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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Fledglings prepare to fly their lockdown nests and jump into July - join us for the July FlyLady thread

998 replies

KTCluck · 30/06/2020 21:50

Welcome all fledglings, newbies and lurkers to the July 2020 flylady thread, where we try and follow flylady’s system to keep our homes in order and our lives organised. We are a friendly bunch and like a bit of a natter, amongst posting our ‘To Do’ lists for accountability and celebrating our ‘Ta Da’ lists no matter how long or short. No fledgling is left behind, just jump in and join us wherever you are at - whether you are a lazy slattern living in chaos or a fully certified domestic goddess wanting to keep up the motivation. Most of us flit between the two depending on the day. The threads tends to be a supportive corner of MN, and we readily provide listening ears for woes and rants when needed.

Flylady is a system based around morning and evening routines, with babysteps to get you started and a daily focus, such as planning and family fun day. There’s a weekly home blessing (or ‘bleurgh’ as we prefer) which is a basic clean to keep the house ticking over, with short bursts of decluttering or deeper cleaning in weekly zones once you are ready. Flylady also suggests short missions each day. Feel free to adapt the system to make it fit in with your life.

Link to the launchpad is here (I hope) and the baby steps are here. From the launchpad I like the ‘flight plan’ for a reminder of the routines, and ‘sneak peek of the week’ for a list of the week‘a missions. You can sign up for emails, but be warned, you will need to regularly declutter your inbox!

As thread leader for July I have taken possession of the thread pointy stick —> for anyone in need of a sharp prod of motivation, but I’ve also set up a chilled quiet naughty corner, complete with comfortable day beds, a gentle sea breeze, and unlimited fruit platters, ice creams and cocktails to any fledgling who is in need of rest and recuperation or is just on strike. No partners or children allowed.

I’ll also try and keep the ‘keep calm corner’ (KCC) going. Originally introduced by our lovely SC, it’s a little daily dose of respite we’ve been using to help us get through these strange times.

I’ll do my best to keep us all motivated and flying throughout July. On work days I may appear with the larks, or not crawl in until the end of the day so apologies in advance if I’m late with links.

We start tomorrow in zone 1 (hall, porch, dining room). Here’s the missions. Habit of the month is ‘swish and swipe’ which is a daily 2 minute wipe of our toilets and sinks. Tomorrow is anti-procrastination day where we tackle those tasks we’ve been putting off.

Anyway, enough waffle, July we are coming for you! shortly, I’m just checking the naughty corner is ready

OP posts:
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foxessocks · 15/07/2020 10:38

Hello! Had a hell of a day yesterday so didn't catch up with you all, and flying was also minimal! I've not been feeling too well, not sure what it is possibly cystitis but it seems to be easing on its own. Kids are both at school and nursery this morning so I'm trying to use the time to rest and drink lots of water!! Then yesterday we also had one of dd friends in her bubble go down with covid symptoms so that was a tad stressful (although something we'll have to get used to I think!) anyway test came back negative today so relieved about that.

I'm going to have to do a bit more tidying and cleaning this morning because my mother in law is coming over later Grin

Ta das
Kids both to school / nursery (managed to forget their drinks and snacks and had to go back and then basically run to school whoops)
Washing hung up - dh had put a load on last night on a timer, trying to get into the habit!
Dishwasher on
Kitchen tidied
Living room tidied
Dusted dressing table in our bedroom
Made a vanilla latte 😋 and had my last scone with clotted cream that I got for my birthday , nice not to have to share it with ds like I did yesterday!

Hope everyone has a good anti procrastination day - I think I'm going to opt out today 😂

LaneBoy · 15/07/2020 11:10

Hi all!

Spent the morning crisis cleaning very slowly 😂 first visitor due any minute then the workmen any time between 12 and 5. I find the uncertainty a bit tricky - almost feels worse at the moment because even having visitors by choice is so unusual now! Is that just me?!

Anyway I’ve not watched Simpsons yet as per my list as iPad is about to die, so I’m going to try and relax with a puzzle book instead for a bit.
PO3.2
❗️Mark DS’ maths and check what else needs doing for the day
❗️Simpsons (deferred from earlier! :o)
❗️Find bag hooks for door laundry bag - finally found the actual bag on the trofast Blush - and put it up for DS, get him to put a wash on and put remainder in said bag

LaneBoy · 15/07/2020 15:19

I haven’t really kept to my lists at all today!

But. I have got through both visits from people (turned out the second one wasn’t actually to do the stair rail, but to measure up and decide what type etc - he was tapping the walls like Basil Fawlty 😂) and THE COMB BINDER ARRIVED WOOOOOO!!! Have printed and bound DS’ chapter book :o

My nerdy little heart is happy.

