Flyladies keeping on top of the household in August, it’s going to be a hot one.

[ExtremeDecluttering]

Well, at the start of July it was hot, at the end of July it was still hot (for most of us anyway) and here we are in August with no change in sight, but hopefully we are acclimatising a bit. And now we have holidays, children at home, all the changes of routine.

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. I have taken one for the team but use a junk email address I will check them periodically and report anything interesting / useful
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.
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!

Most of this is copied and pasted from previous months but is all correct, I do get the emails and do use the free version of the app, plus the new look but somewhat sparse website. There may be odd days I don’t post but the links do update overnight so click back to the previous ones.

Thank you for the new thread ED I really appreciate it!
Hopefully I'll be able to post most days, but August is a busy month for me.

Thanks for new thread @ExtremeDecluttering and thanks to @HazelNotHungryLC for
July's.
The weather has cooled a bit here, and we've had a little rain (hurray).

Morning all, it's going to about 25° here today, I am off to a local festival shortly, looking forward to that.

Saturday is Family Fun day so no specific missions but many take a bit of time to catch up with laundry etc, or finish off the home blessing, it is entirely up to you. My motto for the month is going to be "do it now" because procrastinating is a major fail for me. Enjoy your Saturdays everyone.

ED have fun at the festival!

We have a heat advisory here, for up to 102°f (38°c), thankfully we have a/c and a pool, so we can cool off.

I still need to make more zucchini bread, and plan on doing that this morning before it gets really hot.
We have to install a new tap in our camper as the last time we went camping it sprayed water everywhere!

We will be hosting family tonight, our family friend (pretty much adopted into the family now) is going to cook up some ribs. He has to practise for a competition in a small town around here and wants to defend his title of champion from last year! He'll be bringing his son (about 7yo) so I'll get a workout in later by playing with him in the pool. Until I get worn out and then I'll be floating in my pool lounger 🤣

Hi, Humans are feeling better but dog had d+v... First I thought it was the drive with one v then he had d a couple of days later so more cleaning...dogs don't normally catch stomach bugs,.and he does have a sensitive stomach, but he hasn't eaten anything abnormal so it's a bit odd...
We're back home on Tuesday evening so I'll get back to my routines then.

Do it now needs to be my motto. I do it for some things just not others.

@ExtremeDeclutteringthanks for the new thread

I’m ashamed to say there are so many little areas in my kitchen that I’ve been blinded to that I’m now cleaning. It’s amazing what you don’t see when you’re usually so busy and tired from work, kids and life in general. Yikes.

This morning we have smoke again really bad outside 😪 I'm hoping the clouds will lift soon, but I'm expecting it to affect my breathing again like Monday. I'm staying inside as much as possible today to avoid that though.

YesTaDas:
🥵 baked zucchini bread with choc chips in the morning, gave one to my neighbour
🥵 screen doors x2 cleaned (the whole thing, not just glass)
🥵 French doors cleaned
🥵 front and side doors wiped down, inside & out
🥵 mirrors cleaned in bathrooms
🥵 window cleaned in living room (inside & out)
🥵 dusted the living room
🥵 cleaned extractor hood (glass) in the kitchen
🥵 cleaned main bathroom
🥵 helped DH fill the water tank in the camper, ready for next weekend
🥵 spent some time in the pool, cooling off
🥵 had family over for dinner

The neighbours came over after we were done eating so the boys could play (neighbour and family friend's boys). It got a little awkward though as they are still having relationship issues. She's also been flirting and texting our family friend, who was here last night, it just feels so wrong, especially in front of her partner!

Anyway, I woke up this morning at 7am to let the dogs out & feed them. We went back to bed at 7:25am as I was so tired still. I woke up just before 10am! It was much needed. I just hope I can go to bed early enough tonight 🤦‍♀️

Made more bread and LOL, DW and wiped kitchen counters and swished and swiped sinks so bare minimum today.

Sorry about the smoke, that sounds awkward with the neighbours @HazelNotHungryLC ! I have had two daytime naps today the second was a solid hour and I am worried abut getting to sleep tonight too, but I was SO tired. I have been taking tiny 40 winks type naps quite often this summer (not like me) but the never ending heat is wearing me out a bit.

@PeonyBulb I agree about all the nooks and crannies in kitchens, I had a blitz on drawers in ours a couple of weeks ago and they were not in a good state, crumbs, elastic bands, you name it.

I’m going to post links tonight in case I forget in the morning before work.

Our babysteps are here https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/3/

Babystep 1is shining the kitchen sink at night, if you do it regularly it won’t take long, then when you come down to get a drink in the morning, it is there gleaming at you to inspire you.

