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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Fledglings bolt into Spring! Fresh air, fresh flowers, fresh sheets – No fledgling left behind…

708 replies

BeanAnTae · 30/01/2022 16:20

Thread starts on 1 February, but you are welcome to land and say hello until then
Thank you to Hills who has given us a tour-de-force thread for the deepest, darkest days of January when we were all flagging. We all know you are really busy and appreciate the time you took to go in depth with the baby steps.
Welcome to Flylady if you are a newbie or a regular fledgling– it is a zone based cleaning system, spread out over 4-6 weeks (depending on how the month falls.) The zones cover different areas of the home so we concentrate on a particular zone in a given week. But there is also a weekly hour of cleaning (can be split into 10 min segments) to make sure the bins are emptied, main areas hoovered, sheets changed – you get the drift…
And each day of the week has a focus – Thursday is errand day for example.

So , today is Tuesday 1 February – the first day of Spring if you are joining us in the North Hemisphere or Happy Autumn to those in the South. This thread brings you right up to Pancake Tuesday which is 1 March 2022.
Flylady site
This week we are in 2 Zones:
Zone 5: The Living Room
Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room
February Habit: Decluttering for 15 Minutes a Day

Monday – Weekly Home Blessing
Tuesday – Plan and Play
Wednesday – Anti-Procrastination Day
Thursday – Errand Day
Friday – Clean-out your Purse and Car Day
Saturday – Family Fun Day
Sunday – Renew your Spirit Day

It is plan and play day on Tuesdays – I usually plan menus and things to do on Tuesdays but the system is customisable to what works for you and your life.
Feel free to jump onto the thread and post your To Do list of household and family stuff achieved and, if you like, post your Ta Da list when you’ve got stuff done. We all encourage each other along and we all have different lives, pressures etc and we are not at all precious about the system – it can be used as you see fit. For example I don’t clean my dining room in zone 1 as it’s part of my living area so I do it in zone 5.
There is a general mantra of ‘No fledgling left behind’ which basically means you can’t fall behind in the system – you just start up again. So there’s no need for a massive Spring Clean – you just jump in.
Some jargon has evolved over the years, for example – cherry waves was an autocorrect of cheery waves, the pointy stick ---> is sometimes requested if you are having particular problems with procrastination and the naughty corner which is where we collapse to take a break.
As well as ‘To Do’, I’m going to try ‘To Be’ because I’m a Human Being not just a Human Doing. So my aim is to be more present (on the thread and in my head!) and more positive. I live far north in the UK so it is pretty dark here at the moment and I am SO looking forward to more daylight. And a shiny sink!

[Exit stage left pursued by a child]

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
SingToTheSky · 30/01/2022 16:41

Hello! Thanks for new thread and thank you hills for a fabulous Flying start to the new year indeed 💕

BeanAnTae · 30/01/2022 17:06

I don't know why the cake is there is the app. I had written in brackets : Exit stage left pursued by a child

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 30/01/2022 18:04

Thanks for the new thread Bean

BeanAnTae · 30/01/2022 18:26

You're both welcome sing and Hills. Yes time flies Hills - I'm listening to Yazoo and thinking 'it's not all that long ago when I was watching them on TOTP' - dances around thread to Nobody's Diary, hands above head, fluorescent leg warmers on...

OP posts:
Mc3209 · 30/01/2022 20:14

Well, for me January lasted about 100 years..
I will try to be more present in February.

StillUp · 30/01/2022 20:30

Hurrah, you’re back Mc!

Just marking my place and nabbing a comfy spot in the naughty corner ready for February. I’ve felt a
bit of a fraud being in the thread in January as I’ve mostly sat with my feet up, but going to start getting back into a routine this month.

StillUp · 30/01/2022 20:32

Thanks for the new thread Tae, and thanks to you too Hills for January. I’ve enjoyed your ponderings and appreciate the effort when you’re so busy.

ExtremelyDetermined · 30/01/2022 23:02

Marking spot, thank you Bean and thanks to Hills for the January thread.

