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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Fledglings Fly back to school & work, September 2017, decluttering along the way ...

870 replies

Sandycarrots · 31/08/2017 17:17

Hello, it's time to brush the sand off our feet, empty out the suitcases, sharpen our pencils, polish our lace-up shoes, and get stuck in to the September 2017 fledgling Fly thread!

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.

Fly stands for Finally Loving Yourself (cheesy but there is merit to it). The general idea is that short bursts of tidying / organisation are more achievable than marathon efforts. Flylady advises 15 minute bursts of effort but you can tweak this to fit your own circumstances.

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!

More info available here, here and here.

Your choice whether or not you sign up to the Flylady e-mails, but we advise caution as there are lots of them!

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:
Stilllivinginazoo · 04/09/2017 05:19

Pointy stick is sharpened.notes taken to keep it near sc but well away from cag a zoo kebab could make a terrible mess.....
In honour of mermaids cornish pasties are available for anyone needed a savoury vibe this morningWink
Now i am awake(curse you alarm clock) i hear lil zoo already padding around her roim.dd2 alarm set fir 6 and expect that disturb everyone else but her(sigh)
Got cbt meeting for ocd today so really must get bum into gear

Sandycarrots · 04/09/2017 05:54

You're a life-saver Zoo and thank you for the ---->

Hope your meeting goes well today.

[Buries face in pastries and sneaks one of Mermaids honorary pasties up sleeve for lunch. ]

Ah well, that's it, summer is officially over in the SC household. It was so lovely (sniff) so shouldn't complain!

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 04/09/2017 05:56

Oh yes, forgot to include Wheely in the "wave" list last night (flaps wings).

Have a productive start to the week everyone!

OP posts:
Sandycarrots · 04/09/2017 05:59

Cag could you go out for your own mini-picnic today as a compromise?

Bummer about the yarn Einstein

OP posts:
Mumofazoo · 04/09/2017 06:32

Morning everyone,
Good luck today zoo
Ta da
Packed lunch ready for youngest dd
Dishwasher emptied
Breakfast done

To do
Take youngest dd to school
Take both boys for a haircut (they go back tomorrow) wish me luck Grin
Laundry
Chop firewood
Bake banana bread
Clean both bathrooms
Walk dogs

Hope you all have a great day Smile

Sandycarrots · 04/09/2017 06:55

You too MumofaZoo! (You sound very on the ball this morning btw.)

Ta da:
animals
made packed lunch
prepped celebratory breakfast for dh

To do:
empty dw
tidy up kitchen
clear away piles of bags and boots dumped in hall
hoover up mud!
re-engage with laundry pile
walk the furry
finish letter and post card
deliver two more cards by hand on dog walk
wipe out fridge
take delivery of on-line shopping order and put away
a mound of ironing
folding towels
make birthday cake
prep celebratory dinner
dining room table hot spots
clear sitting room of a load of crapola that shouldn't be in there
fold ironed sheets etc
clear bed in boudoir which is covered in suitcases and general crapola
pick up stuff from boudoir floor
wash more towels

OP posts:
foxessocks · 04/09/2017 07:03

Hi all. My dd doesn't go back to preschool until weds so we've got a few more days of summer, poor ds was up in the night as he is full of snot just in time for his birthday Sad . I feel like we've literally only just got rid of one illness!

Hope school goes well for anyone back today!

Afreshstartplease · 04/09/2017 07:11

Ty for the Star sc

zoo dd is looking forward to school yes, she is so ready i have no concerns. She is an extremely confident and vocal child.

I did quite well yesterday but never added to my list on here. I never seem to get a full list on tbh which is a shame because i do do lots!

Still havent iron in name tags however

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 04/09/2017 07:43

Morning everyone. We are back to school tomorrow so today is the last day of a lazy morning for a little while.

Nobody dressed yet, going to get on now. I have however risked washing DD1's school bag so will see how that comes out Confused. Was hoping for sunny day to get lots of washing out to dry but it is raining here.

Still need to label a lot although did some last night. I never start early enough with it which is the problem. I don't like to start too early in the summer holiday as it just reminds me how many weeks of 'I'm bored' and 'what are we doing today?' I have to fill Grin. Then I have this idea of doing it lovingly in front of the telly and really enjoying it. Of course the time to do that never appears so yet again it is the day before school and I will be doing a lot of labelling!

DDs have (I think, need to ring as soon as it opens) one of their activities starting again today so we will be going out to that later this afternoon.

To do:-
Get bag out of washer
Wash summer hats for school
Morning routine

CotswoldStrife · 04/09/2017 08:14

Morning all! DD still fast asleep after waking earlier and climbing in to our bed so enjoying the peace and quiet.

I have joined other threads on weight loss and Christmas, also have an online course to do when I have time (it's about getting out of Survival Mode) so currently full of enthusiasm for life if not actually taking any action

So today - take DD shopping when she wakes up properly after breakfast. Buy anything we need (or she thinks we need - often a different list), iron and label any uniform as needed.

We are off to a big Mall so we can wander around, have lunch and then visit a softplay/trampoline park to tire her out a bit - DD gets quite anxious about going back to school and although it is better this year, it's been a good way of making sure she gets enough sleep!

We have no activities this week, so DD is already planning stuff for us both to do after school Hmm At least I'll have the days. Might even get back to my craft group this week.

