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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Fledglings Flying into the Festive Season

729 replies

ExquisitelyDecorated · 30/11/2021 22:18

Well here we are, December is upon us and we are settling in for the winter. We aim to follow the fly lady system, it does work if you follow it, but many of us have found that it works better if you combine it with an additional decluttering system to speed up that process. Flylady is more of a maintenance system, some combine it with other systems such as TOMM. Links at the end of the post.

These threads have been running for years, many posters have been here for a long time but new Fledglings and returners are always welcome, just jump in and ask if you don't understand anything.

Experience has taught us that these threads are only loosely about housekeeping, they are more about keeping good company and looking out for one another. So we have the naughty corner fully stocked with cushions, blankets, hot water bottles, comforting drinks and snacks, with a few sausage rolls and mince pies in a nod to the season (gluten free, vegan etc all catered for).

A few of our abbreviations and sayings:

BRC = box of random crap
Mount Washmore = out of control laundry
CHAOS = can't have anyone over syndrome
LMS / DLMS = lose my shit / didn't lose my shit
It's all gone a bit Pontypridd - it's all gone pear-shaped (some sort of spellcheck error)
No Fledgling Left Behind - there is always someone here to lend a listening ear, whether you want to have a grumble, let off steam, or just feel a bit behind or out of sorts. We recognise that many people have a lot going on in their lives, caring responsibilities, work, health conditions, general family life

So, with that, I will pop a couple of links to Flylady pages here:

www.flylady.net/ - homepage

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/ - getting started

We suggest you do NOT subscribe to the emails, unless you want a very cluttered inbox. Ask here instead.

www.flylady.net/d/cruising-through-the-holidays/ - seasonal stuff

OP posts:
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HazelNuttyElf · 28/12/2021 15:17

Thank you all for your thoughts re mums house. She had just been joking that she would like a new kitchen or bungalow for Christmas, then had the phone call. She said never say those things in jest. She did really need a new kitchen though, this one wasn't practical for her. She couldn't decide if she wanted to take the tile down that my late dad had put up, they came off in the fire.

Anyway I'll talk to her later today to find out if she has heard anything from insurance people.

Here at home I was lazy last night, didn't even rotate the DW 😳
The DC did vacuum (although I'll have to redo my bedroom) so that's something.

Growing up we would have our tree up until the twelfth night, I just can't do that anymore. I don't really want to take it down today but I think today is the best day for it. I like it down before new years. We'll see how today goes, it might come down Friday instead 🤷‍♀️
I also need to do some sorting and rearranging when I put the decorations away, I didn't even have everything out this year as I couldn't find it all.

Anyway, best be moving, starting with cleaning up the kitchen.

HillsBesideTheSea · 28/12/2021 16:22

Sometimes the blessing we need come in the most surprising of manners hazel
I am glad that it was caught quickly and no one was hurt. I hope that in the end of it you mum ends up with a practical kitchen she loves without hassel.

Odd kind of day here. I have a headache, and feeling weirdly dizzy. It is an ear thing as I have lost my hearing again. And feel fine as long as not climbing ladders or bending over. Not great when you are trying to sort out the office which is in the attic, but gentle and slowly gets much done in the end.

Zireael · 28/12/2021 16:51

Ta Da
Scrubbed the loo
Hoovered upstairs landing and bathroom
Mopped bathroom floor, wiped sills
Threw out dead plants
Big sort out of vast amounts of recyling - DH took a carload of cardboard to the recyclying point
Cat litter trays emptied, scrubbed and refilled
House plants wiped/misted and watered
Scrubbed utility room sink
Cleaned the glass in the back door
Disinfected downstairs door handles
LOL x2

Thats me done for the day

SingToTheSky · 28/12/2021 17:05

Oh no hills I hope your ears get better soon.

Still a very slow day here. Feeling a bit low I think. Quite glad we aren’t entertaining tomorrow. It’ll be another day fairly soon but no need to sort anything today really.

po3.3
❗️Move laundry into dryer and do another LOL
❗️Entertain Cagletini who is being particularly mischievous today
❗️Read a bit

StillFestive · 28/12/2021 17:23

A friend of mine had a house fire Hazel, confined to one room but smoke damage meant the whole house needed redecorating. It was obviously awful and stressful at the time but she now has a gorgeous new kitchen and bathroom and everything is exactly how she wants it. Hope the same goes for your mum.

Wassailing DD is aware it is imminent. She’s excited, but more excited about a sleepover at her grandparents, and when I warned her it might be more than one night she said “I hope so!” I feel so loved Grin

Hope you get done what you need to Hills, and the dizziness passes soon.