Fledglings prepare to fly their lockdown nests and jump into July - join us for the July FlyLady thread
JigoloHarMegiddo · 15/07/2020 17:23

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

LaneBoy · 15/07/2020 17:43

Sitting on a bench outside asda for a rest before I go in! I only need cereal for DD1 and a white t-shirt because they’re tie dying at school tomorrow (last full day) - quite why they couldn’t inform us before this afternoon I don’t know, but oh well, it gets me out of the house which is good because DS has been so noisy and leapy the last couple of days! And at least asda is cheap, but no doubt I’ll spend a fortune on stuff I didn’t know I wanted.

Re weight loss meg I am 3 days into attempting 16:8 - I tend to shy away from actually trying any form of weight loss regime as my willpower sucks and MFP type stuff does send me a bit loopy worrying if I’ve measured right. So this is quite new, to be doing something that actually feels attainable (I do have a lot to lose though so just the act of having less time to eat rubbish should make a difference). But we shall see.

Right, best go.

merryhouse · 15/07/2020 19:07

s&s x2
lol
exercise class
made bed
picked and washed lettuce
made lunch
made dinner

apart from that I have Done Some Jigsaw (still haven't looked at the box but suspect I will need to eventually)

HungryHazelEyes · 15/07/2020 19:38

I hope DD enjoys school again once she's there lane it's hard seeing them so miserable.

Losing weight is something I've always had to worry about. Anytime I think I'm okay and can eat what I want I gain 10-15 pounds- it seems overnight. Yet when I'm watching what I'm eating it's slow to come off so it's discouraging. I keep telling myself I have to be good and avoid carbs, yet DH then suggests we get ice cream and I just can't say no! That may have happened last night 🤦‍♀️.

Oh well, I'm going to try to post my ta das for this week so far, hopefully I don't lose this post!

Monday

🐨 Rotated DW (DD didn't do it)

🐨 Treated kitchen table top to wood oil, I need to find something better as it's so dry here, I need to refinish it really but that takes time.

🐨 Put a list together for grocery pickup but didn't enter it.

DC did some of their chores, vacuumed and mopped the house and put a load of laundry on (which was still in the washer when I got home!) But they didn't get all of them done. DD is being very lazy at the moment, but well aware it could be depression being a factor.

Tuesday

🦊 Washed my bedding, dried it and put it back on the bed.

🦊 3 more LOLs completed.

🦊 S&S bathroom.

🦊 Cleaned mirrors in bathroom and hallway.

🦊 Cleaned glass windows on front screen door.

🦊 Went to work for 3 hours to cover lunches and earn some extra time off for later use.

🦊 Check schedule at 2nd job - I'm off all weekend so we're going camping!

🦊 Picked up groceries (I put the order in early in the morning)

🦊 Made dinner - new recipe which was delicious 😋

🦊 Cleaned up kitchen and rotated DW.

🦊 Got outfit out for today.

I did also meet up with someone to buy 31 new gel colours, I know who she is and she'd barely used them. I'm excited to try them out, but had trouble figuring where to put them. I'm going to have to go through my regular nail polishes since I don't use them anymore, I'll probably throw out/ sell the majority of them.

Back at work today so I won't have much of a ta da list. Hopefully the DC would have done chores today so I can say I didn't LMS on them later! I had an empty dirty clothes basket yesterday, other than what we were wearing, I was so excited!

HungryHazelEyes · 15/07/2020 19:40

I hope DD enjoys school again once she's there lane it's hard seeing them so miserable.

Losing weight is something I've always had to worry about. Anytime I think I'm okay and can eat what I want I gain 10-15 pounds- it seems overnight. Yet when I'm watching what I'm eating it's slow to come off so it's discouraging. I keep telling myself I have to be good and avoid carbs, yet DH then suggests we get ice cream and I just can't say no! That may have happened last night 🤦‍♀️.

Oh well, I'm going to try to post my ta das for this week so far, hopefully I don't lose this post!

Monday

🐨 Rotated DW (DD didn't do it)

🐨 Treated kitchen table top to wood oil, I need to find something better as it's so dry here, I need to refinish it really but that takes time.

🐨 Put a list together for grocery pickup but didn't enter it.

DC did some of their chores, vacuumed and mopped the house and put a load of laundry on (which was still in the washer when I got home!) But they didn't get all of them done. DD is being very lazy at the moment, but well aware it could be depression being a factor.

Tuesday

🦊 Washed my bedding, dried it and put it back on the bed.

