Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

***

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
ChicCroissant · 11/05/2019 22:49

I can do the links SC if needed. I am sharing my laptop with DD so not on as much as usual this weekend.

Did drop bag off at jumble did not do ironing due to unexpected visitor but not a bad day at all overall.

Cagliostro · 11/05/2019 23:07

Pretty much sorted the Ikea order but not checked out yet. Trying to decide whether to get the toddler an easel Blush

Finalised Tesco order and just printed off a little morning checklist. The idea being that they have to do those (very basic) things before putting the TV on (which would only be for one episode of something, as it needs to be off by 8.30 to start “school”.

And now I get to laminate it :o

Cagliostro · 11/05/2019 23:08

I forgot to say earlier I hope you feel better.

Watching Coupling with DH. Still funny.

Shadycorner · 12/05/2019 07:21

That's v kind of you Chic thank you. Have just woken up - still ill but not feeling as bad as anticipated thankfully - but I will let you know if I have to take to the isolation ward again, ta x Smile

Hope you put that easel on the order Cag Grin

OP posts:
IVEgottheDECAF · 12/05/2019 07:33

Bless him sc! I dare say the more he does it he and horse may bond? Who knows!

I have toothache.

Dp is out all day for a hobby thing.

I need to order 2 food shops hopefully for tomorrow and pick up bits today that we need for packed lunches tomorrow. Dc need taking to activities. There is washing and ironing and tidying and cleaning and cooking to do.

Also need send a few emails to sort out a dcs birthday party, and tell work my mat leave date

TooStressyTooMessy · 12/05/2019 08:56

Star for your DH SC.

Done nothing except out a wash on today. Must get on with something. Nothing major planned today which is nice but I’m not sure DDs will agree Hmm. Currently they are watching Netflix and playing hairdressers with their dolls Smile.

Lisette1940 · 12/05/2019 09:06

It seems to be a very poorly thread. Tending more towards the minor side on the ailment spectrum but that's not to say minor pain. 💐⚕️(medical serpenty emblem: Rod of Asclepius says Google)

SC I laughed about d🐴 and the nettle route. He's a bit of a scoundrel.

I am compiling my control journal. House got a quick swish and swipe yesterday. I also opened all the windows but only just ajar so that the outside insect population didn't have easy access.

I have overslept and missed Mass. It is my birthday so God hopeful won't smite me down Grin.

Hope all ailments improve today and that dhorse doesn't take advantage of helpful husband.

TooStressyTooMessy · 12/05/2019 09:35

Not seen that emblem in a while lisette Smile. Think it’s quite well used in places in the USA though (I follow a few American health care Facebook type things).

Managed to wash a sweatshirt with a tissue in it. Totally my fault. It’s my jumper. Angry. Putting rescue wash on now.

TooStressyTooMessy · 12/05/2019 09:36

Happy birthday lisette SmileCakeFlowersBrewSmile

Shadycorner · 12/05/2019 09:39

Happy birthday Lisette (sorry you are in pain though). Hope you are able to have a lovely day Flowers 🎂🎁🎉

Very impressed by your cj commitment! And I never knew that serpenty sign was called rod of Asclepius. I am going to have to go and Google him now! Smile

Crikey, you've been left with a lot to do on your own I've. Hope you get the chance for a little Sunday repose, especially as you have toothache. Take it steady.

Toostressy DD had one of those scary hairdresser doll toys a long while back. It always used to give me the freaks when I saw a disembodied head on the floor. Enjoy your relaxing day!

OP posts:
MogTheSleepyCat · 12/05/2019 10:21

Good morning fledglings and a very happy birthday to you Lisette

I have been distracted by real life and fell of the thread this last week - hope I haven't missed too much.

MogTowers is a pit of doom, and not fit for pigs to live in so I won't even refer to it as a sty.
Flying has completely gone by the way side, and to be honest, we have been out a lot so have been able to ignore it for a good while. It is so bad now, today is going to be the home bleugh on a grand scale.

I am meeting with a local charity next week who specialise in helping families of newly diagnosed ASD children. They are helping us to complete the rather scary looking DLA form and have asked us to bring with us all relevant paperwork and assessments. So I have to actually locate them all ....

Some TaDas so far:
Fed DS and cats
Washed and hung up all swimming gear
Triaged other laundry after gathering it from almost every room in the house
Dark wash currently in and towel wash lined up
Diswasher loaded and on
Started phase one of decluttering the kitchen island - sorted stack of paperwork into keep, shred, recycle piles
Folded and put away three loads of tumble drying

DH is taking DS out to meet up with some friends at the park soon. So I get house to myself to sort shit out and have a marathon of The Archers to catch up on.

BBL

Lisette1940 · 12/05/2019 10:57

Thank you for birthday wishes and naughty corner fairy cakes. ☕ For all.

Head is better this morning. Wondering if perimenopause headache yesterday or weather.

Hope Asd help goes well Mog. I used to do assessments at University for DSA. A lots of us on here have an Asd interest.

MogTheSleepyCat · 12/05/2019 12:24

More TaDas:

  • Washed up every baking tray we own Blush
  • Cat litter trays
  • Hung dark wash outside on washing line
  • Next wash load in
  • Unloaded dishwasher
  • Dishwasher maintenance: topped up salt and rinse aid, removed filter and cleaned with a toothbrush, running a cleaning cycle through now
ChicCroissant · 12/05/2019 12:44

Happy birthday Lisette Cake

Been shopping today, DD and DH due to go out this afternoon. Lovely day weather-wise here again.

