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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Flip, flap, the Fledglings are back! April 2022 Flylady thread, all welcome!

456 replies

SingToTheSky · 31/03/2022 20:38

Hello everyone, and welcome to the April Flylady thread!
We welcome newbies and returnees - if you are curious about the system feel free to ask questions or lurk! We do follow it, erm, loosely to say the least. So there is a lot of chat about random life stuff as well as housework, decluttering and organising.

A key element of flylady is not being a perfectionist!
I don’t think the regulars would mind me saying that most of us here are not naturals at housekeeping etc, so please don’t feel we are some intimidating group who demand perfectly shined sinks. We are human. We fall off the wagon. We commiserate and help each other climb back on, and we stock the virtual naughty corner with snacks and blankets for the days when adulting is just too hard.

So, the system:
🔹Some baby steps which are designed to help you build up a routine.
🔹Daily missions to help with sprucing up particular areas in the zones, for example the first zone of the month is the entry/porch and dining room if you have one.
🔹Try and do 15 minutes decluttering a day. It didn’t get cluttered in a week so it will take a lot longer to clear it!
🔹Daily focuses to help shape the week.
🔹Here on the thread many of us post to do lists, but also “ta da” lists of things we’ve achieved that day.
🔹We also recommend the Power of Three technique - if you’re overwhelmed with too much to do, just pick three things and don’t think about the rest.

Anyway, I will post some links each day (hopefully) but whether you follow the system or not - many of us just take the bits we like or build our own flylady style system to suit our own lives - do join in if you want a place to chat about keeping a house and family running!

Finally, thank you hugely to the lovely willow for steering us beautifully through March! 💐

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
TidyHouse2022 · 25/04/2022 18:14

pudding. I love this thread too. I won't be leaving. I just wish MN hadn't changed my username to an old onefrom years ago, and now Ican't access anytging from before the change. And instead if relaxing to read on my ipad, I'm poking at my ohone with my non-arthritic thumb. This does not make me happy.

anyway, no respite at the weekend there, and on my knees today, with the fridge about emptied, how do they eat so much lol!
😄

managed to set a wooden spoon alight this afternoon while cooking tea. LG "Is there supposed to be a fire?" Then I drpped an egg on the floor. Fun times!

we shiftrd a large tub if rose bush a couple of days ago. Each time Igo into the garden I take it a 2l milk carton of water. Fingers crossed it survives.

off to drop LG at activity now.

Mc3209 · 25/04/2022 20:39

Tidy I am not even going to mention the state of my roses. I didn't get around to pruning it properly in the autumn so now it is starting to look a bit strange. Too late to do anything about it now.
Willow thank you for validating my feelings/reaction. I don't like playground politics (which is interesting, as at work I usual deal with conflict just fine).
Up I am impressed how much you are able to do with littles around! Hope de-glittering the carpet went well!

Ta das:

  • usual routines done, nursery bag ready, my bag is accounted for (whatever is in there that's a different story), DW rotated, laundry under control (although I am convinced it procreates in that basket).
StillUp · 25/04/2022 21:42

Welcome MissMarple, lovely to have you with us Smile

We won’t abandon the thread Pudding. Feel free to join us too - if you follow then you’ll know we don’t do a whole lot of flyladying either Grin

Just one little around for most of today Mc, turns out I get nothing done with two of them here, and the mobile one trashes anything I do get done in no time.

Glad the Fraggles are feeling better Dancing.

good spot by LG Tidy! Sounds like it’s time to sit down with your feet up.

Top decluttering Wild. It’s hard to let go of things that are unused.

impressive list Willow. Hope tomorrow’s archive trip is enjoyable.

so my list did turn out to be too optimistic as the home bleurgh didn’t happen. Shocker. I did however:
🔆finish the living room deep clean and tidy. Very happy with it and there is only a hint of glitter left on the rug
🔆sweep and tidy the hallway
🔆make progress in all 3 bedrooms
🔆hung the washing out, brought it in and ironed it along with a few other items from the pile
🔆put away lots of clean clothes
🔆cleared kitchen and dining room after tea

Still a way to go but I feel much more in control now.

GreenWillowAndCatkins · 25/04/2022 21:57

Don't worry pudding, we'll stay.

Well done everyone on surviving the first day back after the Easter hols.

Ta Da this afternoon:
❤️ Washing retrieved from line before it rained and finished off in the tumbler
🧡 List written from menu plan to Friday, went to Tesco
💛 Tesco order slot secured for late Thursday, basket filled with usual suspects for breakfasts / lunches but no dinners yet
💚 Healthful walk with my phone set to DND because PEOPLE KEPT ASKING ME THINGS
💙 Arranged to meet DM for coffee at lunchtime tomorrow
💜 Belated birthday coffee for friend arranged for Friday.
❤️ Chose a birthday cake for DM
🧡 Cooked chicken and quick-and-dirty tabbouleh salad for dinner
💛 Walked hound with DH

I am pooped, and am going out tomorrow for a rest!