Afreshstartplease · 04/09/2017 08:39

Ta da

Dryer on
Waterproofs quick wash now hung to dry
Washing machine on
Breakfast cleared away
Phoned school
Phoned afterschool
Changed tax credits info online
Rounded up pe kits

Afreshstartplease · 04/09/2017 08:39

Ta da

Dryer on
Waterproofs quick wash now hung to dry
Washing machine on
Breakfast cleared away
Phoned school
Phoned afterschool
Changed tax credits info online
Rounded up pe kits

Afreshstartplease · 04/09/2017 08:39

Fuck off double post

Cagliostro · 04/09/2017 09:08

Morning all. I'm all bleary after I kept waking up last night. DD on the other hand is doing really well with her melatonin, yay! She is waking up before 7 though but I am not so bothered by that because she is happy enough and she's definitely getting more sleep overall. And without the crippling anxiety which is surely the main thing!

I just need to start making sure I actually get up earlier too - I'd like them to get into the habit of doing their morning list straight away rather than waiting until we say "hurry up as it's maths at 9am".

Still not sure what we are doing today, our own picnic would sadly make no difference whatsoever as it's all about seeing friends. She's got lots of great friendships and it makes me so angry what this girl has done to her :( Angry. Most of them are going but although they would avoid the girl if she turned up, as she has been nasty to all of them, DD wouldn't find that so easy - and having had the privilege of being her 'best friend' Hmm she bore the brunt of the bullying so has a lot more to deal with really.

Got lots of house stuff to do today, as friends coming to do haircuts later and new pupil from last week coming tomorrow - living room a bit messy again although thanks to Friday's mammoth efforts it shouldn't take so much effort to get it decent.

Also need to get to town for hair dye, and a few house bits, and food for today.

I'm just not sure I have the energy for any of it. I feel totally drained! This is not the start to term I imagined.

Sorry for ranting Blush.

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 04/09/2017 09:57

Sorry you have a rough night and a tough day cag glad the melatonin is helping DD.

Alarm clock failed here, have been borrowing ds' since I broke mine. His had had form for being stroppy. So 2 new alarm clocks are needed and the new one which is faulty needs to be returned.
Ds had a better night and was only up 4 times. His legs are very bothering him but the dose of paracetamol and the hot water bottle last night seemed to help. Insomia kicked my butt and I was up til 4am. on a plus note Christmas knitting

to do
Do 2hr round trip to pick up pictures from framers
wander around the town whilst there
Potentially chuck ds out of the car and let him run amoke in the hills for half hour.
Drive to big city and get larger size uniform (I accept defeat this is going to be needed), plus return alarm clock
laundry
ironing
lounge floor
ds' room
double check everything for back to school (naming, set up bag making etc)

YesEinsteinsMumDid · 04/09/2017 09:58

Fresh your fuck off to the double post made me giggle Grin

Cagliostro · 04/09/2017 10:31

Feeling slightly more human now. On bus to town having done maths and spellings at least. Need to be more organised about spellings as we are supposed to start them on Fridays (bit of silly fun, their tuck money for Badgers club on Thursdays is tied to their spelling score :o) but the words I tried DD with yesterday she actually knew all but one of. So had to pluck some out of nowhere because I don't know where the spelling list book I bought specifically for this purpose is Hmm. I think this term I will keep a list of all the words they each do.

Picnic issue has resolved itself - rained off. Get to see friends anyway today as one is our hairdresser so is bringing her boys, and they can come earlier now as they aren't picnicking.

Need to fit in some other kind of work during the day though. And clear the back of the sofa (ends up like a shelf!) and windowsill. And tumble dry the towels

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 04/09/2017 11:32

Afresh Grin. Glad picinic sorted itself Cag.

Ta da:/
Morning routine
Bag and hats drying
Have managed a bit of labelling and organising - anything achieved before bedtime is a bonus really as fully expecting to do most of it in front of telly later
Planned play date for later

To do:-
More laundry
Lunch
General tidy up
Make packed tea

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 04/09/2017 11:36

Must also remember to leave early for play date to get petrol and super quick food shop.

GoGoGazelle · 04/09/2017 13:58

Coffee and croissants you say? I like this place!

Done
Went to work for a bit
DW
WM
S&S

To do
Collect DC from childminder
Get stuff ready for school!
Meal plan for the week
Ironing (I only do the essentials but still needs doing today)
Empty DW (my life is laundry-driven) and put clothes away
Evening skincare routine (putting it here to make me do it)
Hoover downstairs
Collect some stuff from a friend and take different stuff to another friend

mermaidsandunicorns · 04/09/2017 14:06

Ugh I cannot clean at all today with merlets in a destructive mood.
I have tenancy inspection tomorrow so madly cleaning but I may as well be bailing water out of the titanic. I've managed to separate them and ds1 is tidying and I use that term loosely his room and ds2 is watching dantdm downstairs.

CotswoldStrife · 04/09/2017 15:53

Mermaids my house was probably at its cleanest state when I had 3 monthly inspections.

Currently in softplay, a lot later than I was hoping but will still have the same tiring effect.

mermaidsandunicorns · 04/09/2017 17:24

I keep it reasonably tidy because of the quarterly inspections but it doesn't always work like that. I think il get up early tomorrow and blitz it. No energy today

Cagliostro · 04/09/2017 17:52

Nothing achieved today!

RosieposiePuddingandPi · 04/09/2017 18:28

Evening all. We've not been off to the best start as DS is struggling with teething and won't be put down but we've managed a bit more today.

Done:
Laundry - one load washed, one load through the dryer
Living room tidied and toys put away (for now)
Work emails sent
Been to work for a flexible working request meeting
Mini food shop

To-do:
Cook dinner
Tidy kitchen
Dry second load of laundry
Wipe down kitchen
Bath DS and tidy bathroom
Clean rabbit

Mermaids I used to dread inspections when we rented as we're just naturally messy and it always felt like we had to scrabble last minute to get it looking nice.

Need to get moving again but DS is napping finally so I'm just going to sit here silently and hope he stays asleep for a bit longer...