MogTheSleepyCat · 12/05/2019 15:23

TaDas part three:

  • Deep clean of bathroom:
  • Scrub toilet bowl and pedestal (three times Blush )
  • Scrub hand basin and pedestal, polished tap
  • Polished window and shower screen
  • Dusted and polished all the bars of the heated towel rail
  • Dusted all skirting boards
  • Dusted corner cobwebs
  • Hoovered and steam mopped floor with gallons of zoflora
  • Hoovered staircase

  • Dusted banisters and window sill
    *Thorough hoover of downstairs hallway

  • Twice round the room hoover of kitchen and dining area

  • All dining chairs moved out to hall to get right under table

  • Hoover of both door mats - one was a lost cause and now in bin

  • Mop kitchen and dining area with yet more zoflora

Still so much to do.......

TooStressyTooMessy · 12/05/2019 15:49

Wow well done Mog!

I helped DD2 tidy up some of her bedroom today. She said she wanted to declutter. What she actually identified to throw / give away was......

..... one piece of cardboard HmmHmmHmmHmm.

Ok the plus side in doing this we have hoovered and tidied under her desk and bed.

Cagliostro · 12/05/2019 15:53

I could’ve sworn I posted earlier to say happy birthday Lisette?! But evidently I got distracted.

Finally got to the gym, due to an event in town that messed up public transport I tried the smaller one (same company so still free) which is really tiny and I had to rejig my programme as they don’t have all the machines. But that’s a good thing in a way as I get bored so quickly Blush and this way I can have two different options.

Killer headache all day though.

Mog sympathies on the DLA form, I was near tears and wanted to rip it up multiple times. It is not fun. Still waiting for verdict.

Stilllivinginazoo · 12/05/2019 16:17

Lisette happy birthday
I've hope toothaches improved and you managed all the things necessary
Cag well done getting to gym
Toostressy that did make me laugh,but a piece decluttered cardboards better than holding onto it,and room is hoovered soStarfor her anywayGrin
Mog that's a huge list.congratulations!!
SC bugger about not seeing your lovely horsey.hope DH doesn't return head to toe in nettle rash!!hope this afternoon sees you feeling a little better

foxessocks · 12/05/2019 17:31

Happy birthdayLisette

Hope your dh was ok with the horse sc!

Today has been a good day overall (apart from the continued stress from dh and his dissertation, I am feeling for him!) . Me and dd did some shopping for dh birthday next weekend and had a McDonald's . Now me and dh are randomly cooking roast turkey and it smells like Christmas! I've also made an apple crumble. Smile

Oh and we watched Paddington 2 but I had to miss the end to make dinner, it was good though and I think I'll have to catch up on the rest another time Smile

MogTheSleepyCat · 12/05/2019 19:03

TaDas part four:

  • Soaked shower heads, hose and plugs in descaling solution
  • Sanitised all door handles and stair hand rail
  • Wiped grubby marks off of doors
  • Brought in all dry washing
  • Hung up last load of laundry to dry
  • Made DS lunch for tomorrow
  • RSVP'd to some school friends party invites
  • Sorted out all recycling into correct receptacles
  • Polished streaks off of kitchen floor
  • Made beds

I am DONE! Shattered. I want a flylady trophy with gold knobs and bells and whistles on after the day I have had!

Lisette1940 · 12/05/2019 20:08

🏆🔔😙 well-done Mog.

Many thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes - I'm very touched.

We did the front garden today and I'm doing well with the morning and evening routines.

Shadycorner · 12/05/2019 21:07

🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇
Whoo hook, YY Mog you deserve several 🏆🏆🏆 and a well-buffed Flying 👑 for all of your mega and totally inspiring efforts and downright hard work today! Bloomin' well done! And here's some Cake and Wine and Flowers and a footstool too! Enjoy basking in the pleasure of your clean and tidy home. Sleep well!

🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆

Lisette you sound very on top of things too! Glad birthday went well! Glad birthday went well!

What a good idea Foxes to eat turkey outside of Christmas! Can't wait to watch Paddington 2, we all loved the first film!

Hope shoulder much less painful Zoo and dp still doing his bit and you are being looked after for once, instead of the other way around!

Grin at decluttering one piece of cardboard Toostressy!

🍒 waves to Chic and everyone else!

DH was ok with 🐎 in the end thanks - dhorse was feeling his oats a bit - but fortunately farmer was there to assist! Phew! G'night all!

OP posts:
Shadycorner · 12/05/2019 21:12

Cag sorry, missed you out! Well done for gym perseverance!

Hope you are not too tired at the end of today I've! [places another footstool by fire]

OP posts:
Shadycorner · 12/05/2019 21:18

🌼 launch pad for tomorrow including Monday's flight plan. (Best not to download because of Flylady website security.)

OP posts:
ExpletiveDelighted · 12/05/2019 22:20

Well, we are having our windows replaced over the next few days. All our rooms are very small and cluttered so we have had to move a LOT of stuff out of each room to make way for the fitters. As a result the house looks very tidy, but in reality it has mostly all been shoved in cupboards and drawers and the garden shed. It has been depressing seeing how much dust was in high shelves etc. Determined to chuck some stuff out when we are putting it all back out again. I took a car boot full of stuff to the charity shop last week but have hardly scratched the surface it seems.

Swipe left for the next trending thread