Babystep 2 is get dressed to lace-up shoes, ready to face the day. Many don’t wear shoes in the house, but it means get dressed ready to take on the day, for me putting in my contact lenses has the same psychological effect as putting shoes on and gets me into daytime mode.

Babystep 3 on Monday is to start familiarising yourself with the Flylady ways, the website is quite basic now, the app is helpeful and there are numerous blogs etc out there. If you can get hold of a copy of the out of print book sink REflections by Marla Cilley (Flylady) that’s suprisingly good but a bit twee and has a Christian slant which may not be to everyone’s tastes.

We will be going into Zone 1 - entrance, porch, dining room. The mission for Monday is to put out hotspots, the wording of this mission in the daily email is unfortunate given the current wildfires, but out away those piles of junk that appear on flat surfaces, receipts, coins, random crap.

I think this link will update overnight….. https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission

August’s monthly habit is laundry, do a load a day and keep on top of it.

Monday’s habit is Home Blessing Hour which is a quick once over all round the house, dusting, emptying bins, vacuuming the middles of rooms etc plus changing the beds - most find an hour for all this to be a bit optimistic but you get the idea.

Thanks for this! Will be my third month following fly lady. Originally came across it from mumsnet threads. I’m totally on top of the cleaning side of things now and really enjoy that aspect.

the decluttering and tidying bit I am finding more difficult but getting there slowly. The kitchen, living room and bathroom is now always looking great.

bedrooms and dining room still has much work to be done. Onwards!

If you can get hold of a copy of the out of print book sink REflections by Marla Cilley (Flylady) that’s suprisingly good but a bit twee and has a Christian slant which may not be to everyone’s tastes.

Indeed, @ExtremeDecluttering
I have a copy from the 90s. It is a bit twee but I liked it as did one of my DC (the other wasn't fussed).
I am a church-going Christian but I don't think it would be off-putting for non-believers.
Having said that, a friend who said "I'd never take you for a Christian" probably paid me a great compliment because I knew what he meant 😄

Eta Not much will get done today as DGC will take up the morning but I did the House Bleurgh on Saturday to be prepared.

I’m up early and doing LOL, DW and washing down a living room door and took out some rubbish

Hello lovelies. I really need to keep up this month. I am so out of routine with the school hols and there's still a month left!

This seems to have sent my ADHD into overdrive and I have half finished projects everywhere. I just cannot concentrate on one thing. I also keep having 'angry throwouts' due to frustration, yet I am not seeing the benefits / additional space or tidiness.

Anyway, I have put a note in my phone to check in here every day as I know it works.

<Must Keep Focus>

I'm I suppose what you'd call agnostic, and wouldn't have thought any of it would be off-putting either, however I see some posts on MN which surprise me with how strongly some people are anti-religion.

I managed to swish and swipe the bathroom this morning and hang out a load of laundry before work, I even put out my clothes last night so that's a good start. There are a load of hotspots in our Zone 1 so will try and tackle them tonight.

@PeonyBulb I can't remember who said it, but some decluttering/cleaning lady on YT recommended saying "might as well" - ie, if you've folded your washing, you "might as well" go and put it away. I found this a great way to rethink things (am an expert procrastinator).

My zones are a bit out of synch, but doesn't matter; this week it's bathroom and bedroom. Both small rooms. Only one bedroom. Other room is full of guitars and thus nothing to do with me lol. I spent two hours this morning on the bathroom, apart from the area around the bath; sprayed the mould on the walls with vinegar, it's still there but less obvious; cleaned behind the toilet including the waste pipe, top of cabinet, washed shower curtain (and put it back up), loosened toilet seat to get under the hinges. Room looks really nice and smells a lot better, if a little vinegary :) Will tackle the bath area tomorrow when showering as it's easier.

I think Flylady said this in her book, she's right in that spring cleaning once a year doesn't work. The zone method is going to be a lot easier, and next time around it won't take anywhere near as long, as it won't have been left for a year. Obviously clean the toilet basin and tiled surfaces daily, but the walls and cupboards don't get done.

Started on my list for weekly blessing/bleurgh, and while I thought a housework organiser would be a bit overkill, decided to make one anyway. Love papercrafting, and it'll use some more stuff up. Win-win.