Dancingtomusic · 25/04/2022 22:29

Willow- what did you make for dinner?!

Marple- hello!

Pudding- hello, i wont go anywhere as i dont hv fb msger and my phone has no space for whatsapp.
Nice to hear from you pudding. I lurked on this thread for 6months before posting- as i was too shy. Love this thread.

So tired. Bigs waves to everyone!

SingToTheSky · 25/04/2022 22:59

Aw that’s so nice, hi pudding!

Agree, definitely not leaving the thread! It’s just frustrating at the moment while bugs are ironed out isn’t it?

ta da
🎈made sausage/chorizo/veg/butter bean stew in the slow cooker (was utterly scrumptious if I say so myself)
🎈shower
🎈studying
🎈2 hour snoozefest meeting
🎈cut out laminated stuff for Cagletini maths games
🎈maths with DD1
🎈printed the pictures DS took for homework yesterday
🎈activities with Cagletini
🎈OU tutorial
🎈put Cagletini to bed although DH came to join us when she dropped a lamp on her foot instead of switching it off!

Not a bad day really but wish I’d got more of the reading done!

OP posts:
SingToTheSky · 25/04/2022 23:00

I’m really pleased I got slow cooking done two days in a row. The rest is in the freezer so that’s three weeks’ worth of a weekly bolognese and a weekly stew IYSWIM. Need to get some correctly sized Tupperware though!

OP posts:
BloomingHazel · 26/04/2022 02:33

I've had a busy few days, tried to stay caught up with no time to post.

Welcome miss I hope you're feeling better after your illness
fly it's so nice to come home to a clean and tidy house!
mc definitely not overreacting with the older teens and their mum. They were old enough to know better.
dancing that's good to hear the fraggles are feeling better, projectile vomiting is never fun for anybody
willow you've had a busy couple of days!
ED I have to work on the outside too.

I was going to do more personals but I'm scared I'll lose this post!

BloomingHazel · 26/04/2022 02:56

Saturday I worked all day (2nd job) so really didn't get anything done.

YesTaDas:
🌸 LOLs x5
🌸 grocery pickup order placed, picked up & put away
🌸 Jeep went through the carwash
🌸 vacuumed Jeep
🌸 detailed Jeep
🌸 Swept carport
🌸 vacuumed carpets in the whole house
🌸 sprayed carpets with a foaming carpet cleaner
🌸 vacuumed the residue (the house smells so fresh)
🌸 made dinner with DD, which was really nice bonding time

I worked all day today so didn't get any housework done.

pudding I was a long time lurker on this thread, you're welcome to join us, even if you don't follow flylady!

BloomingHazel · 26/04/2022 04:33

Sing it's a good feeling when you've batch cooked or prepped several meals
Up I think glitter multiplies as well as getting everywhere so you'll find it 6 months later when you thought it was all gone 🤦‍♀️ so you have done well
Tidy I miss my roses 😥 I used to have 5 bushes at the old house. I plan on purchasing 1 or 2 this year 🤞 your roses survive
zoo I hope you do still stop by this thread

It does seem we have lost a few fledglings since the update 🍒👋 to all of you, including (but not limited to) Red, hills, SC, that my mind is blank, I know there's more, I'm sorry!

Stilllivinginazoo · 26/04/2022 06:24

Quick check in with you all.
Did a big chunk home bleurgh yesterday- first in 6weeks(extreme fatigue which may have been covid)
Place looks less bearpit,which is good.
Garden on the other hand is wild.
Wtf do I do about brambles setting up camp??

EasterDecorations · 26/04/2022 07:04

Morning all, I'm not abandoning the thread either but I haven't been posting as much as usual lately, need to try and get back in the habit (I have been reading it). The idea of a separate chat is a sort of insurance in case anyone does give up on MN, or it carries on playing up so much that we can't post as well on here. The last thing any of us want is for the thread to stop though.

Wild - I hid a load of topics years ago, many were just not relevant eg pregnancy (that ship has long sailed here) but also AIBU and Relationships as they were cluttering up Active and not doing my mental health any good. I did like dipping into AIBU from time to time though. I also hide quite a lot of individual threads, either because I posted once and the thread trundled on for days cluttering up my I'm On or because I find them upsetting in some way. It has definitely improved my experience of MN.

BeanAnTae · 26/04/2022 07:30

I don't know if this post will post 😁

Busy day - off to get hearing checked (I have deafness anyway). Then looking at new glasses frames ahead of sight check in two weeks.

#bionicwoman

BeanAnTae · 26/04/2022 07:31

Am testing bold and* *underline and strike-through and italic

BeanAnTae · 26/04/2022 07:33

I need to up exercise as menopausal mood not good and the males are suffering.

