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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Flying into Spring with icicles on it

266 replies

icypompoms · 28/02/2023 21:57

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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icypompoms · 28/02/2023 22:02

WEDNESDAY:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿anti procrastination day: do something you are putting off.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Zone #1 Mission #1 Wednesday
Dear Friends,
We are going to have a multi room mission today, it might take you longer than 15 minutes to do it, so set your timer for each room and FLY through it!
For the Front Porch, Entrance and Dining Room, put out the fires that are burning in your hot spots. Get rid of the pile of shoes by the front door, get rid of the pile of junk mail and put away the magazines and school papers that are piled on the dining room table.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 new monthly habit: get dressed cot your shoes. www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/march/

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 still have to declutter for 15 mins

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 still have to shine sink.

OP posts:
EspeciallyDedicated · 28/02/2023 22:15

Thank you so much for volunteering for another month @icypompoms, you did a great job with the Feb thread. I am happy to take over for April, I haven’t posted much the last few weeks but I have been reading along, however I have neglected my Flying somewhat.

DitzyDaffodils · 28/02/2023 22:19

Thanks for the new thread Pompoms. It's cold where I am too and doesn't feel very spring like

HungryHazelEyes · 01/03/2023 06:10

pompoms thank you for volunteering for March as well, you did a great job in February!

ED thank you for updating us about zoo I miss her!

It's technically still February here, if you don't mind I'll drop my ta das on this thread. It was a busy day.

Ta Das:
🧚‍♀️ 7 LOLs in the end, washed and dried, mostly sheets, towels, blankets and dog beds
🧚‍♀️ shoveled snow from the driveway and sidewalk (yes, we had snow! 🤬)
🧚‍♀️ took dogs to groomer
🧚‍♀️ bathed both dogs & washed their collars
🧚‍♀️ bleached bathrooms
🧚‍♀️ bleached grout white on bathroom floors
🧚‍♀️ vacuumed main floor & stairs (I moved the couches to vacuum underneath them)
🧚‍♀️ took down Valentine's Day decorations
🧚‍♀️ dusted in living room
🧚‍♀️ had DS rotate DW
🧚‍♀️ ran washer on clean cycle with the washing machine cleaner in it
🧚‍♀️ ironed shirt & trousers for DS (his band performance is next week)
🧚‍♀️ cooked broccoli cheddar soup for dinner
🧚‍♀️ cleaned out fridge
🧚‍♀️ sat down for an hour watching Dead Files
🧚‍♀️ got clothes out for tomorrow
🧚‍♀️ for my lunch ready for tomorrow

I'll be at work tomorrow (& the rest of the week), I'll mostly be future friending.
Tomorrow I'm going to need to sit down with DH to figure out a budget and plan our financials, I usually end up doing it all, although it helps that we're on the same page.

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/03/2023 06:18

anti procrastination day-do something you've been putting off
Erm...room for a small <dusty>one?
<Tick off anti procrastination task>

UsernameNotPresent · 01/03/2023 06:54

Zoo !!! Hello, lovely! Welcome back! 🤗

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/03/2023 07:57

Hello Zoo
Thanks for the new thread Pompoms

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/03/2023 08:33

Familiar faces😁😁😁😁😁😁

Things have been a bit crazy at chez zoo,and with that the mess has multiplied whilst my attentions have been elsewhere and it's at hovel status so I'm relying on you lot to help me get back on track!

I have been having issues with mould,so lots of "stuff" has had to be binned which I'm quite sad about and there's been zoolet stuffs going on too ,add in being a "woman of a certain age" and the joys of insomnia,joint pain,exhaustion etc it's been ..well,let's just say not fun!

Anyways,enough of my life story,how have you all been?!

As is the custom I shall now t throw my first tada at you all😁

Tada-
Cats fed
Wash in
Harpic lav
Chase scout cat around the house as he pulled a falafel out the bin and was trying to eat it(onions,chickpeas and cumin really aren't good for him)..can I use this as my exercise for the day?!
DS up/DD2 woke for thyroid meds
Make D's breakfast and pack up
Sort two brc
Cook dd2 crumpets and lil zoo toast(or toaster gets very hot and cremates stuff if you havent got the knack!)
S+s
Wash to drier
More on
Wave off D's in taxi to school(as he travels cross counties he leaves at 730 now)
Sort a box of stuff from my room(contain multiple shower gels and face washes so I'm not going to need to buy any of that for a while!)

I'm now about to go and Milton over my room after I had to gut it last week as damp was taking hold.my poor bed was a casualty as wooden slats had black dots on and it's so cold and damp in there it would be pointless bleaching it as experience tells me it'll be back.
<We are getting new windows and doors in next couple of months so hoping that'll help along with warmer weather>
<Cheery wingflaps and I shall return later to catch up on all the gossip and see how you are all doing>

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/03/2023 10:10

I managed to break myself so am on permenant hold until i see a specialist. The people are still way too peopley.

Sorry you are battling the mold so much. Fingers cross the windows etc help with getting rid.