Hope everyone has a lovely week xxx

I need to attack the grout on my bathroom tiles, shower and walls, by scrubbing with a small brush, my new spinny scrubber and mould remover. I cleaned them not that long ago with vinegar which got rid of any soap scum etc and lightened the grout a bit but some parts need a heavier scrub. They look ok but could be whiter esp as the tiles are all white.

usually I soak kitchen towels in bleach and put on the shower tray silicone overnight when it goes black and ta da it’s bright white by the morning but apparently mould remover is better at killing it off. So I bought some and sprayed it on after and will use that from now on. I bought a foam one to spray on once a month to then leave a bit and rinse to hopefully stop it returning altogether. Every few days I get a scrub daddy and apply fairy liquid and give the shower walls and door a once over to keep the soap scum and limescale from building up but need to go in on that grout properly.

Im also tackling finger prints on walls and doors slowly but surely. Melamine sponges are working for me for that with water a bit of fairy and tiny bit of bleach wiped off with a damp microfibre cloth. I’m realising how completely lax my previous haphazard cleaning was.

Can’t sleep. Just woken up to what sounded like a street brawl between local cats and foxes. I hope the cats won. Any casualties will be on my street WhatsApp in the morning I’m sure.

I’m trying not to LMS with DC stuff cluttering up specific areas, stuff I can’t move but will go come Sept / Oct. Thought I could live with that but it’s doing my head in.

Watching Spider-Man after putting a DW load on only to find a bowl of strawberry ends on the floor. Gave me the rage. I wish I had cleaning rage but I’m eating a del monte orange lolly because the house is still boiling from today. Lol at Ned’s mum asking Spider-Man to clean the cobwebs whilst he’s on the ceiling. Off to get another ice lolly. And lol again at Ned’s mum asking the spidermen (meta universe) to clean up their webs after themselves. Wishing DS and DD had some useful super hero powers right now and me for that matter. Although not sure what my superpower would be although time travel and lottery wins would be useful.

Welcome @BarbarianBabs and welcome back @RainbowZebraWarrior .

Well, I “just did it” with a few things yesterday, hotspotted the hall table (well, my stuff, I am nagging the others), did a little gardening (deadheaded roses and got rid of some brambles while I was at it), swished and swiped the bathroom. I see the Mission link seems to have stopped working on the website. I will refer to the emails instead.

Babystep 4 https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/4/ is to write the previous babysteps on post-its to remind yourself.

Tuesday is Plan and Play Day. I tend to roll most of these daily focus areas into Friday when I don’t work, so planning, anti-procrastination, errands etc but do whatever works for you.

Our mission is probably only applicable to @HazelNotHungryLC ! Put away any remaining 4th July decorations. I would suggest more decluttering in Zone 1 otherwise.

@PeonyBulb I hope you got some sleep in t the end. I got a big surprise on Sunday when I came home to find DD had finally moved all her uni stuff out of the living room. Not long till September now.

Thanks for the welcome @ExtremeDecluttering yesterday I managed a swish and swipe in the 2 bathrooms, put away a bunch of laundry and did a bit of an extra spruce up of the kitchen - I know we’re on the living room but pleased to say the living room is one of the rooms that is fully in control!

today I have done a wipe down of the hard furniture and had planned to do a thorough vaccume of the living room, moving out sofa etc but lucky for me the vaccume battery died 🤣 so it’s on charge for now.

@ExtremeDecluttering I’m jealous I wish my DC would.
i haven’t gone back to sleep so I’ve emptied DW, cleaned bannister rails, cleaned back doors and a window and the kitchen sink and hob. Which I’ll have to do again as it’s had dirty water down it from washing the doors. I’m soaking all the cloths then will wash later with maybe more if I can be bothered to tackle anything else. Having a cuppa now.

Good start @PeonyBulb - I didn't sleep very well either, woke at 3 to go to the loo, got back to sleep then woke at 5 with cramp in my calf and had to leap out of bed, managed to get back to sleep for a little while but up since 6.30. I emptied all the wastepaper bins and swished and swiped again, at work now. I have to say, although DD has shifted her uni stuff upstairs, her bedroom is a complete disaster zone of clothes, she hasn't got enough storage (still only child sized wardrobe and drawers and doesn't want to lose any shelves or similar to make space for bigger storage) and there are clothes EVERYWHERE. She was working a lot of hours for the first half of the holidays so I let her off, but she has fewer shifts (pub) since the world cup ended so no excuses really.

@BarbarianBabs we've moved on from the living room into hall and dining room, but all Flying is good, I don't stick strictly to zones either. I tend to think that if you can tackle any mission type jobs anywhere in the house any time just go for it. I can't move our big sofa so that one is always delegated to DH here.

Ha!! Well maybe my vaccume knew I was in the wrong zone which was why it gave up on me 🤣🤣

I rebooted my app as it was still on living room and it’s telling me we should be on kitchen! Maybe I will do a little of each just to cover my tail!!