HazelNuttyElf · 31/01/2022 04:03

I can't believe it's almost February already!
Thank you Bean for taking over the thread.
Thank you hills for Jan thread and all of your insight and having us ask ourselves the deeper questions to get us thinking about why we do what we do.

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 31/01/2022 07:40

Just placemarking while I plough through the last day of January. Thank you, Hills for a majorly thought-provoking January thread. It has made me think a lot about how things are and aren't working both domestically and in my head.

Bean thanks for a new thread and the promise of Spring! I like to keep half an eye on the Anglo-Saxon calendar, which marks spring as 7 February.

Mc good to see you again! 🍒👋 to everyone else.

swallowedAfly · 31/01/2022 10:46

Just place marking as I leave for work. Thanks for thread Bean.

Redsquirrel5 · 31/01/2022 17:32

Wow January almost over👋

Stilllivinginazoo · 31/01/2022 19:52

I am past the need of a pointy stick,a hob nailed boot up the arse might be a better option...
I NEED to be here or my routines drop away like leaves in autumn!
Life is still .....well,less said soonest mended there.but just go have to pull up big girl pants and get all the plates spinning/wobbling but going again
Hope I've not missed anything huge
Missed you all❤️

BeanAnTae · 31/01/2022 21:02

I think your routines will multiply like rabbits in Spring zoo 😁

OP posts:
merryhouse · 31/01/2022 23:16

#the rabbits that bounce in the spring tra-la!

Redsquirrel5 · 01/02/2022 01:15

Thank you BeanAnTae for leading February.

🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒 to all fledglings for a achieving month.

HazelNuttyElf · 01/02/2022 03:40

zoo so good to see you back!

🍒👋 to everyone, day off tomorrow so hopefully I can keep up with the thread

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/02/2022 05:22

Thanks bean

Kits going in today incl online meet with schools this afternoon and kids dad being underfoot today so going to jump in headfirst
The only habit i did stick to mostly was a LOL a day,mainly cos everyone moans if favourite X,y,z ain't clean!
I have my to do list
I will be back in a bit...

Redsquirrel5 · 01/02/2022 06:34

Waves to zoo.

Plan

LOL
Shower doors.
Top of shower frame( if I can reach).
Bathroom floor.

Bedroom
BRC
Make bed after airing.

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/02/2022 07:59

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Wash up
Wipe kitchen surfaces
Cook part bake rolls for D's pack up
Wipe dining table
Put recycling in big bin
Poo pick littertrays(glamorous life of cat servant)
S+s
Breakfasts and pack ups
Tackle mould on window frame in my room again(bleach this time as it's not shifting)
Sort dry socks and pants from mini airer upstairs
Wash in drier
More wash on
Sweep lower floors
Wash up breakfast things
Clean kitchen windows
wipe sills
Fold sofa blankies before overlords make nests and get cross with me for moving them
Remind D's feed the birds
Along multiple chivvying of tired growling teens,outfits checks for dd2 and a LOT of reassurance to multiple issues currently causing chaos
Now awaiting D's taxi to pick him up
Girls have just left

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 01/02/2022 08:03

All go here this morning as DS2 turned up at 7.30 to collect dry washing and snaffle some breakfast, DS3 wanted measuring (he's grown! Hurrah), DD had to get out for school and DH has an 8.30 call.

I am starting February full of good intentions and hope most of the home bleugh will be done by the end of the day (bins and beds notwithstanding, they are Weds and Sat respectively) and thinking about some zone cleaning.

I also need to get stuff together and actually do the work today that didn't get done yesterday. So I am shutting myself away 9-12 and only coming out if the house is on fire!

Hope you enjoy a well earned rest from thread leading today, Hills. 🍒👋 to everyone!

SingToTheSky · 01/02/2022 08:54

Well February is a nope so far. DD1’s not up, AGAIN. DH had to drag Cagletini out of bed too. I need a power of three. Can’t believe how stagnant I was yesterday, I just couldn’t manage anything Confused

po3.1
❗️Up, meds, breakfast and make sure DS is up
❗️Get showered and dressed and presentable ready for meeting
❗️Send some other messages/emails before logging on by 9.45 latest

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/02/2022 10:58

Ds is up early, with a long list of things he wants accomplished today including college applications and job applications. I am impressed, but insomnia is kicking my butt. Soooo tired that can't sleep. Which is probably not helped by the fact i have not been tacking my vit d for at least a week. So started that again this morning.