THATissoooFETCH · 01/03/2023 10:13

Placemarking

THATissoooFETCH · 01/03/2023 10:13

zoooooooooooooooo

THATissoooFETCH · 01/03/2023 11:42

Ta da (first in a long time)

🧽 me & 4 dc up fed and out the house for 840
🧼 1 dc delivered to school
🧹 bits shopping picked up
🪣 iceland delivery away

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/03/2023 14:48

hills sorry to hear you are broken and that the people are being to peopley.
That☕(i miss the old mug emoji on here!)
No teachers strikes where you are?
Tada-
More stuff inspected and had to be removed cos mold spots☹️
Made a LOT of calls regarding support for dd2(productive with some going to go away and get back to me next week)
Take dd2 wellbeing at church.
Agree to go to meeting Saturday that I vote in to give funding to wide range church groups.
Agree to help with food for a murder mystery night at church mid month.
Supervise dd2 cooking tofu for the first time.
Roast carrots for my lunch and pears for a cake later.
A nap(cos I sleep terribly and was getting to the point I was struggling to play nice)

I have also done 4 lol and that's all dry and put away,5th load is on now

DitzyDaffodils · 01/03/2023 15:02

Sorry to hear you're so unwell Hills

The mould situation sounds dreadful Zoo

You've made a good start THAT

I'm waiting for the next utilities bills to come through before I do a budget Hazel, I suspect they'll be bad this time

I foiled the pile of shoes taking over the hallway by installing a shoe rack a few years ago. They're all still there but at least now they're tidy. I'm having a duvet day today. Will cover the basics but that's it

HungryHazelEyes · 01/03/2023 17:43

zoo! it's so good to see you! I missed you! The mould situation sounds awful, hopefully you'll be rid of it soon.

hills Hopefully you're not out of service for too long, and that the people step up (and stop being so peopley)

Ditzy I hope the utility bills aren't too awful for you

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/03/2023 19:42

<waves to everyone>
Another two loads wash done.
DS has a poorly throat and with ASD he struggles as it doesn't hurt as such he just feels like he's choking/can't swallow.he ask corned beef sandwich last night,so I've cobbled together a kind of shepherd's pie with the rest as it's soft to eat!
Ditzy i have prepay meters and my bills have risen significantly☹️

icypompoms · 01/03/2023 19:45

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿made 100 Welsh cakes
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿sewed a Welsh pinnie
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 baby group
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 met friend for very much needed debrief and cwtch
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 had a Welsh party tea
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 packed a load of Vinted items ready to post.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿lol
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 decluttered a few items
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 tidied kids room which was my anti procrastination thing.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 hit a few hot spots

OP posts:
icypompoms · 01/03/2023 19:49

THURSDAY www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0&d=1

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 errand day: do some stuff out off the house.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 15 mins decluttering the dining room.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 15 mins general decluttering? Or count the above time...we'll never know.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 March habit: get dressed to shoes
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 shine sink
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 reminder: Get ready for tomorrow; your routine brings peace
Dear Friends,
This is the most important routine of your whole day. It helps your morning start off on a less-stressed foot.
1 Lay out your clothes for tomorrow
2 Take a few minutes for yourself
3 Check your Calendar for Tomorrow’s Events
4 Spend 2 minutes clearing off your Hot Spots
5 Shine your sink
6 Wash your face, moisturize, brush your teeth and floss
7 Go to bed at a decent hour
Tomorrow is Errand Day; Take a few minutes to make a list of where you need to go and what you need to pick up.

OP posts:
UsernameNotPresent · 01/03/2023 21:27

Zoo hope DS feels better soon. Mould is pants. We had issues with it on the walls in winter in the prev house, especially behind blackout curtains. I won't be missing dealing with it.
Pompoms 100 cakes sounds like a lot. However Welsh tea party must have been fabulous.
Hills ☕🍰 and 🍷 Please look after yourself.
That sounds like all is under control in That land.

Ta da:
☕Unpacked bedroom
☕Sorted out medicines drawer/box
☕Started unpacking piano room of doom
☕Ran cleaning cycle on dishwasher
☕X2 LOLs
☕Usual kitchen tidy up

Tomorrow I am working in another city, so will take that opportunity to take a break from unpacking. After moving all the boxes around and shoving stuff up in storage, my back is not happy and I was getting a tight bump (maybe miniMc was trying to stand up in there, who knows). I take it as a sign to ease off with manual labour for a day.

Question to all knowing fledgeling hivemind: what's the best way to get rid of urine smell from a faux leather chair? We got it from FB marketplace, and it turns out it smells of wee badly. I am hoping it's cat wee... Already used up the whole bottle of Rug Doctor anti smell spray, and it's a little better, but still very noticeable. Any tricks that work?

Searchingforsunnydays · 01/03/2023 21:34

Placemarking.

Waves to everyone 👋- welcome back zoo!

