Flying through summer with Flylady ☀️

[HazelNotHungryLC]

Summer is here! Or is it?? 🤔
It's time to get our homes in order for the chaos that is the summer holidays!

Whether you're starting to build a new routine, stuck in a rut, or been around for years, join us on the Flylady thread. I'll try to keep us on track for the month, with baby steps, daily missions and weekly zones.

This is a long running thread, but we are a friendly bunch and all are welcome to join in.

Do NOT sign up for the Flylady emails - it's an excessive amount sent every day.

There are Baby Steps for starting out: add one thing at a time to start good habits and routines.

There are 5 zones that we will rotate through:
☀️Entryway, porch and dining room
☀️Bathroom & one other room
☀️Kitchen
☀️Master bedroom & master bathroom
☀️Living room

Don't worry about finishing it all this month, it'll come around again next month! Flylady is NOT about perfectionism!

Daily focus: each day of the week has a different focus.

Monday: Home Blessing (or as we call it, home bleugh)
Tuesday: plan & play
Wednesday: anti-procrastination
Thursday: errand day
Friday: clean car & purse out day. It's also date night (with your significant other, or friends, or yourself!)
Saturday: family fun day
Sunday: renew your spirit

Common acronyms we use:
LOL: load of laundry (washing is certainly NOT funny!)
DW: dishwasher, we are not rotating wives by any means, although an extra pair of hands could come in handy sometimes 😆
S&S: Swish & Swipe (wipe the bathroom sink & toilet)
LMS: lose/lost my shit
DNLMS: did not lose my shit

There are more, feel free to ask us to explain something. I'll try to update links every day, it's a new website! Although if you can, it's worth downloading the app, you can even have it send you notifications (although I only have it for when the zones change). You can also modify the tick lists to suit your home & lifestyle. There is a paid version and a free version. I use the free version. The missions haven't been updating on the app (although I should admit I haven't looked at it in a couple of months.. 🫣)

Links are below 👇

Daily missions (for the zone we are in):
https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission

Baby steps (on a different website, since the link isn't working on the new site yet): https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/

Feel free to ask any questions you may have, some of us have been doing Flylady for a very long time, as well as others just starting out. We may have other things to add that we have found works for us that could help you too!

@PeonyBulb sympathy, we have DD's uni stuff stacked in a corner of the living room too, I have put about half of it in the garden shed but there is too much to all fit. Like you we keep on top of kitchen, toilets and laundry. But the rest is very hit and miss, and it's worse since the heatwaves started.

Peony you got a lot done! I really need to do a deep clean of my whole house too, but especially the bathrooms. Remember to rest as well though so you don't overdo it, especially after being unwell.

ED I hope your cat is okay. To not know what's wrong is awful.
Dobby is still at the vet. He's staying the night so they can do another round of treatment on him.
He's hurt his back for sure, at the last set of ribs and has a slightly slipped disk 😪
We should be able to bring him home tomorrow (Wednesday).

Ta das:
🐶 LOLs x2
🐶 took Dobby to vet
🐶 went back to vet just over an hour later with Coco for her monthly injection
🐶 picked MIL up
🐶 dropped Coco off/picked DS up from the house
🐶 went to next big town for some shopping (clothes for DS, bulk shopping etc.)
🐶 dropped MIL off again, along with her purchases
🐶 got home, put shopping away
🐶 harvested a lot of my gooseberries
🐶 got my clothes out for the morning
🐶 got my lunch ready for Wednesday
🐶 S&S both bathrooms

I'm so tired. A lot of driving back and forth. Not much done at home.

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day.

Wednesday's mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission
Shine your bath/shower.

Baby Step 15: Make your bed in the morning when you get out of it. Or air it out, if you prefer. Either way, make it look neat & tidy, not a crumpled mess!

ED I do like the example you gave of putting away, not just putting down. It doesn't add much time, but makes a big difference.

What will you do with your gooseberries Hazel? mine usually go in the freezer and stay there . . .

ED I love that - but I'm afraid I'm the messy one in my house.