Slow start to the day.
Ta da
LOL in machine, stuff from machine in dryer
discuss with ds the plan for the day - aka tell him that I will help with his to do list and ignore mine
look at ALLLLLL the chaos and figure out where a few quick wins are, where there is some stuff that is really annoying me, and where there is some important stuff.

Just waiting for ds to get out of the bath as I spent a lazy day yesterday in bed with a knitting project. Which probably didn't help the insomnia, but really helped create some stress reduction. My goal this year is to finish or frog abandoned projects and get around to some of those projects I have the stuff for that have been wanting to do for years but never got around for it. Which will basically result in working through my crafting supplies because i buy for specific projects and then just don't get around to them Which will significantly help with the decluttering.

Bean would you mind pm'ing that wheat weaver info? The St brigid's cross sound lovely. I will probably mark the day quietly with a gentle half hour in some books. Not a huge celebrator of the cross quarters, I have mixed feelings about their conjoining, and St brigid is not my history iyswim? So there is a slight underlying feeling of being a little cultural appropriation if I were to celebrate so i am trying to figure out what celebrations will appear on my wheel of the year. I have celebrations which many others don't because of my family background so it is an interesting process really. And one that i am enjoying the deep dive into. The solstices and equinoxes though... all bets are off and there is good food a plenty. And fire. GrinBlushBlush

Zoo welcome back lovely, only thing you missed was *Hazel's dd graduated high school early, and ds has withdrawn from 6th form. We managed not to burn the thread down in your abscence. I hope today goes well.

For everyone who has expressed thanks for last month's thread - you are all welcome. And i hope that you are all achieving or finding out how to achieve chaos null.

1st day of February, chinese new year tomo, birthdays coming up in the family hills clan, exams approaching. Urgh. So much to do in such a short month! Who has the pointy stick?

frankiefirstyear · 01/02/2022 11:30

Thanks for the Feb thread bean I love what you say about being a human being not just a human doing!

Thanks for the Jan thread hills where I was lucky enough to find and join you all 🥰

I'm a list lover so have a daily task written on my calendar to keep on top of baseline duties plus do other things alongside plus daily duties. Will list here if anyone finds it helpful.

StairsVac
Muck out pets
LivingR
BathR/Loo
DC room
FrankieR
Bin & Plastic out
Kitchen
Batch cook
Car
Clean vacuum
Windows
Pets
Bin out
DC R
FrankieR
StairsVac
Batch cook
Pets
BathR/Loo
Bin & Plastic & Card out
Charity run
Living R
Pets
Kitchen
Calendar (write out incomes and outgoings, activities and daily tasks)
Clean Vacuum
Bin out

I find it helps me keep on top of things but also love the FlyLady info off here (don't follow the app etc) as it jogs my memory about extra tasks. Also loved the habit forming info and reminders to practice self care as I find it hard to do anything for myself.

I've been a bit AWOL as struggling with lack of childcare and having a traumatic time with DC dad who's an abusive and dreadful person, now making up accusations about me and threats are flying in thick and fast because I've had the audacity to fall in love with someone else (who thankfully is a lovely man who adores both me and DC) so stress is running extremely high here 😰 I've never been taken to court for anything, but presumably I will receive a letter soon. Sorry for the offload.

Anyway, I digress, January got away from me with only one task remaining (clean the vacuum) which will be done tonight 😅

SingToTheSky · 01/02/2022 12:19

Oh god frankie that’s awful I’m sorry 💐 please do vent when you need, and never apologise for offloading! We are here when you want and need to drop by.

Staff meeting done, feeling a bit static now. So much I should be doing but my brain is not working!

po3.2
❗️LOL
❗️Send link and make sure I have resources for maths at 2
❗️Eat lunch

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