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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Flylady Fledglings February: Thawing out of winter

279 replies

freezingpompoms · 30/01/2023 19:08

Hello everyone, iWelcome back to our regulars, and if you are new or returning, a huge welcome to you as well! Please feel free to post or lurk, whatever helps you most.

This is an incredibly helpful thread and the system can be confusing but someone on here will be able to answer your questions and get you on track.

So, Flylady. That mysterious system that promises a lovely clean house! This link is a good place to read about the basic principles, but we strongly recommend ignoring the first bit - do not sign up for emails as you’ll be inundated!

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

If you’re new to the system, or are wanting a refresher course, the baby steps may be a good idea. Some are more useful than others, we’ve found, and stuff like affirmations may not work for you, so pick and choose what you want to try. You don’t have to do it all! Perfectionism can be left at the door, we celebrate any achievement here no matter how small it seems (this is why you’ll see our Ta Da lists as well as To Do lists!).

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

There are parts of the house called zones, each taking a different part of the month, and missions in those zones to do little tasks we may have neglected. If you don’t feel ready for those though, a good way to start is doing 15 minutes decluttering in that zone! Remember it didn’t get messy in a day so it won’t be fixed in a day either. Slow and steady.

Then there’s the daily focus - each day of the week has a theme, although many of us switch them around to suit our own lives.

Each day I’ll provide the link to the launch pad, which is where you can see what is meant to be done that day (but again don’t feel you have to do all of it! That way lies burnout!).

A couple of principles we talk about on here are:
Future Friend - the idea of doing something today that benefits you later, such as choosing your clothes or making your lunch the night before.
Power of Three (po3) - if you’re overwhelmed, just pick three easy tasks - no matter how small - and forget about the rest until they’re done. Then reassess and decide another three.

Finally a few acronyms:
DW - dishwasher, not dear wife!
LOL - load of laundry, we aren’t finding washing hilarious
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer

OP posts:
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Upsadiddles · 20/02/2023 11:01

Hi everyone. It’s half term here and I have the week off 🙌🏻. Planning to spend lots of quality time with the girls but also get some flying done in little bursts.

weekend tadas:
🍷rearranged DD1’s bedroom and put together some new flat pack storage. It’s almost at a point I’m happy with. We’ve really reduced the amount of stuff she has and everything has a proper home so should in theory be easier for her to keep tidy (a girl can dream). It needs a good clean where I’ve moved furniture though
🍷de-pinked the grout and de-cobwebbed in the bathroom
🍷ordered some more practical furniture for DD2’s room as what we have in there is fabulous but too wasteful space wise.
🍷discussed some plans with DH - money, meals, weekends, to do lists etc
🍷attempted a home
bleurgh but didn’t anywhere near complete as I spent too long tidying
🍷sorted games and puzzles in the living room as MiniUp’s current favourite game is emptying everything out and they were getting all mixed up
🍷created and ordered another seasonal photobook (I’m now only 6 months behind!)
🍷multiple LOLs
🍷got DD1 to try on her summer clothes for our holiday, as we are planning a shopping trip this week for any bits she needs
🍷rescued toddling MiniUp repeatedly from the stairs, coffee table, and other places that she’s discovered she can climb in nano seconds. My first did not climb, this is a whole new world.
🍷enjoyed a glass of wine in front of the football on Saturday and a book and relaxing bath on sunday

TaDas:
🙌🏻beds made
🙌🏻 washing on and a huge pile of clean clothes carried upstairs and dumped for later
🙌🏻 DW emptied
🙌🏻 made a phone call that I’ve procrastinated over and got ridiculously anxious about. Predictably it took minutes, was far easier than I expected and is now sorted. Will I learn from this? Unlikely.
🙌🏻 took dc for a walk. Little one is asleep and I’ve made a hot chocolate for the big one as it was rather breezy out there.

I’m so pleased there’s nothing sinister going on Red, what a relief for you. Hope they get to the bottom of your symptoms soon.

Lovely cake Hazel. I’m drooling.

Hi Sunny, I’ve been round about 3 years now, not sure if we’ve met, but welcome back.

You sound very organised with the moving UNP.

Redsquirrel5 · 20/02/2023 12:29

Thanks everyone for the lovely messages. No word from anyone else yet so don't know if they will continue investigations or not. Pain much less but still comes and goes.Need to find old letter about Op and ring them to see if it sheds any light and perhaps book in.It was cancelled re Covid but I procrastinated last letter and didn't reply.It gave no detail.GP had the same so they are going to follow it up. Still very tired yet bloods were ok re iron etc.