Anti procrastination day has become a bit of a habit for me, definitely a good one. Im getting my hair cut, something I always put off - salon awkwardness, fitting in the time, and eeek the cost! I only have it done about once a year for all those reasons.

Morning 🌄 everyone 👋
@HazelNotHungryLC thanks for the new thread. How are you after your fall?
I came downstairs a bit too fast a few days ago and turned my ankle by standing on a trainer that I'd left at the bottom so I've been a bit hobbly. Serves me right for being so untidy!

TaDas keeping on top of my laundry, even got most of it put away.
Deep cleaned my kitchen sink and the area around it. Everything else got a "lick and a promise".

Once the weather cooled down we tackled the ragwort and thistles at the field, so I've had a good workout 💪

Going away on Friday so tackling errands today and stripping my bed tomorrow, I love coming back to clean bedding, I always miss my bed when sleep elsewhere!

Happy flying everyone.

Oh no @CherryogDogi hope it recovers quickly

I bought a new bin for the kitchen and prefer the old one. So I gave it a good scrub with pink stuff paste and put a vinegar soaked kitchen towel on the inside of the lid which did a bit. I’ve now put a kitchen towel soaked in bleach on it because I really want to use it again and not buy yet another one.

I’ve not done much else today because the heat the last few days has given me headaches and nausea for some reason. I need to hoover the stairs still and bleach the mould in my shower on the silicone. It always comes up perfectly white then reappears after a few weeks. I’ve ordered some HG mould spray on my next shop because I hate dipping kitchen towel in bleach on my hands and knees each time. It works brilliantly but is a pain and makes me feel dizzy

I did go through the cupboard the other day and got rid of 10 mugs because I really don’t need that many.

Here I am again because I’m pleased with myself for finally having taken apart all our pedestal fans to remove all the dust on the blades and inside of the grates.

Dilly I'm planning on making a crumble with the gooseberries, maybe apple and gooseberry. I'll make it on Saturday when we have the family over.
Did you have a drastic haircut? Thankfully my hairdresser is cheap and does a fantastic job (even though my hair isn't cooperating with the last cut I had), with my hair being short I go every 6 weeks for a cut & colour. I would have to do something different if I had to pay more money (or get a 2nd job!).

Cherry my arm is still achy, but seems to be getting better each day. My other bruises have healed completely.
I hope your ankle is doing better soon, we make a right pair!
I also love coming home to a clean house. DH doesn't see the point, but he might change his mind if he walks into a messy house after being away!

Peony be careful with the bleach. I always turn my extractor fan on in the bathroom when using it, sometimes I open a window as well. I have actually heard that vinegar can kill mould, that bleach just whitens it, but I've never tried it.
You've been very busy too!

Dobby is still at the vet 😭 he's not moving around as much as they'd like so they want to keep doing treatments on him. They said one to two more days, so fingers crossed it's sooner rather than later 🤞

Thursday is errand day. For me, hopefully it's pick Dobby up from the vet day! 🤞

Thursday's mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission
It hasn't updated for me yet, so you'll need to click on the link for the mission in the bathroom.

Baby Step 16: Read testimonials for inspiration, although I haven't found them on the new website, just her daily musings:
https://www.flylady.net/morning-musing

@HazelNotHungryLC I hope your arm feels better soon. Ibuprofen helps brings any swelling down and prevents it from getting irritated any further

Currently trying to get rid of a pinky red stain 🫟 on DD white linen dress after she came back in the early hours after the whole football ⚽️ night of shenanigans. Probably from liquid chalky residue from a pub sign. My sleeping pattern is a bit all over the place with this weather atm

I’ve just ordered a vax spot wash to clean the carpet on my stairs and landing properly. Stupid idea to have cream but I like it. I’d like to have those nice wooden stairs you see in American films. Wood on the step and white facing out type of thing.

I haven't had gooseberry crumble for years @HazelNotHungryLC , sounds yummy!
I made an attempt to scrub out my big wheelie bin, it was rank! Ran over my big toe when I tried to tip it over, not good 🙂

Huge TaDa, I've at last trained DP to take off his outdoor shoes before walking on the carpets. Took many years but we got there in the end 😁

Mission has updated for me - 15 minutes to straighten up the laundry area. Well, it definitely needs doing!

