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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Gather ye dusters (fledglings) while ye May, for soon we shall be Flying ... !

953 replies

Slurrycart · 28/04/2017 09:36

Welcome to the May 2017 fledgling Fly thread!

Feel free to park your mops and buckets here from the 1st of the month!

This is where we attempt to declutter our homes and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy barftastic language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation (and Wine of course) along the way.

More info available here, here here and here.

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. (Some of us are still stuck at the decluttering stage after quite a few years Blush):

1 - repeat or start baby steps (again!)

2 - repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

3 - reinforce babysteps and/or do daily missions
And those of you who have decluttered and are really enthusiastic can throw some detailed cleaning in to the mix as well!

The idea is that we focus on short, ring-fenced, daily bursts of activity (steps and routines) that will help our homes run (more or less!) on "automatic pilot" allowing us to do far more interesting things instead!

This is a very long-running thread so we may appear cliquey but we really aren't! All newcomers, long-termers, lurkers and intermittent returnees welcome!

Helpful pointers: No perfectionism allowed! If it took a while to create the current C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) in your home, then it will probably take a while to reverse the situation (you can't clean clutter!). Small steps are the key! And you are never behind: just jump in where you are at!

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

OP posts:
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Afreshstartplease · 27/05/2017 07:04

Morning all

Well I made it through last weekend with the horrible bug. It cleared up. I had mega busy week at work and yet now I've woken up with bloody earache again!

Off work for half term now. Probably have about 6 weeks until we move. So I really need to do stuff!

Ta Da

Nothing

To Do

Everything

MercuryRising · 27/05/2017 08:00

Good morning all .

I have now finished work for half term so I need to jump back in and get the house back up to a decent standard and start working my way through the ironing mountain.... my least favourite job!!

MercuryRising · 27/05/2017 08:02

Oh and stressy you are not alone. I also read those threads, I aspire to be like them for half a day and then fail miserably!!

Afreshstartplease · 27/05/2017 08:30

I read those threads and smile. Cause no one can really have it all can they.

I saw something on mn recently about this. It was someone saying there's like a triangle home/work/family, and you can't have it all, something has to give. I think there's a lot of truth here!

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 27/05/2017 08:53

A health visitor once told me that she was often more concerned about parents who were utterly perfect than she was about the ones who were not i suspect she was not including ones that were clearly not coping at all her reasoning was what were they hiding because no one is perfect. At the time it helped a lot. Now I just do the best I can and and know that that is enough.

Today's plan:
more painting
fix the shed roof
argue with ds about homework, revision and tidying bedrooms
laundry
packing ds' suitcase for his week away sadly I am looking forward to this atm Hmm
make sure everything for tomo's meeting is ready to go and check timings.
Early night!!!

Right this Zombie had better pull itself out of bed and going with the painting I would love to not see a paintbrush or paint roller again for months but I have two more rooms to do later this month. If not 3. Sad

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 27/05/2017 08:55

Re health visitor and hiding - the logic about the hiding is that some people throw themselves into and achieving perfection because they are not coping iyswim.

Clearly a vat of coffee is neeeded.

Afreshstartplease · 27/05/2017 09:02

I've heard the hv thing before too

Ta Da

Recycling out
Washer on
Dryer on

To Do

Washing on line
Wash pots
Sterilise bottles

Cagliostro · 27/05/2017 09:58

Oh those threads. I hate those. And any where there's judginess about people not coping. "Well I work a zillion hours a week and I manage." etc. Well, plenty of people can't!

Thank you so much Stressy Thanks

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 27/05/2017 09:59

Aaaaggh my parents are coming, trying to tidy and as usual both DDs now playing up in advance of the visit. DH has escaped for a run and frankly I encouraged him to go. 3 days of the grandparents visiting is a lot with no break.

Why is it so stressful? Sad. They are not even here yet!

Afreshstartplease · 27/05/2017 10:06

It's started to drizzle here so no washing going out, I believe we are expecting thunder later too

Wet washing is backing up as my washer is faster than my dryer! Argh!

Slurrycart · 27/05/2017 11:58

Hello everyone - dashing

Just wanted to agree with everyone and say exactly Afreshstart it's impossible to do it all/have it all. (Bummer about the earache btw - it's horrible - hope you feel better soon.)

Just wanted to say that I hope this thread is the antithesis of those "I am working 65 hrs a week as a corporate lawyer, my dc do six after school activities each, and I find it perfectly easy to keep my house clean" threads and we all eat healthily too!!

Agree Cag, the judginess of them is awful.

The advantage of getting older is you get to understand you can never do it all perfectly, and anyway, there are more important aims, and that I fail constantly but hope to fail slightly better/more efficiently as the years go on Grin Wink Grin.

Hope your parents have a good visit Toostressy and that your nickname is not too appropriate on this occasion!! Smile Sorry to hear about tumble drier but great that swimming lesson went well!

Foxes Star for completing a mission despite crappy week! Here's hoping next one better!

Waves to Mercury and good luck with Mount Ironmore.

Whoknows I had the exact same heat induced headache yesterday! Hope you continue to feel better today - allotment session in cool of evening sounds lovely!

Very muggy here too Grey have a lovely natter with your friend!

