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!

We were away leaving the adult DC at home too, no partners or friends round, DCs have both been working over the weekend. We left the kitchen in a bit of a mess when we left yesterday as they are always doing it to us. It was different but equivalent mess when we got back, not too bad. I did quite a few jobs on Thurs/Fri before we went.

Monday is home bleugh day. Run the vacuum round real quick, change sheets, empty bins etc. 10 minutes each room, one hour total for the house.

Monday is the start of a new zone, we are moving to the living room for the whole week. This doesn't happen very often!

Monday's mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission/20260727-zone-5-mission-1-monday-your-living-room
Set your timer for 10 minutes and clear hotspots in your living room.

Because I missed Sunday: <sorry!>
Baby Step 26: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/26/
Every day can be your day one. If you've had a hard time getting the routines down, no biggie! Each day is a chance to start over. If all you manage is getting dressed to shoes and shining your sink, so be it, it's more than you were doing before!

Baby Step 27: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/27/
What's for dinner? Plan what you're having for dinner by noon. Better yet, have a meal plan for the week, base your grocery shopping on that meal plan and prep ahead of time. Not there yet? Don't worry, just thinking ahead about dinner can relieve some stress when everyone is tired and hungry after a long day.

Good Morning everyone, sending a coffee to those that would like one ☕️

Well I’ve finished work ! I already feel like I’m returning to my normal self , all be it a little battered and bruised. I have slept for 3 nights running - I thought I wasn’t sleeping due to possibly starting the perimenopause, maybe it was just stress and I didn’t realise ! My neck and shoulders are also aching which I’m guessing is from tension.

Now it’s time to get back on track with the housework, I started doing bits over the weekend but I’m going to get stuck in and try to dedicate at least an hour a day to whatever zone we’re in. It’ll take some time but I am ready for life to get back no track and be more manageable again ❤️

tada
🥳 morning coffee

Hello, I am joining the thread after much procrastination. I live in a big old house that is really too large for us and feels like no matter how much work you do it never looks clean. I’m not by nature a tidy person and I don’t get stressed out by mess. However, it does stress my husband out and I realise it’s not a great example for the kids. So here I am, resolving to make more effort.
Yesterday I deep cleaned two bathrooms and completed several loads of laundry. A charity is coming today to pick up some old clothes (this is big for me as I am dreadful at throwing things away).

Morning 🌄 everyone.
@HazelNotHungryLC hope you're on the mend after your trip.
How is Dobby? One of my dogs is a terrible scavenger and is prone to the runs because of it. My patio needs resealing and getting it clean after an "episode" is a nightmare.
I'm on my way home today after dog sitting for my son, they're back earlier than expected, I'm looking forward to my own bed and DP bringing me a morning cuppa!
I'm ready for a purge!

Nothing exciting just LOL, DW and cleaned a hotspot that was annoying me and wiped surfaces and took out recycling. More to do properly this week.

Welcome to the thread @Aberdyfi 👋 You've made a good start already. How old are your kids and how many do you have? It is good to lead by example, but also getting them involved really helps as they get older.

Searching it's so good to see you, you sound so much more positive and happy in your post already! I agree that it'll take no time getting your house under control, especially with less stress.

Cherry I'm doing much better, still have a bruise, but nothing compared to what it was. Dobby is feeling much better, until he tries to do too much. Stopping him from jumping up and down on things it's getting harder as he's healing. We still have the stairs gated off so he can't go down them. He was feeling good earlier this evening, but the last 30 minutes or so he's wobbly on his legs.
I hope you're enjoying being home. There's no bed like your own bed though, for sure!

Peony it might not seem like much, but it all helps keep the house ticking!

I worked today so I didn't do much in the house, just rotated DW & emptied the kitchen bin. Oh I did repaint my nails too! My day off tomorrow so I should be able to get stuff done around the house.
Today (Monday still here) it was so smoky I had to use my inhaler. It was cloudy so the clouds were holding the smoke down. It was awful! It was starting to clear this afternoon, but it's still really smoky. We have wildfires all over here, none close enough to town that it's a problem though.
It does still hurt to take a deep breath though.

Tuesday is plan & play day. Plan something, like meals or a party etc, then do something fun for you!