Current household discussion is around the front garden. Need to insert pathway and revamp.

BeanAnTae · 26/04/2022 07:33

Am avidly watching gardener's world now too.

GreenWillowAndCatkins · 26/04/2022 08:59

Just checking in, am at the station waiting for my train with AN ACTUAL TICKET. What is this tomfoolery? (Going the Wrong Way to use contactless).

🍒👋 to everyone reading about our domestic minutiae. I have left DH in charge of everything this morning 😬.

BeanAnTae · 26/04/2022 09:01

Immediate prayers for the Willow household 🙏

SingToTheSky · 26/04/2022 09:01

Morning all. Haven’t got up yet. Apologies for lack of links, I will simply say it’s Tuesday = planning day even if you ignore said plans at least you’ve made them!

I am still in bed, need to get up and at least dress my top half properly for staff meeting. I am full of sneeze and my throat is scratchy, I’ve taken a hay fever tablet in case it’s that, but I’m worried it’s a cold as I have a concert on Sunday 😭

I also have to fit in a lot of hours this week just to break even - it’s actually only my normal rate now that I have a new contract, but I was meant to have a load more under my belt already from events which we ended up unable to do because covid. So I feel a bit pressured to fit plenty of extra stuff in this week as otherwise I’ll be having to fit in even more hours next month. Not ideal when I am feeling crap.

Got maths online later too, hopefully I can still manage that.

Right best go tidy myself up, have a good day all!

OP posts:
BeanAnTae · 26/04/2022 09:03

Why does the time on MN say 8 when it's 9?

Am on a bus Willow. Off to get stuff done today too. Rainy day up here.

StillUp · 26/04/2022 09:26

My time is correct Bean. Rainy here too and I have some sheets I wanted to dry on the line. Humph.

I’m struggling with hay fever too Sing. That stew sounds delicious.

Hope you don’t come home to chaos Willow. An actual ticket you say Shock

With brambles do you not just leave them there for all eternity to prickle yourself on despite repeatedly promising yourself you’ll sort them? Or is that just me? (I did eventually don gloves and clippers and cut it all out then dig out the roots I think Zoo, but you know the extent of my green fingeredness so I wouldn’t listen to me).

glitter should be illegal Hazel. Any chance you can fly over and do my car? You take such good care of yours. Mine is embarrassing.

I’m really pleased with the progress I made yesterday, as when I woke up this morning it was easy to do the morning routine. Currently enjoying a peaceful cuppa in my nice tidy living room while MiniUp snoozes. I managed to get DD1 to do a 2 minute bedroom tidy with me last night and even this morning so her room
is almost clear and ready for a deep clean. Going to crack on upstairs today I think, and maybe some of the home bleurgh depending on how sleepy/settled DD2 is feeling today. She has her injections after lunch poor thing so it might just be an afternoon of cuddles instead.

StillUp · 26/04/2022 09:28

Grr I seem to be getting the error
messages etc now, although it seems like it still posts. At least you can still copy what you’ve typed after it crashes!

WildBlueAndDitzy · 26/04/2022 11:38

Sing I hope you feel better soon, don't work too hard.

Tidy you're not alone, setting the spoon on fire is the sort of thing I'd do.

Enjoy your day out today Willow

The carpet cleaner sounds interesting Hazel, tell me more. Do you suck it up with a regular vacuum cleaner or do you need one that washes?

Bean hope your hearing checkup is ok.

Zoo brambles you have to keep cutting back, they have roots that spread underground and can go long distances like that before popping up a visible plant. They're a bit of a pest and will quickly take over an area if left.

It's great when it all comes together isn't it Up. I'm hardly having to check my list for morning and evening routines now and when I do I've usually only forgotten one thing.

So I just got the black box error, not sure why because I hadn't hit post, unless I hit it by accident? Anyway I managed to get rid of it by tapping the screen around it and accidentally swiping left. I'm still going to copy this post though in case I lose it!

WildBlueAndDitzy · 26/04/2022 11:48

So the post went through ok.

To-do:

🐝 Finish morning routine
🐝 Gardening
🐝 Flat packed furniture

I didn't get those jobs done yesterday so I'm aiming to do them today. I'm so glad you're all sticking with the thread. I often feel I miss out a bit not doing Facebook etc but I find it so harmful to my MH. Mumsnet is much better, there's not the same expectation of interaction so I don't feel ignored.

Waves hello to Pudding. This is definitely the best thread on Mumsnet.

Hi to all the oldies having trouble posting. And the newbies who posted then went back to lurking. 🍒👋 all round.

BeanAnTae · 26/04/2022 11:59

I'm on the app up that might be the issue!

Thank you kindly wild - my hearing has not gone down much at all much to my surprise and my new hearing aids are lovely (does twirl).

Off for lunch and art gallery. Then opticians for new frames reconnaissance.