Impressive work Zireael

My tadas:
🐷 edible Christmas treats reduced Grin
🎄 tree and decorations down and away, except window/outdoor ones so we still look a little bit cheery to the outside world (mostly done by DH)
🧼 dusted living room
🧸 DD’s bedroom reorganised with homes found for all her gifts. Not too traumatic as I was careful not to go OTT this year and we’d already ‘decluttered’ some outgrown toys into baby’s room
👩‍🍳 spruced up kitchen
🧹 downstairs floors swept and mopped (delegated to DH)
👶 organised changing basket in living room
🚽 s&s
🧺 LOL in

Need to hang the washing up in a bit but otherwise I. Am. Done. Feet are up, DH is cooking Smile

StillFestive · 28/12/2021 17:24

Cross post Sing. Sorry you’re feeling low. Feet up with a book sounds like a plan.

ExquisitelyDecorated · 28/12/2021 17:25

I'm glad there are some positives from the fire Hazel, I hope the insurance is straightforward and the smoke/soot damage isn't too bad.

Hope the dizziness/headache improves soon Hills. How are you doing with your dizziness Sing?

Doggies sound gorgeous Zireael, but a handful!

I have had a fairly lazy day.

2 x LOL (second in dryer now)
Into town to spend giftcards on books
General tidying, getting rid of cardboard, folding up wrapping to re-use (turning into my mum, she's always done that)
Eaten too many sweets
Deleted 300 emails
Browsed sale shopping online (fancy a new bag)
Watching telly (A Very British Scandal)

OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 28/12/2021 19:12

Tada
Long walk with zoolets so D's could try his new camera
Lots hot choc to warm us up!
Lunch made
Tree down
Mantlepiece "bower" dismantled
Mantlepiece cleaned
Kitchen decs off sill
Living room floor washed as lil zoo bought muddy wellies in here
Hall floor washed
3lol done,dry and put away
About start dinner and D2 said scoutcats ear was gooey.yep daft twat been fighting again it seems.i bathed it and it quickly reduced to bleeding quite a bit,so I'm hoping it's done with.still felt big and lumoy,but maybe that's an ear thing with bones/cartilage etc.hope so as it's poss he got a double puncture...
Pasta with squash,carrots,cauli,broccolicheese and basil currently being inhaled.ds made Dino santa shortbread this afternoon from a packet.not to the pack as cutter was just a stupid cut out of the cardboard to cut around they look very "rustic' and are a garish shade of greenConfused

HillsBesideTheSea · 28/12/2021 20:26

I took the dizziness as a sign to sit on my ass and my my bujo look all fancy and pretty. Blush

HalfHolly · 28/12/2021 20:49

That is an achievement in itself hills. The universe needed the Bujo to be decorated.

Mc3209 · 28/12/2021 21:06

Zireael stellar list!
Red yes, he is walking now, and picking up speed. Who needs exercise!
Still aww bless her, so cute!
Hazel I'm so sorry to hear about your mum's house. Do you know what started the fire?

Today I've just done a LOL. that's it.

Redsquirrel5 · 29/12/2021 00:11

Glad to hear you sat down for a while Hills

Hazel the main thing is she is unhurt. Kitchens can be replaced.
UP you sound very organised. Love DDs comments about visiting.

I haven’t felt all that great. Suffered a bit after Christmas Dinner. More the root veg than the Pavlova. I had the meringue and fruit and only a little of the cream. I had made three from a double quantity.DH hastrifle now.

P of 3
2x loads of laundry.
Tidied around tree. Gathered gifts together.
DW

HazelNuttyElf · 29/12/2021 06:03

mc they are investigating what started it, my guess is too much plugged in as my brother had to move in with her, moving in his fridge etc, but we won't know until they look into it. I really do hope they can get her house sorted quickly.

Ta Das today:
🦌 washed our sheets
🦌 S&S in both bathrooms
🦌 cleaned mirrors in both bathrooms and hallway
🦌 dusted in my bedroom (including fan and walls)
🦌 vacuumed deeply in my bedroom
🦌 cleared the fridge out
🦌 rotated DW
🦌 wiped down countertops
🦌 decluttered a Terry's chocolate orange - totally not low carb 🤦‍♀️
🦌 watched 3 movies today
🦌 did gel on my nails, not the best, but they'll do for now

hills & Red I hope you're feeling better soon, and anyone else out there I missed.

Shinychestnuts · 29/12/2021 06:40

Morning chaps! Had a nice day yesterday, me and young visitor went out to

Shinychestnuts · 29/12/2021 06:42

Oops, sorry, one of the hounds is sitting on my posted that by mistake Grin

THATlittleCRACKER · 29/12/2021 06:43

Someone please sort me out 😬

Shinychestnuts · 29/12/2021 07:18

So, to start again, had a nice day yesterday, poor dh and dd both seriously working/revising respectively, so me and young visitor went out and had a mooch around an area of town where there are loads of antique & vintage shops which we both love (dh & dd not keen) and visited an art gallery, which the city have kindly opened up free here in response to everything else being closed.

