made opticians appointment
Made vet appointment
Started tax return (finishing it is another matter!)
Wiped kitchen sides
Rubbish out to bin

To do
Make soup ready to heat up later when we get back from hair cuts
Finish tax return ha ha ha ha ha ha

Will place mark here too. I'm a bit of a hoarder and want to change my ways desperately

Hi everyone I am joining too if you'll have me!
2boys I too am a bit of a boarder and by bit I mean very generous portion and it's all rubbish that we don't need now and probably never did. So I am ready to get rid in a big way and what I can't donate or recycle will have to go in a skip! I am really looking to revolutionize the way we live and the way I handle the housework. DH is fab at helping me but he works full time and I am part time. Plus, I just don't think it bothers him as it does me. My ultimate goal is to be completely unfazed by people dropping by unannounced and be able to welcome them in to my lovely home.
I am also a Zoflora addict but that's enough about me!

Hoarder not boarder!

So I made dentist appointments thanks to the reminders up thread.

While waiting for the washer to finished, I pulled out the cleaning stuff from under sink and gave the sink a good clean. DS had a rifle through the basket which meant I had to rearrange the contents to get them all in. I decided to give the cupboard a quick wipe clean and while I was cleaning, the kids dropped popcorn on the floor which meant I had to sweep. While I was doing that, DS dropped popcorn in living room. See my problems?

Hi everyone and hello to more new members! fly , that is really rubbish. gallic, I totally see the problems! Similar here with threenager DD2.

Ta da:-

Last day of school hols here so we have been out for coffee and to the park. Have also pottered around the house his afternoon starting to get bits ready for tomorrow- would never have done that before this thread
Laundry
Dishwasher loaded
DD1's hair accessories organised for school - but how long will it last???!

To do:-
Girls tea
Bath and bed etc
Go to shop for milk later
Label scarfs, gloves, water bottles etc for
Study once everyone is in bed
Few mins on DD2's party invites. DD1 (6) has started them for me but the organisation is lacking bless her!

So sorry Fly

Today has been super productive, I'm feeling good.

Ta
Hard floors mopped
Carpets (upstairs and down) vacuumed
Rubbish emptied
Shined sink
Tidied playroom
Cleaned dining room light fitting
Cleaned front door
Cleaned hallway woodwork (may have taken the paint off a bit with zoflora)
Tidied the bathroom
Bathed the DC and trimmed nails
Disinfected kitchen cloths
Wiped sides and table
Wiped foam mats

Slow day here as first day back at work which was a real struggle. Still beds changed, kitchen and living room tidied and recycling sorted. Hopefully a more productive day tomorrow

Back at work today. Ugh!

Ta-da:
Wash put away
bed linen/towels washed & out to dry
Living room tidied
Porch tidied and swept of leaves and dirt
Phone call to John Lewis to replace faulty lampshade
Dishes etc all put away after dinner
Clothes ready for tomorrow
Breakfast bowls/spoons/mugs all ready on kitchen counter for tomorrow
List of things to remember to take with me next to my handbag

To-do
Supervise DS's cleaning teeth
Flop!

TooStressy yes FlyLady has worked for me for about 18 months now, since DS was about 6 months old. I'm taking baby steps and my latest light bulb moment has been to write down my evening routine on a piece of card and pop on the fridge door. So now, when I come downstairs at 8pm after putting DS to bed I can do what needs to be done without spending loads of time going, oh, what on earth do I need to do now? (I'm not an evening person...) It takes the need to think out of it! Added bonus is that the times when DP offers to pitch in I can just look at my list and delegate! Again, I don't stand there going, oh, er, I can't remember, I can't think what there is to do.

Getting inspired reading everyone's posts!

Ta da's
Dishes washed
Clothes wash on and dried.
Dry clothes put away
Food aldi

Small headway into clutter in hallway. Waylaid by 18month old "helping" aka as making more mess

Had planned on more but DD decided to not nap.

Have completely downed tools though as got some last minute annual leave so watching TV and relishing in the knowledge I don't need to stay awake all night

It's not been the productive day I'd envisaged but a few things have got done...
Made enough sad vegetable soup for the next three days
Dishwasher on plus washed the extra bits up (which never gets done straight away)
Shortlisted some jobs to apply for
Emptied bins and sorted recycling
Cleaned kitchen sides and swept floor

Tomorrow will be better...

Oh fly how awful. There are some real shitheads out there. I didn't even know organised caravan swiping was a thing.

Fly thats so shit, i'm sorry.

Manic first day back at work and need to perform a minor miracle in the next hour. Still. Deep breath, here it goes:

Tadas
Cleaned up after breakfast and unpacked dishwasher
Took bin out
Loaded dishwasher after dinner

To dos
Clean up kitchen and make tomorrows packed lunches
Put away dry laundry and load machine ready for the morning
Quick lounge tidy up
Whatever else i can muster

Zoo thank you! I just saw your message and I will try the iron in the morning.

Very busy first day back at work and DD wouldn't go to bed so not going so well on day 3 BUT did clean the sink.
Will get washing and clothes ready for tomorrow and try and do a quick 15 minute declutter before bed.

Not as productive as I had hoped. We had visitors.
Ta das:
One washload done
15 minutes of ironing
Downstairs bathroom cleaned
Kitchen cleaned and tidied
One box of decorations out away
Hallway swept

To do:
Sort the playroom.

purple your soup making inspired me! I made tomato soup with mozzarella and pesto panini's for dinner! I dug out my stick blender I hadn't used for years and it worked wonderfully.

Didn't get my tax return finished though...

That sounds like a delicious soup and panini combo foxes. I'm also avoiding my tax return. I've had the figures ready for literally months. There always seems to be something more fun to do!

Sorry to hear that fly hope the police do something