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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

May our houses be uncluttered ...the Fledgling Fly thread.

698 replies

Shadycorner · 30/04/2019 11:37

Welcome to the thread where we (loosely) follow the Flylady housekeeping system here to combat CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) with a load of wine, chat and mutual support along the way. Quite a few of us have been on here for a while, so for that reason, we may seem cliquey, but we really aren't, and all newcomers, lurkers, returnees, regulars, and intermittent regulars are very welcome!

Every day I will post a link to the activities for "Today" which summarises everything you need on a daily basis if you want to follow the system strictly, but we tend to adapt it to suit our individual circumstances, homes and energy-levels!

Please note that, athough Flylady is keen for us to check in to the website, we've recently had a few concerns wrt security, so although there is lots of useful info on the site, it's best not download it or put any of your personal details into the website for now.

More information on getting started available:
here (containing baby-steps!) but please don't hesitate to ask if you have any further qs.

There are 4 levels for Flying:
-Baby steps - good for starting a routine and overcoming the perfection crippling effect
-Baby steps and missions - basic routine + more in depth tasks
-Baby steps, missions, and deep cleaning (if you are at that stage).
You can't clean clutter so don't consider this one if you need the next level.
-Flying combined with a decluttering system (kondo/unfuck etc etc) let's be honest fly lady is good for routine but not so quick with the decluttering results sometimes.

There is NO wrong or right way of doing this, it is about adapting the system to suit your life circumstances, which will be different from someone else's, and don't be put off by the barftastically twee nature of the Flylady site, the underlying system is sound. Feel free to ignore any step or routine that doesn't suit you or your home! No perfectionism allowed!

And when it all gets too much: come and take a seat by the fire in our specially adapted "naughty" corner where you can enjoy virtual Cake and Wine and lots of support from fellow fledglings.

More info follows ( but again, please note we advise only looking at the pdfs and not downloading them ):

** launch pad (general info) here

** daily babysteps pdf (ignore the ones that don't suit you or your home) here

** week day missions (some fledglings find it easier to do them at weekends) here

** info about zones (explanation of how zones work) here

** weekly zones (a rough weekly guide to which area of the house we are tackling currently, again adapt to suit yourself) here

** daily focus (helpful guide to allocate a certain day for a certain task) here

** deep cleaning lists pdf (only attempt when you have decluttered as you can't clean clutter!) here

Good luck and happy Flying one and all!

***

Also, a huge thank you to Toostressy for running such a lovely April thread Flowers Cake Gin Halo

***

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11
Shadycorner · 25/05/2019 21:44

🌼 Launch pad link for here containing launch pad link for Sun (well it will when it automatically updates itself). Best to use it as a reference and not download!

Glad it's going ok so far Toostressy!
Great list Hills and good luck continuing it tomorrow
Sorry dp so moody Zoo Sad. Bravo to dd2 for cleaning bedroom/garden! Star
G'night all!

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HillsBesideTheSea · 25/05/2019 21:47

Zoo just remind her that some US schools start back beginning of AUgust AND snow days have to be made up and can either happen on a saturday or from the summer holidays WinkGrin

Shadycorner · 25/05/2019 21:48

X post Lisette that all sounds full on, so good you had a break today, good luck with it all!

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Stilllivinginazoo · 25/05/2019 22:03

hills she knows they go back 3rd week August,and she's glad to be still home as generally warm here then and school is a three storey oven

HillsBesideTheSea · 25/05/2019 22:12

No, last year some states went back to school close to the 2nd of August... Grin tis what it is.

There is fuck all on tv not helped by the fact that my tv has decided it HATES the two sodding channels that I watch.

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/05/2019 05:55

Today appears to be bought to me by I don't care you are exhausted have insomnia...joys bloody middle age I guess.about to give up and get up!