🦊 3 more LOLs completed.

🦊 S&S bathroom.

🦊 Cleaned mirrors in bathroom and hallway.

🦊 Cleaned glass windows on front screen door.

🦊 Went to work for 3 hours to cover lunches and earn some extra time off for later use.

🦊 Check schedule at 2nd job - I'm off all weekend so we're going camping!

🦊 Picked up groceries (I put the order in early in the morning)

🦊 Made dinner - new recipe which was delicious 😋

🦊 Cleaned up kitchen and rotated DW.

🦊 Got outfit out for today.

I did also meet up with someone to buy 31 new gel colours, I know who she is and she'd barely used them. I'm excited to try them out, but had trouble figuring where to put them. I'm going to have to go through my regular nail polishes since I don't use them anymore, I'll probably throw out/ sell the majority of them.

Back at work today so I won't have much of a ta da list. Hopefully the DC would have done chores today so I can say I didn't LMS on them later! I had an empty dirty clothes basket yesterday, other than what we were wearing, I was so excited!

HungryHazelEyes · 15/07/2020 19:44

I also wanted to add I had heard of dogs donating blood, but never thought to see about mine doing it. Not sure if it's done here. My dad donated as much as he could, I believe he did it over 70 times (possibly more, I can't remember now). I was able to donate once before moving over here. Now I can never donate blood or plasma as I lived in UK during mad cow disease. Unless they find a way to test for it I'll never be able to donate. I'm actually really sad about that.

HungryHazelEyes · 15/07/2020 19:46

Sorry it posted twice, it gave me an error so I backed out and tried it again without checking first.

Stilllivinginazoo · 15/07/2020 19:56

Dog blood donors.awesome❤️

LittlemissAWOL · 15/07/2020 20:32

Enjoy camping hazel. We love camping and bet there are some beautiful places to camp where you are. We haven't booked anywhere for this summer as weren't sure what would be open.

Today's ta-da's
🔔 2 x LOL. Really hoping for fine weather tomorrow so I can get some line dried
🔔 schoolwork with DS3
🔔half made my bed. Still need to put duvet cover on.
🔔 ironed for about 3 hours. Piled it all up on my bed until put away. Asked the bigs to go through and get their stuff and they trashed the lot of it. I was not happy. Still haven't put all of it away and will have to move it so I can go to bed.
🔔 made lunch for DC- tuna sandwiches, yogurt, carrot, cucumber, cherries, cheese and a crumpet.
🔔 back to schoolwork
🔔 my DGM called round and the bigs ditched me to stay at hers.
🔔 made chocolate cake (and checked MFP to make sure I had enough calories to soare for a piece)
🔔 couple of dishes
🔔 swept up a bit
🔔 cleaned dining table
🔔 made dinner - freezer job of fish,chips and mushy peas. Boys had chocolate cake with mandarins and cream for pudding
🔔 put some of the ironing away
🔔 S&S
🔔 tidied up a bit upstairs
🔔 bathed DC, watched finding nemo with them while DH watched the football, read them a story and now he's putting them to bed.

Think we're going to start the 3rd series of killing eve tonight.

LittlemissAWOL · 15/07/2020 20:32

Enjoy camping hazel. We love camping and bet there are some beautiful places to camp where you are. We haven't booked anywhere for this summer as weren't sure what would be open.

Today's ta-da's
🔔 2 x LOL. Really hoping for fine weather tomorrow so I can get some line dried
🔔 schoolwork with DS3
🔔half made my bed. Still need to put duvet cover on.
🔔 ironed for about 3 hours. Piled it all up on my bed until put away. Asked the bigs to go through and get their stuff and they trashed the lot of it. I was not happy. Still haven't put all of it away and will have to move it so I can go to bed.
🔔 made lunch for DC- tuna sandwiches, yogurt, carrot, cucumber, cherries, cheese and a crumpet.
🔔 back to schoolwork
🔔 my DGM called round and the bigs ditched me to stay at hers.
🔔 made chocolate cake (and checked MFP to make sure I had enough calories to soare for a piece)
🔔 couple of dishes
🔔 swept up a bit
🔔 cleaned dining table
🔔 made dinner - freezer job of fish,chips and mushy peas. Boys had chocolate cake with mandarins and cream for pudding
🔔 put some of the ironing away
🔔 S&S
🔔 tidied up a bit upstairs
🔔 bathed DC, watched finding nemo with them while DH watched the football, read them a story and now he's putting them to bed.