Not much flying getting done here.Another DH that doesn't see it . He has emptied the dishwasher, made tea and hopefully fed chickens and is now watching a long film.
I did finish bathroom last week.Quite pleased with my self over that.It is only small but I have clutter/ photo, shells, homemade clay fish etc on the three shelves. It looks interesting but needs everything off, dusted and put back I have it down to about 15mins now. Need to move laundry box out but not lifting anything.It containers stuff and spares.I do S&S everyday and clean shower tray twice a week.Only one bathroom here and outside loo but that is out until plumber comes back. -9 caused problem.

Sunny Welcome back.I was probably here then.It could have been Cagletini that was the baby but we had a spate after her including That's No.6. Anyway we haven't become perfect over that time so don't worry about falling off as we do regularly.

UP my second was a bee for climbing. He used to put his teddy etc near the cot rails standing on top of them and project himself over. At 18mths we put him in a bed as we were frightened he would kill himself with his antics. Before 5 yrs he was in A&E a few times, local cottage but they knew his name as walked up the steps. He is still probably the most adventurous, although DD has done a lot of things Sydney Harbour Bridge walk at 12, Barrier Reef day swim plus twice more when older including a ship wreak. Several long distance walks and climbs.I don't think she did the bungy jump. Im sure there is more I don't know about.

Sorry now forgotten about other replies. Lovely, yummy cake Hazel. Take it easy about the move U. Cleaning carpets should be someone elses job -DH as it is quite hard, heavy work pushing unless yours is better.

Right I am going to do some of HB and bedroom.I have LOL in. Boudoir has got a bit messy but not as bad as was in past.Clothes to sort. Part floor to find.Pile of mags to sort.I said if not done/read by this week they going out today.

To Do
Decluttering Magazines x 10
Bedding to change.
Dust chest of drawers x1
Vacuum boudoir.

Going to bank today.

No spends except
food and alcohol pub 2 beers and 1 whisky since Jan.
2 birthday cards Smiths, station £7
Coffee run x1 for 2
£10 for friend having a bit of a crap time, told her to have treat something to cheer her up.

I have had to resist a few times.Keeping away from shops helps.

Making Morocaan chicken for tea.Samira made it on Ainsley's programme on Saturday. Looked good and easy. He looked surprised it tasted so good. She was lovely on it, seemed very genuine.

Happy cleaning maybe some fast music.

Searchingforsunnydays · 20/02/2023 14:54

Thankyou for the welcome up , enjoy the half term - we had ours last week, so it’s back to school and work for everyone today .

Yes I believe it was cagletini red, and thanks for the welcome back - one day I might learn that consistency is the key 🤪

ta da :
✔️Beds made
✔️ LOL
✔️ Breakfast pots
✔️ Everyone ready for school and work on time !
✔️ Work

I’m off to go and do the school run then to start the evening routine - tea is chicken dinner leftovers so super quick and easy !

freezingpompoms · 20/02/2023 15:58

@Upsadiddles wow very impressed you have done anything furring half term!

Half term here too so had mentally cancelled any flying for the week but I woke up energised and thought I'll just do my room and then in fact carried on and fro all of upstairs and down the stairs too. So that on my two rooms left!

OP posts:
freezingpompoms · 20/02/2023 19:20

TUESDAY:
flight plan:
www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1

✅ declutter 15 mins

✅shine sink

✅ 15 mins clearing out the top shelf of the
wardrobe for anything that doesn't belong there.

✅ Tuesday is plan and play day. I've never realised the play but until now. Get your planning done then do some thing just for fun for you like watching a film. Link below for more on plan and play day.

www.flylady.net/d/daily-focus/daily-focus-tuesday/

✅ pamper mission: warm your bones by the fire or in a bath.

✅ reminder: 15 mins of loving movement.

OP posts:
Searchingforsunnydays · 20/02/2023 22:00

Brilliant up , please send some of your energy over this way !!

ta da
✔️ School run
✔️ S&S
✔️ Tea
✔️ Kitchen tidy
✔️ Living room clean
✔️ 15 minutes decluttering dressing table , still an area that needs more time on as there was lots of paper clutter that had accumulated there but a lot clearer than what it was
✔️ Homeworks
✔️ LOL prepped and ready in the washer
✔️ DS football training.
✔️ Clothes ironed and out for tomorrow
✔️ Washed and in pjs 🥂

It feels good to be a little more organised, I actually relaxed when playing with dd2 instead of worrying about all the things I should be doing .