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/05/2019 08:58

Tada
Spent an hour painting D's room
Rush to turn off forgot to dismiss alarm on phone which downstairs...glasses fall off but rush down so as not to wake everyone.trail back up to nasty stench.locate glasses and realised step cat poo that had a hair in on landing and trudge it all down stair carpet and thru lower floor
Hour spent scrubbing said carpet and floors

Cagliostro · 26/05/2019 09:24

Have you seen if lil zoo’s secondary has a uniform grant? Or second hand supplies? I can’t imagine the cost, I remember my parents being very grateful my secondary didn’t have a blazer as part of the uniform. We got a travel grant though which was means tested, I wonder if they’d have a similar thing for uniform? Might be one of those not advertised but available if you ask kinda things?

I am rather unmotivated today.

Shadycorner · 26/05/2019 09:25

Just diving in to say a quick hi as have a packed day today. Will be back much later tonight! Have a good one fledglings!

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ChicCroissant · 26/05/2019 09:53

Waves to Honu, lovely to see you again - sorry to hear you have been ill.

We are really making the most of having time without DD, ate my own bodyweight in food yesterday. Will need to knuckle down to the laundry again this week as we are away next weekend so will have to get organised for the return to school/work before we go.

We are watching Wallace and Gromit on Gold right now!

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/05/2019 11:11

Can't beat Wallace and grommit chicSmile
Cag sadly not..blazer is £45,pe kit t-shirt £25,then there's the fleece ..glad black trackies from anywhere allowed!!jumpers are school shop only,although no logo and £20 each..dd2 wears a black hoody under her blazer on cold days and shoves in bag when gets there as boiling in buildings!!
DS school way worse for costs as have to be ordered from private company which should be outlawed IMO ..the boy ment to attend a bog sub standard comp academy,not elite private school

Tada
Shop done
Pop boots for gaviscon for dd2 and hydrocortisone for D's -pharmacist served us used be lil zoo bf mum in nursery/reception year,then dad got great job opportunity and moved away and she currently covering in our area!was lovely she rembered us and ask after lil zoo!

To do
Wash in drier
Shop away
Early lunch
Quick gather rubbish under lil zoo bed
Supervise/help dd2 sort garden rubbish
More painting
Take lil zoo/D's out with bikes
Bake something
List goes on and on....

Lisette1940 · 26/05/2019 13:16

Baking something here too. White soda bread with dried fruit and choc chip cookies.

Wet, wet, wet here.🌧️☔

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/05/2019 15:01

Oh Lisette that sounds scrummySmile

Tada
Shop put away
Wash in drier,more on
Collect spade,and broom from neighbour
Make everyone else lunch
Cleared under lil zoo bed
Gathered up carrier bags crap from all bedrooms
Collected neighbours black wheelie bin

Cagliostro · 26/05/2019 16:55

I’m not sure what sounds like harder work zoo - the rubbish clearing (bloody well done 🏅) or DP 😡😡😡

Unproductive day but at least DH and I put our clothes away yesterday (using the Kallax baskets we had got in ikea order a few weeks ago). Friend came up today and we played one of the board games I’ve been desperate to try (it’s awesome) and then she and I went for a long lunch/chat.

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/05/2019 19:01

CagI'd rather tackle a bin garden a day than put up him for another 24hrs!!

Tada
Took bikes out,D's got a flat so didn't make as far as tadpoles
Sent dp and D's upstairs to Xbox before I strangled him slowly and with pleasure in front of zoolets

Little ones dinner-peas and broad beans with pasta and meatballs.cooked extra pasta and veg and chill then add drizzle basil oil and halved cherry Tom's.thats now in fridge for his nibs tea with bot baked codthink I am going to have the red pepper and chorizo style veggie sausages again with lots veg a smackeral of cheese grated over and last vestiges of bloomer I squirreled away..
I pinched a zoolet meatballas my first food of the day...

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/05/2019 19:03

Oh and washings all away.just about fold D's vests etc that are pinging they are now dry
Little ones dinner things all washed up
DS been chivvy into shower
Been a loooong trying day

Hope tomorrow is less so

Shadycorner · 26/05/2019 20:57

🌼 launch pad link containing flight plan for Monday well it will when it updates itself! Best to just read rather than download!

Been back in town a while (unfortunately ). Tired. Catch up with everyone tomorrow!

G'night all! Hope everyone (in UK) is enjoying long weekend!