Tuesday's mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission/20260728-zone-5-mission-2-tuesday-your-living-room
Detailed vacuuming session in your living room. Use attachments to help you, get all the edges of the room, under and behind furniture (but don't hurt yourself doing that).

Baby Step 28: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/28/
Set your timer for 15 minutes and do something for you! Something you enjoy. This can be anything! Paint your nails (it takes longer than 15 minutes though..), read a book, relax with your feet up. I wouldn't think it's a bad thing to spend 30 minutes or an hour on this! 15 minutes is a start for self care.

Good morning everyone, sending a coffee to those that would like one ☕️

Yesterday I got quite a bit done , all routines completed apart from laying the clothes out for the next day - this task isn't really a priority in the holidays , sorted most of the shoe and accessories box in the living room - a small bag for the bin and a small bag for charity 🙂 my kitchen is starting to feel more like a kitchen, I spent a bit of time pulling everything out on the worktops and giving it a clean, it was lovely to come down to this morning ! still a long way to go but definitely a good start !

Aww no @HazelNotHungryLCI hope the wildfires get under control soon and everyone is managing to stay safe, it sounds truly awful ☹️

Welcome @Aberdyfi💐

Enjoy your own space and bed @CherryogDog!

@PeonyBulball those tasks soon mount up , sometimes it’s easy to minimise what we’ve completed but running home is hard work and your list sounds great !

Thanks for the coffee @Searchingforsparkle , much needed this morning! It was lovely getting into my own bed, and DP bringing me a cup of tea!
@HazelNotHungryLC the fires sound scarey. There's been a couple of local fires, one caused by someone using a disposable bbq in a field.

@HazelNotHungryLCthe fact you can’t breathe well sounds scary. I hope all these wildfires subside around the world.

@SearchingforsparkleI’m glad you’re feeling better so much better and relaxed.

And everyone else just do what you can and push through it.

Im currently transferring lots of videos and photos from an old IMac to a hard drive. It’s taking a while. Started last night. Probably take a few more days. It’s a slow process.

I have visitors staying for the week so it’s hard to navigate around them deep cleaning wise but I’ll tackle what I can.

I actually have no motivation today to tackle what really are basic things but have fully cleaned the toilet which I always do daily. A pristine white toilet is my cleaning obsession but I fall short everywhere else.

So I’m focusing on transferring all these DC videos we have that didn’t transfer well to a USB stick a few years ago as looking grainy so external hard drive it is. But I’m having to copy them to a desktop folder as seems only way to transfer atm. There are 400 videos of varying lengths and takes a few minutes for each one to copy over to a folder. it won’t drag directly from photos to the hard drive. Can you tell I’m stressed

@HazelNotHungryLCYou have no idea how much I appreciate your motivating cleaning posts on this thread. And everyone else on here. Plus Fly lady app. I’m determined that all areas will be tackled and regularly maintained. I bought some kind of sponge that cleans marks off walls which came with 3 of those long thin brushes to tackle nooks and crannies. I want to re clean all the grout between all my bathroom tiles to brighten them up. I’m going to dip one of the thin brushes in mould remover to see what that does. They’re not mouldy but it could help after I’ve used a strong vinegar spray plus it could be mould who knows. There are specific grout cleaners but I’ll try the HG mould remover or Astonish one first that’s been great for the shower.

Searching you did accomplish a lot yesterday! The wildfires near us are either contained or distinguished. The smoke in the air is from large fires the other side of the state. I do feel for the people who have had to evacuate their homes.

Cherry some people just don't think! It does seem that the bigger fires around here were caused by lightening, but there are also human causes fires too. I just don't understand the way some people think (or don't think!).

Peony I have asthma so the smoke affects me more than someone who doesn't. It still hurts to take a really deep breath, but at least I can now!.
It's hard to do much of anything when you have visitors. Enjoy their company and refocus once they've left!
The grout that's in the main bathroom on the floor is like a tan colour and I hate it! Was here when we moved in. I try to bleach it white once a month, but it was about 3 months this last time. I just hate how it looks dirty, even though I know it's clean!
I'm really glad that you find this thread motivating. I do too.

I have a list of what I want to accomplish today. I really want to get all of it done today, but we'll see..