Think we're going to start the 3rd series of killing eve tonight.

squanderedcore · 15/07/2020 21:04

Evening all. Best of luck to everyone hoping to lose weight. I hefted my wobbly bod back on the wagon yesterday again. Rather depressing pulling up my weight loss chart from 2018 and having to adjust it all upwards.

Megan I'm afraid I don't know what a rough macro is but I probably should Grin. I'm on my second batch of mask-making. Find it quite therapeutic.

Hope you are feeling better Foxes and That

And that you are not too on edge after NDN events Mummy (lovely pics)

Whoo hoo to ring binder thingy Lane. Hope your dd is ok. Meant to say I loved the photo of your day half in accounts uniform and half in pjs Grin

Same here Hazel they won't let me donate blood here either for the same reason. Hope your dd is ok too.

KTCluck it's v hard to resist home baking!

Congratulations on fab results AWOL!

I definitely approve of morning grunting Merry

Sorry, haven't caught up with thread properly. Up in town for dd's dentist and orthodontist appt today which went well. The Covid delay means she will still be wearing braces for her first term at uni next year which she was trying to avoid but nowt to be done.

House looked very scuzzy and messy (DH has been working here alone) so today have:

Ta da
sorted laundry
washed four loads and hung up 2 of them to dry
took DD to dentist and orthodontist
quick supermarket run
went to church and lit candle for someone
rang elderly aunt
typed up weight loss goals etc
tidied sitting room
shone sink and scrubbed down kitchen
ordered some things for DD birthday
emptied DW
dealt with bins and recycling
had a bit of a rant about mess Biscuit
cleaned downstairs cloakroom and lav
tidied up inner hall
more washing on
watched final episode Downtown series 5 Sad
Just cooked roast chicken with roasted new potatoes and loads of green veg so dh doesn't die of scurvy. DD looks a bit white and peaky tonight but she ate well so hopefully nothing serious.

Need to go and tidy up kitchen again and clean stove top and microwave but huge waves to everyone I've missed!
🍒😷✋

squanderedcore · 15/07/2020 21:11

GAH Lane that was meant to be about your ds in his scouts uniform!

Easily glad cat feeling better!

Toostressy it's understandable if your brain is processing all the stressful things you have experienced over the last couple of months while in a sleeping state Flowers

KTCluck · 15/07/2020 21:36

Aaah just posted a long post and I’ve come back on to find it’s disappeared 😩 or maybe I hit preview instead of post

I’ll try again...

AWOL you did better than me - the tax rebate remains on the to do list for another day Blush. I still have a while left to do it.

Foxes hope today has been better.

Lane hope you got the t shirt, and that you’re enjoying the binder. I am very jealous Grin. I’m
Thinking of trying 16:8 as it is less restrictive. Are you planning on doing it every day?

Hazel enjoy camping!

Impressive lists Meg, AWOL and SC

Waves to Merry, Zoo, ED, Chic, Lisette, Too, Bower, That, Princes and Tidy

Our day went different to plan - DF invited us out for lunch (another well organised beer garden affair, thankfully with shelter from the random rain showers) followed by a long walk with DD on her scooter. This nicely tired her out and meant we were out most of the day so 1) we weren’t there to mess the house up and 2) the cupcake request was forgotten. DH took her for another walk while I did the housework too.

Ta da:
✅ LOL x 2 inc. fitted sheets and DD’s duvet cover
✅ kitchen sorted
✅ upstairs tidied, hoovered and dusted
✅ bathroom cleaned
✅ bathroom floor, paintwork, tiles and unit washed down
✅ clean clothes away
✅ shopping done and put away
✅ fuel tank filled up

Ta didn’t:
😩 make any attempt at the tax form
😩 any ironing (but it’s not a huge pile so meh)
😩 buy masks
😩 avoid the crap (there may have been beer garden cheesecake)

Off to bed with my book now. I’m that sort of exhausted where your limbs won’t work anymore so should have an early night. Night fledglings!

OP posts:
EasilyDelighted · 15/07/2020 23:10

Evening all,

WFH day today, interspersed with a few odd jobs and a fairly lengthy chat with a friend, we discovered a strange coincidence through the powers of FB. Quick visit to the allotment and the local butcher too. Also ordered a doughnut thing to go round DCat's neck, she managed to scratch her wound again today and the doughnut is supposed to be comfier than those cones. We'll see how that goes!

I like the idea of a dog giving blood. I got to
my 50th donation last year, which I was pleased about, getting scarring where my veins are now though which is making it more painful.

Bowerbird5 · 15/07/2020 23:37

Falling asleep trying to catch up on your threads. Everyone has been very busy.

AWOL what an amazing achievement.

Haven’t been able to finish reading this page.