Then we replenished the food stocks, came back home and cooked and tidied up a bit, made leek and potato soup, a tropical fruit salad and a massive shepherds pie and baked mince pies (our second batch of the season).

Also did a couple of lol, s&s'ed bathroom & downstairs loo, ran hoover around, Zoomed some uk family, but then, after tidying up dinner, I totally flopped and we watched films/played Scrabble and had a relaxing time.

Slept much better last night!

Hope everyone else is enjoying their Christmas break although I see some very respectable ta da lists have been posted! Bravo everyone! Star

Aw your puppies sound lovely Zireael! Frenchies are meant to have great open, fun characters haven't they not stubborn needy barky overlords like ours Grin? Very nice (for them and you) to have a pair too.

Red sorry you are continuing to feel a bit rough.

Hills oh no about dizziness; the last thing you need!

Hope room is starting to spin less now Sing

Waves to ED Zoo That Mc3209 Wassail Hazel Halfholly Stillfestive and anyone I have forgotten!

And Chicand Toostressy and *Foxes - if you are out there - sending lots of love to you this Christmas!
Xmas SmileXmas SmileXmas Smile

Right, really need to get bed linen in order for wreck 2, so had better crack on! Hope everyone has a productive day! Brew

Shinychestnuts · 29/12/2021 07:20

Xpost

[Hands That a strong coffee and a brandy laced mince pie]

THATlittleCRACKER · 29/12/2021 08:15

Thanks sc 👍

Ta da
❤ baby up fed and changed
🧡 finished chapter of uni book
💛 sent email enquiring about a job (says they can be flexible with hours but can they be flexible enough?)

Christmas was strange here. Dc all happy with gifts. Main day pretty chilled. But i am becoming more aware of issues within my relationship which is making me question things.

Hazel so sorry about the fire, hopefully your mum can get a lovely kitchen though

Still i am looking forward to hearing of your new arrival! Our little ds is just turning 6 months, i need to look at weaning but dread the extra mess!

I am feeling pretty skint post christmas so i need to get back at it with my vinted sales, still have plenty to advertise

Mc3209 · 29/12/2021 09:07

SC your day sounds fab. Drooling here at all the yummies you made. I shall most certainly pass your advice re rocking horse to McToddler!
That you and me both, re relationship. Hope the job is what you are looking for.
Hazel I really hope your mum's house can be sorted out soon.

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 29/12/2021 09:43

Hazel really hoping the investigation goes quickly and things can be sorted out for your Mum. Are you still snowed in, in your part of the US?

That glad to hear the DC liked their gifts, can't believe BabyThat is 6 months already! Cross fingers for job.

StillFestive good luck with small one today. At least DD is excited about staying at Granny's, although she perhaps could have expressed it better 🤣🤣!

Sorry about the dizziness, Hills, but hurrah for BuJo-ing. I am avoiding mine as I don't really want to plan January for some reason. Too many bits of my life to sort out and my head is still full of glub. More Brew first!

Sorry you're not feeling great either, Red.

SC that sounds like a lovely Christmassy day at last!

🍒👋 to everyone I've missed - HalfHolly, Mc, zoo, foxes, Zireael, Sing, ED and any lurkers.

Today is Day #2 of Find The House: the middle floor. Wish me luck.

HillsBesideTheSea · 29/12/2021 09:59

Bloody hell that 6 months already Shock

Slept terribly last night. I moved to fetch breakfast back to bed so that I could stay comfy and warm just a little longer.

Sounds like a lovely day SC

THATlittleCRACKER · 29/12/2021 10:09

Have heard back from job already, super speedy reply but not what I am after. They want as minimum 5 x 8 hour days or 4 x 9 hour days. Its just too much. Commute would be around 1.5 hours a day too. Shame.

wassailing i am intregued by the fact you have a middle floor!

mc sorry you are also having relationship doubts, i am fed up of there being periods where i (and sometimes the dc) feel we have to walk on egg shells

hills have a nap! Wish i could!

HillsBesideTheSea · 29/12/2021 10:20

Wassailing i completely brain dumped january into a note book first. But I started a new Bujo notebook for this year. I get through about 2 a year, but they get pretty consistantly used and do not get abandoned like a basic diary etc; so that to me is worth it. but being a new year and a new book there was lots of basic stuffs i wanted set up.

ExquisitelyDecorated · 29/12/2021 10:24

I'm in my usual end of year dilemma with the Bujo of whether to finish the one I'm using now or start a new one for the NY. To be honest I don't use mine much for planning but I do use it a lot for notes and lists and I have a lot of ongoing stuff in it at the moment so I think I'll carry on with the old one this time. I have got this for my next one

Fledglings Flying into the Festive Season
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