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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Autumn leaves and a clean sweep: it's the October Fledgling Fly thread (2019)

617 replies

Slowchirp · 30/09/2019 13:27

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, or sign up to the (many and frequent) e-mails (but your choice as some fledglings find the latter helpful).

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 Cakeand 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 and here

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

*

Last but not least, a huge thank you to ChicCroissant for running such a lovely (and busy!) September thread Flowers [cake[ Gin Halo

*

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Stilllivinginazoo · 14/10/2019 14:19

Scoutcat has come in to escape from the elements.hes drag a dirty jumper and laying on it by tumble drier all warm and cosy.how could I be cross at him??

Autumn leaves and a clean sweep: it's the October Fledgling Fly thread (2019)
IVEgottheDECAF · 14/10/2019 14:32

Fucking hell i have inhaled so much dust Sad

Stilllivinginazoo · 14/10/2019 14:52

I didn't see you head under my bed I'veGrin

IVEgottheDECAF · 14/10/2019 14:58

Zoo Grin

I got a bit giddy trying to gut the bedroom while the baby was asleep, now hes awake so i cant finish it. Whoops!

Tidyhomewannabe · 14/10/2019 16:07

Hi everyone, another busy weekend here. Dd1 has sleepover Friday night, on Saturday we had dancing and football in the morning then went to Mums for the night, Sunday ds played at Man City against their academy team, great experience! We got home from Mums just after 10pm last night.

Ta da
School run
Work
Picked dd2 up from nursery
Deep cleaned the fridge
Shopping
Picked ds up and took him to the school book fair

I'm now sitting with a coffee, I've taken some homemade burgers out of the freezer for tea so feeding time at the zoo will be super easy tonight, which is good because we have ds parents evening, dd1 has ballet and tap, I also need to pop in a wash because we have ran out of school uniform 🤦‍♀️

Stilllivinginazoo · 14/10/2019 17:26

I've pace yourself lovely.you are either amazing or crazy jiggling kids,coursework and major blitzing!!Brew
Started raining really hard and realised girls had neither coats or brollies(I don't have either) I pinched abrolly and took coats to meet them.got very cold and wet.im not in fleecy pjs after a hot shower as I was shivering when I got in!!
Tea tonight- tuna pasta bake(with lots veg in it) and broccoli
Dd2 and I are are having cheesy pasta with huge tray roasted veg

Stilllivinginazoo · 14/10/2019 19:06

Last of the washing is folded from the drier and put away.ondvload still on airers(hasn't dried much today at all)
Little ones fed and watered
Wash up
Wipe kitchen surfaces
My dinner on
Sweep lower floors
Chivvy D's into evening routine
Nag lil Zoo to stop soap dodging and get in shower
She's now washing,D's colouring in his room,dd2 has just stopped doing homework and waiting to have a quick shower before dinner

Slowchirp · 14/10/2019 20:28

Hi all, gloriously balmy and sunny autumn day here

Ta da:
bath, quick pedicure/manicure/eyebrow re-shape (in other words, decountrified myself) and left dh to walk dogs alone ... .
overnight washing hung up and more in
found particular plastic file I wanted
4 and a half hrs 'work' work
30 mins personal e-mails/texts
wrote list for dh to take to wreck2 tomorrow
found key-ring
did 2 hrs work on nationality dossier papers ready for tomorrow
optician to mend glasses
quick supermarket run
started cooking
broke off to accompany dd to doctor, then chemist
home to finish off supper (cod en papillote, with tiny new pots and piperade)
served and cleared up supper
tidied up kitchen a bit more and reorganised breakfast tray of honey/jams etc
made coffee for everyone

Just going to catch up on the news now. [Hardly dare look. I think any potential deal would have to be ratified by Wed night if I have that right?]

Wow Tidy you haven't stopped Halo Star Star! That's a busy weekend and a half alright!

Nor have you Zoo Star Star Star another mega list - sorry dp less than unhelpful. And aw at lovely Scoutcat and how resourceful of him to drag in his own bedding [heart]

Well done I've (Brew to clear dust from back of throat) that's an amazing achievement Star Star Star

Just going to post links and crash ... .

Waves g'night to all fledglings!

OP posts:
Slowchirp · 14/10/2019 20:32

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

Believe it or not, we are nearly half way through the flying month Shock

Baby-step no.15 for Tues 15 Oct: here

Launch pad link: here

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

OP posts:
IVEgottheDECAF · 14/10/2019 21:14

Honestly how the fuck is it half way through October. I feel like it was August and i was still pregnant yesterday! Has someone been fast forwarding life?

Stilllivinginazoo · 15/10/2019 05:32

I think so I've I was only saying yesterdày as we got soaked and I was shivering how much we were begging for this during that hot spell and it fell like just a few days ago!
Right time to crack on
DS has camhs this morning at well being cafe

Tidyhomewannabe · 15/10/2019 06:39

I agree I've, the weeks are flying by!

Hope all goes well at camhs appointment zoo Brew

Slowchirp · 15/10/2019 06:52

Good morning!

Yeah it's total madness the rate at which this year is flying past... someone is definitely leaning on the fast forward button!

Good luck to your ds at CAMHS today Zoo

Waves to Tidy and everyone else!

Laundry blitz today ...and hopefully catch up with friend...then more laundry...then a lot of general tidying

Have a good one everybody!

OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 15/10/2019 07:03

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Bleach lav
2bags paperwork sorted
Internet banking
Final drawer in kitchen sorted(full random bits paper,very old bills,kids drawings,busted pens etc)

Wondering if girl power maybe able to move freezer(dd2 and I as a team effort).....I could then blitz that cupboard and switch light fittings over to one understairs.hmmmmm

IVEgottheDECAF · 15/10/2019 10:16

Ta da

School run and shit
Bottles washed and sterilised

BabyDECAF currently only wants to sleep on me, which is lovely. But not very productive. I have just transferred him asleep from my arms to the pram and he is now waking up....

Stilllivinginazoo · 15/10/2019 11:35

DS was like that I've(well he screamed a lot,but putting him down wasn't an option) a sling saved my life!!

Tada
S+s bathroom
Quick tidy kitchen
Pop out for few bits(cat food,yogurt,fruit,milk,bread)couldn't get any bananas as all green or brown and mushy
Decide wanted sort freezer and had a moment of clarity where realised take out freezer drawers it will be lighter!

Bowerbird5 · 15/10/2019 12:18

I'm back. Had a busy day yesterday. Still agonising over paperwork and waiting for Union rep to contact me since yesterday. Usually super efficient so wondering if she is off poorly. Still stressing.
BF's hubby just had heart attack and stents put in scary and I was away. We went to visit last night and ended up having tea. When she said tea i thought she meant come for a cuppa thought 4.30 late but maybe not back from work. Bless her she meant tea as in supper. Great to see he is looking fine.
Washing priority today on third load. Just finished another great book. That is my third since off probably more than I read all year last year! Don't usually have time. House is still a mess but I am trying to disappear into a book to get worries off my mind before I crack.
Need to clean dining room mess and clear table so if I can get that done it would be good.
Will catch up reading later just did todays and see you are all super busy. Waves to everyone. Hope newbies aren't drowning under clutter.

Slowchirp · 15/10/2019 12:31

You are all doing brilliantly.

So far today I have only:
written dh a list and collected a few things for his trip to client/wreck2.
Put two loads of washing on
Filled dw
Had catch up natter with friend (fortunately lovely friend who doesn't mind mess!)
Collected mended glasses from optician
Quick supermarket shop
Had quite lunch of left over veg and black coffee

That was all the fun bit. Now need to tidy/clean/cook/sort washing etc.

But first must write important letter.

Keep going everyone!

OP posts:
IVEgottheDECAF · 15/10/2019 13:28

Ta Da

School run and shit
Wash on x2
Dryer on x2
Wash pots
Wash and sterilise bottles
Casserole in slow cooker
Swept kitchen
Start online shopping order
Kitchen bin out

ChicCroissant · 15/10/2019 14:02

Quick hello, have stayed off internet this afternoon (apart from podcasts) and have got so much more done after being out this morning Blush Really do need to limit my reading.

Will press on and catch up tonight.

Slowchirp · 15/10/2019 15:43

Excuse the language but ... fuck....

Spent 2 x approx 9 hrs writing two versions of a letter for nationality dossier and now, when I have a tight deadline, I can't find either of them. I think I have left them at wreck2. And of course dh was there today but I didn't find out that I had lost them until he left and started driving back (due to arrive shortly).

It took me a long time to write over several days in complete calm and quiet to get the tone and content just right. I now have to re-write it with a tight deadline, when I'm tired and very short of time (going to meeting tonight) and now there will be very little time in which I can have it translated by a state official translator as required. Bugger, bugger, and bugger.

I thought I was being really organised too doing two versions and just had to sit down and write out the final, final one.

Serves me right doing it by long-hand and not on a computer.

OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 15/10/2019 17:01

SCFlowersif it's any consolation I would very likely have done the same thing....

Bowerbird5 · 15/10/2019 17:33

and me.

I have got a few things done. Strip bed and washed sheets.
Three loads of washing between DH and I done.
Cooked breakfast
Finished book. Couldn't put it down on last chapter so slunk off upstairs to read it and strip bed.
GP appointment rang and after four tries got one. So signed off and he had a bit of a chat to see how I was. He is such a good GP.
Had asthma nurse visit yesterday. Ok with new meds. No flu jabs yet.
Looked for knobs in TKMaxx but none to match... bum.
Visited Unison while I was in town. Rep I see was in another county but bless her she rang later. Agreed next step.
Emailed next step when I got home.
DH has put fire on so going to cosy up on sofa in a minute. Don't mean with DH but maybe the cat.
Going to empty one bag of paperwork. Promised DH I will do one bag a day of school stuff until all gone.

Bowerbird5 · 15/10/2019 17:41

Just been to launch pad.

Does anyone actually chuck bath stuff out. I keep it and use it. If I don't like the smell I soak my feet in it. I never waste it. I have a box which I keep presents /spares in and just keep one or two out and DH has his. I have a basket with talc and body lotions etc in and a little set of drawers fo foot stuff and soaps in another drawer. My friends buy stuff I like. DD buys lovely stuff. Niece works for a company and brought me some lovelies and said don't buy any when you run out as she will order it and 25% discount. I get some unusual ones from school sometimes but mostly lovely but I use them all. Waste not want not! Fly lady must have too much money.
I haven't got a guest room so don't have to do that. There are small mercies for having a smaller house.Grin

Bowerbird5 · 15/10/2019 17:42

? Why do I always forget ? when I type but never when I write?