Mermaids sorry to hear about violent customer, you shouldn't have to put up with that. Have a wonderful vision now of what "Grandma Mermaid" looks like - I am picturing grey flowing locks with tiny shells in her hair and lots and lots of strings of pearls!!

Take it steady Cag in this heat!

Gentle breezy wing flaps to Cotswold Honu Zoo Bluepheasant Purpledaisies and everyone else I have missed.

Enjoy your weekends everyone!

OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 27/05/2017 12:15

cag whilst some people wear judgy pants hoik up to the neck mine slouch round my ankles.I am either kind of on top what we go eat OR missions for the week OR selfcare.fir the life of me I cannot juggle all the balls.perfection is beyond meGrin

Tadas
Fed scout cat
Fed kits,litter tray cleaned
Wash on
Fed Zoolets
Walk to town short sharp shower soaked us

Luckily we dry out as sun frizz usConfusedut was hot,busy and tempers flaring but just for once it wasn't me or any of mine lot screeching
We made it home with only dd2 struggling as she's a little too fond big portions and was beet red and sweaty(we need get in top of this I know)and her chest and ears were hurtingSad

Fished wash out of machine
Need org lunch
afresh sorry to hear you were unwell last weekend,we have loads colds,bad throats/chests/ears doing the rounds here.hope earaches easing off

Slurrycart · 27/05/2017 12:38

Sorry forgot to wave to Mumontherun Busybee Rosa TherealMrsJolly and DearohDear

and to Dudsville Zoflorabore Bin85 Socialanxietyrus if you are still with us/or lurking ...

Exactly Zoo it's one thing OR another - simply not poss to do everything at same time; magnified x 1000 with babies/toddlers around!

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 27/05/2017 12:42

Hi everyone!

It's finally half term and I survived. Work went a bit crazy but dh and I have a week off and it's going to be wonderful. No specific plans, just catch up on jobs and rest.

I'm still in my pjs...

We had people staying last night until after breakfast so the house is mainly tidy. Yesterday's ta da's included cleaning three bathrooms, a load of Guinea pigs and tidying almost the whole house. Today's ta da's are just feed people and sit.

To dos
Put beds away and wash bed linen.
That's it!

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 27/05/2017 12:45

Feeling quite stressed ATM Confused. Kids playing up again, currently hiding upstairs for a few mins. Parents asking what the plan is. Aaaagh.

Totally agree SC, this lovely thread is the opposite to those types of threads. I was on that thread you mentioned Afresh and loved the triangle comment Smile.

Rant coming... I have often thought about posting on here to get some job ideas but any time someone posts something the replies can be so unrealistic.

E.g. someone can post that their DH / DP works away or they are a lone parent and that they have kids in school with no after school club with all childminder spaces full. They will ask for suggestions for jobs. Most replies: get your DH to help and book them into after school club Angry. Or find a childminder (most full in our town). Or even, become a childminder Grin. Because it's that easy to look after a bunch of kids. The thread descends into chaos and the OP gets no useful replies. Whereas the reality that I see (I'm a HCP so know lots of shift workers / long hour workers) is that having it all is nearly impossible unless you have a nanny or relatives able to help. End of rant!

Ta da:-
Surviving parents' visit
One load washing on line
Arranged new tumble drier delivery

To do:-
Go downstairs and join in with the 'fun'.

CotswoldStrife · 27/05/2017 15:24

Sorry to be so quiet this week, will catch up on the thread shortly. Has anyone volunteered to lead for June yet? Throwing my hat into the naughty corner for it if needed (stocks naughty corner with chocolate for the afternoon).

Stilllivinginazoo · 27/05/2017 15:25

Tadas
Wash on
Put shop from town away
Pop local shop bread and milk
S-s bathroom
Wash in dryer

Its very cloudy and super windy here.think storm is a comin'Grin(which means its cooling as winds so strong.hurrah.I am not a heat loving bunny)

Ds and FP are on Minecraft story mode in ds room.lil zoo is in there on tablet looking my lil pony stuff.dd2 lay on sofa under blankie looking sorry for self.we have porridge the movie DVD on. She loves that!!

Stilllivinginazoo · 27/05/2017 15:26

Dp.why the heck phone change that to FP I've no idea.....

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 27/05/2017 16:01
Stilllivinginazoo · 27/05/2017 16:03

You can do this toostressy

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 27/05/2017 16:08

I can also do June thread if you prefer Cotswold. Or July (except possibly last few days of July as on holiday) if that's better.

Slurrycart · 27/05/2017 16:13

Cotswold/Toostressy very kind indeed of you both to offer to run June thread and much appreciated.

If no one minds, or unless anyone else has burning desire to do it, I am happy to continue on and run June thread too. This would suit me as I won't be around much in July and August. Let me know though as don't want to impose!

Btw, speaking of summer, what does everyone want to do this year?

We normally have a "linkless" two months where everyone posts randomly as and when they are around but without a specific thread leader as it were. Does that suit everyone or would newcomers prefer a lead thread with links? Vote here please! Smile

OP posts:
Slurrycart · 27/05/2017 16:14

Actually, not sure I should be asking that as I won't be around to run summer threads Blush but anyway ... .

OP posts:
Afreshstartplease · 27/05/2017 16:50

Today I de cluttered an Easter Egg

Stilllivinginazoo · 27/05/2017 17:03

Very sensible afresh
No one should waste chocolate!
Who has managed to not eat it though?!