Off to read for a little while - hoping sleep will visit me tonight !

EasterlyDirection · 20/02/2023 23:08

Welcome back @Searchingforsunnydays , I've been on the thread for a few years but lots of different names.

Half term was last week here but it doesn't affect us much now we just have DD at college. I did a fairly thorough home bleugh type day on my day off on Friday apart from washing bedding which I did yesterday as the weather was fine for line drying. Had a day out in London on Sat then yesterday I made a start on decluttering my potting shed.

DitzyDaffodils · 21/02/2023 01:22

Ah the joys of climbing toddlers Up 😅

Red I'm torn between loving ornaments and the hassle of cleaning them too

I didn't know about the play bit either Pompoms

Sunny I feel so much better since I started FlyLady too

Envying your trip to London ED. I haven't been in a while and I miss it

Ta-da's:

🥴 Morning routine
🥴 Shopping list
🥴 Weekly plan
🥴 Meal plan
🥴 Decluttering
🥴 Took a walk
🥴 Made a phone call
🥴 Evening routine

HungryHazelEyes · 21/02/2023 03:28

Ta Das:
🧚‍♀️ put comforter in the washer x2 (it's huge)
🧚‍♀️ did a spin workout
🧚‍♀️ moved comforter to the dryer (had to turn it on x3 to get it all dry, flipping it around each time)
🧚‍♀️ meal plan for the week
🧚‍♀️ grocery list made
🧚‍♀️ grocery shopping done
🧚‍♀️ put birthday banner away
🧚‍♀️ video chat with Mum
🧚‍♀️ measured breakfast bar counter for stools
🧚‍♀️ measured dining room area for a bigger table
🧚‍♀️ showered, scrubbed and shaved
🧚‍♀️ redid gel on my toes

I really want to get a bigger table top, or build something that can be put on top of my table (it was my great grandad's, from the 50's), but realistically the space isn't big enough. DH talked me into just making do.
The way our kitchen/diner is laid out, it wasn't designed very well. We are just going to make do though, another 5 or so years here, DS will move out, I'm sure, and we'll want to downsize!

Tomorrow I have a couple appointments, my hair in the morning - I'm excited for that one. The other is a little more nerve-wracking - getting a couple of moles looked at on my skin. Will also do bulk shopping as it's in the next big town. They have an office here too, but they don't do appointments here on Tuesdays 🙄
I'm sure it'll end up being nothing, but I do have a lot of moles, so it's hard to know each one.

freezingpompoms · 21/02/2023 06:05

@HungryHazelEyes good luck today with your appointment.

We are off to the city on the train. We are all very excited!

OP posts:
THATissoooFETCH · 21/02/2023 08:36

Why hello 🙈

It appears i now post randomly every few months

BadTHAT

EasterlyDirection · 21/02/2023 08:57

Yay! That welcome back! How are things?

THATissoooFETCH · 21/02/2023 09:13

Things are ok, prettu sameish tbh
Crazy busy, messy house, manchild still in tow

How about you ED?

EspeciallyDetermined · 21/02/2023 09:18

All ok here, still adjusting to DS being at uni, the house is quieter and the food bills smaller but I do miss him.

THATissoooFETCH · 21/02/2023 09:33

Ah thats a big change for you both. Is he enjoying it?

I am about to accept a slight promotion at work, little bit more money / responsibility & couple of extra hours per week.

Today however i am off and trying to tackle the house 🧹🧽🧼

EspeciallyDetermined · 21/02/2023 09:37

Yes he is, he's settled in really well and enjoying the course. He comes home quite often (its about 90 min drive away, unfortunately not easy on public transport). Congrats on the promotion. Hope all the MiniThats are doing well.

UsernameNotPresent · 21/02/2023 12:50

Crawling in.
Right, progress so far:

  • fully decluttered. Amazing amount of crap accumulates over time.
  • all fish tanks are at new house
  • all carpets shampooed at new house
  • everything in old house is organised and labelled ready for packers tomorrow
  • LOLs done, dried, folded and put away
  • old curtains washed and are now line drying ready to be hung up once ours come down

Now a small thing if going to work.

Honestly, if someone disturbs the order of the house today, they will deeply regret it 🤣

DitzyDaffodils · 21/02/2023 20:18

Ta-da's:

🌱 morning routine
🌱 walked to the shops
🌱 met up with a friend
🌱 took in delivery, unpacked and put away
🌱 read a few chapters of my book
🌱 life admin
🌱 mould removed
🌱 decluttered
🌱 evening routine

No wonder I feel tired.