Just popping in during a busy week to shout about having a fully decluttered entrance , stairs and landing ! I know you will all understand the triumph of having somewhere clutter free ! It maybe the smallest part of the house but it’s a win . I could do with washing the curtains, door curtain and the mat which I’ll try and do at the weekend!

Hope everyone is doing ok.

CurseYouPerryThePlatypus · 02/03/2023 01:22

Hi all. Didn’t keep up with March thread, my brain feels like it’s full of cloud 🤣

ta da
🎈couple of work meetings plus stayed on to chat with colleagues after
🎈tiny bit of work admin
🎈worked on first presentation script (less than two weeks till my scariest working week ever!)
🎈put Cagletini to bed
🎈made sure DD1 did a bit of revision

Errrm that’s about it, shamefully. But it’s an improvement as the last few days even work has felt like too much really. January blues seem to be outstaying their welcome this year 🤔🙄

Tomorrow I really need to wash my hair and then focus on work all day, although DH is out at a hospital session all morning so I’m also on mum duty.

icypompoms · 02/03/2023 06:06

@Stilllivinginazoo how did the tofu go? I never have great success with it.
As for the mold are you renting? Landlords have some responsibility towards this and it's been in the news recently I'm sure you know.

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Stilllivinginazoo · 02/03/2023 06:36

user I remember trying white vinegar when my dementia cat tinkled on a fabric sofa.took a few goes think I diluted it with water?have a Google and see if there's a ratio as peri has distroyed my memory...
icythey loved it.grate the tofu.add paprika,garlic and cumin to taste stir-fry then stir in tomato puree(the girls still weren't sure so added bit more of the seasoning and a squirt of ketchup then it was devoured)

Furry overlords are fed and watered,washers on,need wake D's see if he's fit for school

Redsquirrel5 · 02/03/2023 11:28

Found you!
Pom poms thank you for great leading and for carrying on.

DH has gone to collect the lawnmower from its overhaul place. So I am nipping on here then need to get cracking.

Big hugs for zoo. Sorry about the mould it is so had to get rid of. We have a patch in the kitchen near the door.After years of wiping it off but it still had a slight discoloured paint I got a man in when DH was away and got him to take off all the plaster on that wall.I drew a shape line so behind fridge is plastered other bit not. DH refused this idea but it has partially cured it.Just a small patch where the weather comes in despite the new door.I was soooo quietly smug that I was right. I think we might have a little in what was the 'boys room' where DH sleeps now but I try not to venture in there. I think he opens the window a lot.
Damn he is back and has caught me doing nought.

Ta Da
Washed up a few DH missed last night and my breakfast dishes.
LOL for Ukraine, did 2 last night and dried coats over airer in warm kitchen. They will go on Saturday hopefully.
Hung kids clothes LOL on radiators.
Folded mine off radiator and put some on the Hottie.

To Do
Need to make bed.
Yesterday I decanted some old clothes DH had put a box in the shed which i thought was Christmas stuff. So need to wash, sort and declutter those.
Red box will now house all the Christmas stuff in two baskets I have asked him to put in loft since January. Try to get him to put it in.
Vacuum and dusted sitting room.

Did some baking with DS3 yesterday. Asked for recipe for friend then found 3 more so need to write them in a book he bought for her.
If I get that all done I will declutter hall entrance.It stayed tidy for ages but I see somethings have crept under the table. Not sure who left them there.

That - Great job getting them all out.I remember getting my four out on bus, dropped at school, dropped at minder and me to college for 9- 9.15am . One tutor told me off once for being late I tried to explain but she had further to travel and three children apparently.Later on another late runner parent discovered tutor had a Nanny! Not the same at all. I can appreciate celebrating the effort especially as you have 6. Family at church have 8 children. I was counting on Sunday, five today with dad all turned out beautifully. I don't know how they do it. Occasionally they all come. Eldest is about 12.😳

Hills- So sorry to here you are broken is it your shoulder or MH. I admire that you keep looking after peopley people.

UNP Take it easy, sounds like you are doing too much. Your body is warning you. Is Dh doing any unpacking?

Sunny great work now try to keep on top of it mine has grown things under the table. Radiator has washing on. I wanted radiator cover on there but Dh doesn't think so. May get one in spring.

Hazel that is some list. My cold is holding me back. We have a venue to go to for choir so I am taking it easy.Suspect I may not be well enough to go as it involves travelling 2-2 1/2hrs long day, lots of singing then back during rush hour and football match on in city so likely take long getting out.

Right DH has made coffee and put a bit of shopping- fish, risotto etc away so I will leave and disappear upstairs to do there first.
So lovely to get Zoo and That back 😃

icypompoms · 02/03/2023 18:58

@Redsquirrel5 I hate it when I get caught doing nothing. Honestly I'm hardly ever doing nothing but you can guarantee I'll be caught!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 tutored for an hour
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 sent Vinted parcels and packed up todays ones.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 visited friend
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 made a giant chilli in the wonderbag. Honestly the hob was on for 14 minutes then the wonderbag did the rest with no electricity use.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 lol
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿s&s
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 pretty sure I decluttered some stuff but can't think what

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