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.

Thanks for the welcome everyone. I am going to try and use it to establish better routines. Tonight I cleared the top of my bedside cabinet and the top drawer, jobs that desperately needed doing and I have been putting off for ages. It's good to hear @BarbarianBabs that little and often does help it get better, and that it does help to feel more in control @ExtremeDecluttering

Other things that Flylady has taught me are to use a timer (I use the one on my apple watch) set it for 15 mins and see how much you can do, fully focussed. Then stop. I tend to do 10 mins then maybe another 10 mins. Also there is The Power of Three. If all around you there seem to be so many things that need doing that you feel overwhelmed, write down three of them that you feel you can manage, then do them. Then stop.

I love a timer. I set Alexa for 5 minutes and do a bit of a dash. Grab three things from every room. (I am in a small bungalow so this is easily doable) If I do this three times a day, that's quite a bit of stuff tidied or chucked (63 items if I include the hallway)

I also love coming in 'under time' and finishing just before Alexa goes off. It makes me feel very smug. Haha. I take any wins I can at the moment!

Morning, sorry I’m late, having issues with my elderly mum.

Thurs 6th - babystep 6 Hotspots, another of my favourite Flylady concepts. Take 2 mins to clear one of those flat surfaces where clutter accumulate, hall table, kitchen counter, coffee table etc. Any zone will do, if you see a hotspot deal with it. https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/6/

Our mission today, similarly is to spend 15 mins in the porch/hall putting away anything that doesn’t belong there, throw out rubbish, put away shoes, sports gear etc.

Thursday is Errand Day. Also don’t forget your laundry - “a load a day keeps the chaos away” Flylady’s words not mine.

Sorry to hear there’s issues with your mum @ExtremeDecluttering and thank you for still taking the time to share this.

ive only managed to do a load of laundry today as I’ve had a 12hr long work day starting at 05:30! Luckily work from home so was able to do a dog walk in my lunch break for sanity and to recharge!

just threw some food together and so sitting for the evening now!

tomorrow will do my pre-weekend house sprucing up!

Got home after being out all day and DD finally decides to clear her very cluttered corner of the dining room and finds a dead mouse in amongst her things.

She now finally gets into her head why I need their clutter cleared and removed so I can clean and keep everything clear.

I’m absolutely furious 😡 but managed to stay calm and don my new extra thick kitchen gloves 🧤 and remove it.

When they both leave for uni I’m just going to bag what’s left of theirs up and bin it all. I’m going to remove everything from their rooms and bin whatever’s not put away into cupboards and drawers.

I’m so angry

I was off this morning so I spent some time this morning washing up (our dishwasher broke and I can't get a new one until next week) and wiping the kitchen side and cleared the hall table. I also got a lightbulb from the shop to put in my bedside lamp as it is errands day, which sounds really silly but is the kind of thing I would usually forget about for ages and get annoyed with myself over.

Morning,
Well, didn’t get much done yesterday, but did manage 2 LOL (loads of laundry) - this dry weather is making it so easy, I’ve almost got out of routine because I know I can put stuff out any time, usually I do towels on Fri (day off) and bedding over the weekend so I’m around to grab it in if it rains. Will do towels today. I didn’t do my hotspots, but the shoe pile in the hall is in my sights today.

Today’s babystep is planning your outfit for the next day, especially important if you have to be out of the house early, a good one to add to your evening routine. DC’s outfits can be added if applicable too. https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/7/

Our mission today is to choose your own mission in Zone 1, porch/entrance/dining room. So thie week’s missions have been focussed on clutter, but maybe do a bit of cleaning now, the inside of my front door could do with a good clean, it gathers dust.

Friday is also clear out your handbag and car day, it is also supposed to be date night. Not sure what our evening plans are yet but both DCs are at home I think.

Laying out the clothes for following day is something that my partner has got on board with. Is has reduced his flapping in the morning by a gazillion percent 😃

I don’t have a 05:30 work start this morning but still got up at my usual time of 05:00 so have used the time productively!

I’ve already done a dog walk, swish and swipe and have FINALLY tidied the large shelving unit in the spare bedroom. It’s been on my list for a while as it became a dumping ground. My friend is coming to stay for a few days later this year and I am slowly but surely sorting the room she will be staying in. currently in a local cafe with a large black coffee for a few mins breathing space and then it’s back home for a 09:00 start.

Will try to do a few more bits this evening but to be honest I am so delighted with clearing the shelving unit!

@PeonyBulb I’d be angry too, my young adult DCs are really untidy, when DS went to uni I did blitz his room, but DD’s is so bad that every time I try I don’t get anywhere because there is not even enough space to make piles of things, nowhere to sit etc. It needs redecorating but it’ll never be clear enough at this rate.

I’ve had words and ultimatums. And strict instructions re future storage of items.

I’ve wiped down some walls with a magic eraser, cleaned some skirting boards with cif, cleaned kitchen sink, used a larger scrubbing pad on electric scrubber on half my shower. Threw away some bags of clutter, DW and LOL, wiped down kitchen surfaces.