Fingers crossed for your moles Hazel

Hope you enjoyed the trip out Pompoms

Well done UNP hope it all runs smoothly tomorrow. "Fully decluttered" is beyond my understanding 😆 it's like trying to picture immortality or the surface of Venus

Maybe DS will return for the holidays ED

Never mind, you'll get back to Flying one day THAT

freezingpompoms · 21/02/2023 20:33

WEDNESDAY:

Flight plan: www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1

✅ declutter 15 mins

✅ shine sink

✅ clear out old make up from master bathroom

✅ anti procrastination day: take care of things you've been putting off.

✅ reminder: set a timer to drink your water.

OP posts:
Searchingforsunnydays · 21/02/2023 22:08

What a day ! I’ve only just sat down and I haven’t got half of my to do list done today ! Rolling over the decluttering and landing & stairs clean over to tomorrow’s list ( I will have alot more time …. Hopefully!)

daffodils sounds like a full on day - what book are you reading at the moment ? I’m always on the hunt for recommendations !

hazel enjoy your hair appointment and I hope the mole appointment goes well .

pompom I hope you have had a fantastic day in London ! Last time I visited, it was for a girly weekend and we watched pretty woman at the savoy - it was brilliant!

that welcome back !

unp amazing that you are fully decluttered ! I wish to be you one day !

tada
✔️beds made
✔️ Breakfast pots
✔️ Everyone washed and ready for school / work
✔️Tea prepped
✔️ School run
✔️ Work
✔️ Tea cooked
✔️ Dancing class
✔️ Pancakes made and eaten 😋
✔️ Spoke to friend who I haven’t spoken to for a couple of weeks , we usually speak most days so lots to catch up on !
✔️ Play date made for dd2
✔️ LOL
✔️ Dd2 bedtime routine
✔️ Clothes ironed for tomorrow
✔️Tidied kitchen
✔️ Burgers out of freezer for tomorrow’s tea
✔️Quick tidy
✔️ Washed and in pjs 🎉🥂

Going to read for a little while , then hopefully I will sleep tonight !

DitzyDaffodils · 21/02/2023 23:20

Sunny it's We All Have Our Secrets by Jane Corry. It's an unusual type of whodunit. The sort of book you can't put down. I'm almost at the end

HungryHazelEyes · 21/02/2023 23:31

What a day so far..

FIL is currently in the hospital after a suspected heart attack. I took MIL to the next big town, I was going there anyway today, since he was transported via ambulance to the bigger hospital.
No flying yet today.

HillsBesideTheSea · 22/02/2023 01:06

Hope he is ok hazel

HungryHazelEyes · 22/02/2023 06:19

Thank you hills I think he will be. He has to take better care of himself.

I did do a little bit of flying in the end.
Ta Das:
😴 roast in the slow cooker (low for 10 hours)
😴 dressed and makeup on
😴 hair appt, cut & colour - added more blonde highlights
😴 went over to pick MIL up and take her to the next big town to the hospital
😴 picked up SIL on the way
😴 tried to go in to see FIL, they would only let 2 in per day 🙄 it made sense for it to be MIL and SIL
😴 my own appt, everything is fine, all moles look normal
😴 lunch with DH, he tried to see FIL as well (45 minute drive there for nothing!)
😴 bulk shopping at Costco
😴 washed Jeep on the way home
😴 stopped by ILs to feed the cats
😴 got home, put shopping away
😴 ran the vacuum quickly in main living area (living room, kitchen, dining room and hallway)
😴 made Yorkshire puddings and gravy for DH & DS, ate dinner
😴 cleaned up kitchen, mostly DH & DS
😴 rode with DH to go back to hospital to pick up MIL and SIL and take them home
😴 showered
😴 handwashed dishes
😴 started DW

It's just after 11pm, I'm so tired from travelling.
I'm not working tomorrow, boss said it was okay to take tomorrow off to go back to the hospital with MIL. It will just be the 2 of us this time. Hopefully FIL can come home tomorrow evening, if not, it'll be the next day.

Amore2 · 22/02/2023 07:15

Long time lurker.

Flybaby here! Focusing on routines so yesterday did:
s and s
1 lol and put away
cooked dinner
cleaned up after dinner
hoovered kitchen floor

that’s about as much as I get done most working days!

fitting it in around work is hardest thing for me.

I do WHB on a Saturday and follow Flylady Kat on Patreon. She’s great!

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