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TooStressyTooMessy · 26/05/2019 21:37

Long day here too. Want to go to bed to collapse and watch telly on my phone but my parents have gone out for a walk Hmm so need to stay up and wait for them. They will then need a cup of tea making etc. Had an ok ish day at least and just got tonight and tomorrow morning to get through. Ugh. Feel such a bitch saying that as they really do mean well. At least last 2 days have been ok and the kids enjoyed it and we actually managed to have some nice times.

TooStressyTooMessy · 26/05/2019 21:37

Thanks for links SC. GinCake to all in need!

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/05/2019 22:00

Glad it's going ok stressy it's hard having other people messing with your natural routine.this time of night I'd be annoyed anyone went out for a walk...
Sounds so much better than a couple of years back thoughSmile

Ate my tea.staunchy ignore even eye contact with grumpy arse.he stomp off to bed 930.i am definitely not going up to bed.temptation if pillows o we his face are too great...

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/05/2019 22:01

*over his face

TooStressyTooMessy · 26/05/2019 22:16

Don’t blame you for not going to bed yet zoo!

Thanks, yes it seems better . Part of that is me just ignoring the obvious disapproval Grin.

Cagliostro · 26/05/2019 23:13

That is a sensible approach stressy! Water, ducks back...

Achieved fuck all this afternoon. Baby’s been falling over lots, can that mean an ear issue? She doesn’t seem to be in pain with it but she’s fallen off things and tripped over etc so much. Culminating in a fat lip as her book landed upright and her face hit it :( poor baby.

Swimming tomorrow and hopefully sorting out some games to sell.

Stilllivinginazoo · 27/05/2019 06:06

Possibly cag.or growth spurt?mine still fall over own feet at these times!!
Selling games?I can't bear to part ours-still hoarding orchard toys ones

I am up
My plan for today is keep busy,don't engage arseholes and not getting life sentence for murderGrin

Countdown til he fucks off back to work has begun
Tick tock tick tockGrin

Shadycorner · 27/05/2019 07:53

Good morning!

Well done re: mahoosive list yesterday Zoo (🎖for manky garden rubbish task) and hope the hours untl 1.30 pm do not drag!

Same with you Toostressy hope you slept eventually and (in the nicest possible way) your parents depart promptly! [I am rather fond of late evening/night walks. Especially down country roads with the wind rustling in the trees.]

Oh no Cag, poor little Cagletini! Hope she is ok! Has she had the flu or a cold recently? Funnily enough, I have the "spins" a bit at the moment thanks to virus I had, (expecially when I bend down) as does one of my sisters, and one of my cousin's, so there is a lot of it about.

Love soda bread Lisette!

Hope your DD has had a lovely weekend away Chic!

Waves to Hills Honu Mog I've Foxes and everyone else I have missed!
Enjoy your Bank holiday folks!

I am in a horrible grump being back (away from 🐎 who was such a lovely well-behaved boy yesterday) facing home bleugh, bed-making, traffic, a mound of washing that has appeared again. Also need to make soup. Blah, blah, blah, utter tedium. Then have two and a bit hrs of filing in office! Oh joy! (To be fair, the ground floor not too bad as cleaned Friday but 1st and second floors (apart from bathrooms) in horrible state. Also bit worried about leaving wreck2 as nearest house to us was burgled last week. It is a shared family holiday home and burglary took place the day after it had been occupied for three consecutive weeks. So locals are muttering about it being someone with "inside knowledge".

On a positive note, a minor miracle occurred last night... DD voluntarily suggested leaving her phone downstairs overnight during exam season Shock. (Normally is a mahoosive bone of contention and we have to make her do it under protest on school nights.) She has maths aural exam today (which I don't quite understand).

We have Ascension holiday on Thurs.

Have just been trying to process election results, but had better get on with all the chores! Have a productive week everyone!

[Btw have just heard on Radio 4 , while typing this, that the Tiger from "The Tiger Who Came to Tea" doesn't represent the Gestapo as I always assumed it did ... apparently Judith Kerr said he was just a big (sort of) friendly tiger! ]

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