Bathroom- love the colour in the alcove but not sure about the state of the walls. Think I might paper the other two walls. I found some on the Internet, not cheap but I think it will only need 1 roll.
Really tired now.

HungryHazelEyes · 15/07/2020 23:51

We love camping here, we have a little camper that was gutted, we built a bed but that's pretty much it. It's like a glorified tent on wheels that has a working toilet (but no running water, just a rigged up water tank). We usually just head up to the mountains, about an hour away from us and go find a spot that has a fire pit. I'll have to use chrome to upload pics as I'm on the app right now.

Today has been good(ish) - I had some chocolate covered coffee beans. But just finishing up my walk right now on my break. Good luck everyone who's in the same boat as me!

xmummy2princesx · 16/07/2020 00:21

I’m sorry 2 hear u aren’t feeling well foxes

meg yes sully still has a cot in here I haven’t moved out so just shared with Logan. It has calmed down now police were called and man was arrested.

Enjoy ur camping hazel

Thank u sc feeling better now

Been busy 2day went 2 see a friend socially distanced in the park. Counting down the days til august 1st so can go 2 the cafe.

ta da
❤️general morning routine
🧡s&s
💛lol
💚ironed
💙washed up
💜lentil dhal and orange 4 Sullivan’s lunch
❤️beef and green beans 4 his dinner
🧡cleaned out bathroom cupboard and windowsill
💛Shined sink
💚Washed shower curtain
💙Cleaned our boys wardrobe

Stilllivinginazoo · 16/07/2020 05:49

Dd2 panicking til midnight.stupid insomnia had me awake since 245
It's going to be a vvvveeeeerylong daySad

Meant to be walking into town with dd2 early this morning(50 mins each way) then socially distanced walk with dd1 and her pup over local nature reserve.my hips are going to hate me later....

JigoloHarMegiddo · 16/07/2020 06:52

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

TooStressyTooMessy · 16/07/2020 08:04

AWOL, well done StarSmile

zoo BrewBrewBrew

Meg, I think it is completely reasonable to be apprehensive about going into a new shop these days. I have a few I am familiar with and fairly happy in and few that I find awkward going into but am ok in but it takes a few goes fo know how it works.

Work day for me today so expecting minimal flying. Am hoping to arrange a return though. Ordered a kids size of shoe online and they sent the adults size by mistake. Should be fine to sort out as receipt clearly says kids size.

KTCluck · 16/07/2020 08:05

Oh Zoo that’s a busy day on not much sleep! Hope you and DD sleep better tonight.

I’m back on the wagon as of today SC or at least to I am up to 8am I was reading a thread last night about habits that thin people have, and it was quite motivating. There were some extreme examples of course (this is Mumsnet!) but a lot of it made sense (and is what we all know we should be doing).

Ta da:
✅ DLMS when I realised we’d all slept in
✅ LOL
✅ emptied DW
✅ s & s
✅ bathed DD as she was too tired last night
✅ made it to work on time with healthy breakfast, lunch and snack, all uniform and security badge. Winning at life this morning Grin

KCC will be later Blush but launchpad is here. Good luck with errand day everyone, I’ll be back at bedtime 👋

OP posts:
MrsTidyHouse · 16/07/2020 08:07

Been trying to rest my brain for the past couple of days. Thoughts and memories whirling round, beating me up. Reading and re-reading all the posts here, hugely impressed by how much everyone gets done, and how you all rally round and keep each other going.

I'm missing lugging the buckets of water! It got me outside whatever the weather, and got me fit without the hassle of a gym! And I could eat more or less as much as I wanted, including carbs and treats. Over the last week, my weight's stayed the same, but the flab is back, especially round my middle, and that makes me a bit lethargic. It was never a lifestyle choice, haha, but it's opened my eyes to how little I actually need to move, to fulfill my daily routine.

Anyway, the daily routine is coming along nicely, and takes me to cooked breakfast while listening to Woman's Hour. Then I have my to-do list that I choose from, depending on energy levels, and my anti-procrastination list which mostly consists of paperwork.

Yesterday, I started on pre-school toys. The idea is to swap them with the slightly more advanced toys, which also generally take up less space, and discard anything that was never a great success. I photographed one shelf, emailed photos to adult DD for a second opinion, and that was one whole shelf cleared in very short order. Also remembered some stuff from the kitchen - whole melon box cleared!

Kitchen slowly under greater control. It's always going to be messy, as it seems to be the half-way house for every homeless object in this house. But the routines are keeping it pleasanter.

Today's to-do is ruthless tidying, and online school uniform ordering.

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