Gooseberry crumble sounds lovely.

I had about 8 inches chopped off, but I have irregular large haircuts so not unusual for me.

I am completely unable to get rid of mugs. Wr used to smash them fairly often but have become more careful with age!

I’m looking at the Flylady app and have actually completed a lot of the tasks already. I like the 15 min of decluttering to do later along with a 2 min cleaning of a hot spot. Just deciding what to do

My washing machine and dryer are pretty clean anyway but now they’re gleaming. I’m getting through micro cloths and tea towels at a rapid rate and using more kitchen towels than I ever have before. I just put vinegar soaked kitchen towel around the bottom of my kitchen tap so that’ll be all shiny later on. Fly lady’s app is like a physical game with benefits. What Fly lady says I just do without question.

You're really flying @PeonyBulb !

I had so much I wanted to do today before I go away tomorrow, but woke up in the night with a banging migraine and a dicky tummy.
I've done all my LOLs, actually ironed some clothes (I haven't ironed for years!), half packed my suitcase.
Put the recycling out and scrubbed the indoor recycling boxes as they were a bit grotty.

@CherryogDogI’ve got more time these days hence I’m noticing a lot more that needs to be done. I used to work 12 hours a day on my feet and had DC to look after and run around for years. Now due to illness I’ve cut my hours significantly and my energy comes and goes so when I get a burst of energy I decide to just tackle what I can and what’s been annoying me the most. My kitchen taps are very shiny now. Shower tiles attacked using that elbow grease spray, a scrubbing brush and scrub daddy. DD BF uses a new conditioner for his hair that seems to stick to everything when he stays over so it’s built up rapidly. Still a few edges to do because I was practically passing out near the end but most tiles are shiny and squeaky.

I quite like coming on here to discuss and justify my cleaning actions. The Flylady app I downloaded is really helpful actually to remind you what to do and push you into action in a gentle non guilty well slightly guilty way

I finally did the two tasks I hate. Hoovering the stairs and bleaching the silicone in my shower tray. I feel a sense of relief now I’ve done those. All the products I’ve been using in my shower have played havoc on my skin. I’ve got lots of little bumps either side of my nose. Yikes. Moving forward I’m going to use HG mould remover every week to control it coming back every few months. I next need to tackle under the loft stairs. That will be a fly lady 15 min task of clearing, hoovering and cleaning.

I'm sorry I am late with the links again!

Friday is clean out your car and bag day.
Friday night is date night 🥰

Friday's mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission/20260717-zone-3-mission-5-friday-your-main-bathroom
Set your timer for 15 minutes. Wipe all light switches/ door handles/ phones/ remotes etc to get rid of gems. Do as much of your home as you can in 15 minutes. Use an antibacterial spray on a cloth (whatever you have on hand). If you need more time, take a break, then set your timer again for another 15 minutes.

Baby Step 17: set a bedtime and stick to it. I keep trying, and failing, at this baby step. I know sleep is so good for me & want to prioritize it, but then I still have a routine to do to get to bed. I just need to start earlier.

Peony I do have ibuprofen, just haven't been taking it regularly! My arm is mostly better, just a little achy now.

Cherry you ran over your toe?! Is it feeling better now?
Well done on finally getting your DH to take his shoes off, I know that has been an issue for you.

Dilly thank you for posting yesterday's mission!
8 inches is a lot of hair, but if you're only getting it cut once a year, I could see it.

I plan on picking Dobby up today. He's going to have a long recovery 😪
I'm waiting on a phone call from the vet, but I can only wait so long!

Thanks for the links @HazelNotHungryLC

I have a tidy car but I did actually check it earlier and took my Contigo I’d left in it and a bottle of water.

Dobby is home! Coco is so happy, she's back to eating normal again. We are all happy he's home. Even DS stopped by the house on his break from work to come see him 🥰
He's got some recovering to do and we will have our work cut out for us, but it's worth it.

I do need to give him a bath though as he stinks so bad!

Peony well done on a tidy car. Mine needs a little bit of clearing out but it's not too bad. I mainly need to vacuum it, because, well, dogs!