To dos:
☕️ LOLs, including sheets & towels & blankets
☕️ bathe dogs
☕️ vacuum
☕️ mop
☕️ clean both bathrooms
☕️ dust in the living room
☕️ clear hotspot in the centre of the house
☕️ barre workout
☕️ bake zucchini bread (lots as I have 3 huge zucchini)
☕️ bank
☕️ meal planning
☕️ grocery shopping
☕️ clean front screen door glass

I just have to finish my 2nd cup of coffee, then I'll get moving!

I managed to clear a hotspot whilst I had the house to myself. I’m enjoying clearing areas I’ve avoided that don’t actually take that long after all.

Well I didn't get as much done as I was hoping.
Ta das:
🍞 LOLs x5
🍞 zucchini bread x2 batches (each batch makes 2 loaves) x1 gf, x1 regular
🍞 meal planning
🍞 grocery shopping
🍞 bank
🍞 handwashed dishes
🍞 rotated DW
🍞 wiped countertops multiple times
🍞 cleared main hotspot

I wanted to get more done today, I just ran out of time!
I still have 2 more bigger zucchini to use up, so I'm guessing I may have enough for 6-7 more batches, so 12-14 loaves left. We have people to gift them to/ take to work & share/ freeze, thankfully.

Attached is a picture of the 2 zucchini I have left. I'm holding the one to give you an idea of the size of these monsters!
The other is the zucchini bread I made today.

Morning 🌄 everyone. Coffee and 💐 to anyone in need. I certainly am, had a humongous row with DP last night and he's left. Not had much sleep, and a migraine is on the way.

@PeonyBulb I'm a total Luddite and the thought of transferring files is a nightmare!
Yesterday I had a whirlwind clean of the dog room and back entry. In between the hallway and the kitchen there's always a black greasy patch where the dogs shove their noses and snort when they hear the dog food cupboard open, I'll tackle that today, it needs scraping and scrubbing.
All dog blankets washed and my WM is currently on a drum clean cycle. Not looking forward to the drain and clean filter bit later. Why can't someone invent a machine with a little pump near the top so you don't have to wear your knees out on the floor filling shallow trays and trying to avoid spilling them all over the floor?
Today's ToDos
Wash all the towels that are in the laundry basket.
Wash all the spare linen/throws. They're in underbed storage things, were put away clean, but when I was looking for a throw I found they all smell a bit musty.
Quick clean of the bathroom and try to whiten up the shower tray which is a bit yellow.

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day.

Wednesday's mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission/20260729-zone-5-mission-3-wednesday-your-living-room
Tackle the hidden clutter in the living room. Purge what you don't need, put away what doesn't belong.
Don't think you have anything? Great! But I challenge you to take a picture or two of your living room and ask yourself if you see anything that doesn't belong. We can get blind to the extra stuff, and by taking a picture you're removing yourself from the moment and it can change the view.

Baby Step 29: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/29/
Write down self care ideas. Click the link for ideas, browse mn, Google, Pinterest, there are lots of ideas out there.

As we are nearing the end of the month, is there anybody who is willing and able to run the August thread?

Peony I'm always amazed at how little time it takes to get things done, although I still seem to run out of hours in the day!

Cherry I hope everything is okay with you & DH 💐 I understand about keeping busy, but be kind and gentle to yourself.

Thanks @HazelNotHungryLC

The zucchini look lush, now I want some for my tea!

I've been finding this thread really useful for my cleaning week - I've been finding odds and ends in the living room to declutter or just put away. Now seeing clearer surfaces, and even better, my husband has started putting his stuff away and doing his breakfast dishes (he dried and put them away too!) My landing area is so much nicer, clean and clear of stuff.

Got a long way to go but every little helps. Hope everyone near wildfires is staying safe xx

@CherryogDogI bet that feels good having tackled that area. Same as me tackling my area yesterday. I’m not exactly great with tech so a lot of googling etc was involved with regards to what external hard drive to buy that was compatible with my old iMac and then how to upload.

@HazelNotHungryLC Those look more like marrows than courgettes because they’re a great size. My aunt used to make stuffed marrows covered in herby crispy breadcrumbs.

it’s very warm today so difficult to get going.

I am back to making sourdough again and my starter from the fridge has already doubled after taking it out last night.