It was rage cleaning I think 😂

I’ve washed all the towels and our bedding, done some shopping, done some admin. I haven’t cleared out my bag but my car is fine since I instituted my “car bag” system a few months ago (keep a freestanding tote that I put everything I need to take to the car into, then when I get out of the car put everything that needs to come to the house into and keep it in a corner downstairs). About to go to bed, date night didn’t happen but we are going out tomorrow night, albeit with DS too.

I also put two pairs of Birkenstocks on Vinted and one sold right away so parcelled that up and I have filled a charity bin bag to take to a shop during the week.

I've wiped the skirting boards and rails and bannister, it's amazing how different it looks, they really were disgusting. I also emptied my car, which was full of rubbish from a trip about a month ago. I don't know how much I will sustain when I'm back to term time and full on work / school / activities but am finding it a good motivator at the moment

I know we're meant to have the weekend off, but I'm retired so theoretically can have a weekend whenever...so, spent a few hours this morning deep cleaning the last room on the list. Hopefully now the zone cleaning and daily swish and swipes should see me keeping on top of it. Where does dust come from???! Also did LOL plus an extra one after for the filthy cleaning cloths.

I'm feeling a lot happier, the house looks cleaner, have kept on top of the laundry and a bonus is I've been a lot more active. I've got Sink Reflections on audiobook as well as a secondhand copy; might give it a listen. I liked the book, think it could have been useful to me if there was a precis of the whole method!

Have a good day all.

I can’t sleep so I’ve cleaned the oven door with some Mr Muscle oven cleaner I found in the back of a cupboard must be at least 10 years old. It still works as it just melted it all off. Last time I cleaned the oven I used another product. Also LOL and making sourdough.

I'll try that, if they still do it. Did mine with magic sponges and The Pink Stuff, took ages and it didn't all come off.

On the plus side, bought a bottle of HG mould remover. Smells strong but the mould round the bath is nearly gone.

I was out all day yesterday, but did still manage some washing and a quick bathroom clean. I think I am going to try and do the weekly blessing this afternoon, I work full time and Mondays I am usually in the office and completely exhausted by the evening so it won't be happening then.

Well done everyone, it’s really inspiring hearing about everyone’s achievements.

I got a fair few things done yesterday, 2xLOL then did a maintenance wash (90C +soda crystals) and cleaned the door seal of the WM which was a bit grim. Swept and mopped kitchen floor. Some garden clearance. Sorted laundry.

Today I have given the bathroom it’s weekly “more than a swish and swipe” clean but not done much else.

Sunday in Flylady-land is Renew Your Spirit day where you do something just for yourself, I got up early and went for a swim at the local lido which has a quiet adult only session before 10.

Been back home. Done a tiny bit of decluttering, a bag of DDS outgrown clothes to a friend, sorted out her school uniform and DH bought new uniform she needs. Also rearranged her draws so that one or 2 can be used for baby stuff. I don't think this baby will have it's own draws/wardrobe to begin with. Other than that I've been focused on kitchen sink and sometimes a swish and swipe, allthough I've not done that daily. Same as hotspots. We've been out a lot and I feel pretty fatigued.

Working through the babysteps, getting clothes out/ any sort of evening routine is my stumbling block. DH has been cleaning more.

This week is meant to go back to 30+ where I live, not looking forward to it. At the moment, our house is cooling down nicely overnight.

I've bought a new washing machine, 9kg rather than 6kg, it's arriving on Thursday.

Back to 30+ here this week too @Alwaysgrowing . How long till baby is due? I am sitting here with the back door open because it’s warm already.

Monday - Home Blessing Day and we are into Zone 2, the Kitchen. Our mission is to scrub the stove top. We have hotplate and induction, induction is ok at the moment just needs a wipe, I ought to do the hotplate while it’s off for the summer - I use a pumice stone on a long handle so it can be done while it’s on but easier when it’s not.

Babysteps - I need to get to work, I will try and pop on during a break to post these.

@ExtremeDecluttering I've got 3 and a half months. It's cooler today, at least for now, but I have very little energy. Back to work tomorrow, feeling a bit down about that's, but just for 2 months

Morning! Did a very quick house blessing - took a duster up to bed last night with some rose oil, dobbed some drops on the cloth this morning and when I'd cleaned the bathroom and got dressed, I went round the bedroom, landing, hall, living room and breakfast room with the duster. If it took ten minutes that was pushing it. Every little helps.

Used a spray of the HG mould stuff on the bathroom window corners, they came up well. Annoyed to find that there's a bleach stain on one of the bath towels because I didn't move it before spraying around the edge of the bath - thought it would be ok as the area I sprayed wasn't near the towel. Bugger. Will just fold it so the stain's on the inside. It's not the end of the world!

Sorted through some scrap book and decoupage papers, with the intention of using them; I've designated September as "creative month". Need to get stuff either used up or gone as there's just too much of it.

Feels like I've got some control back though. And lost a bit of weight, so all's good.

I was at the beach when you wrote this post and it was 9 degrees here!

I had a spider-in-middle-of-night incident with DD as she couldn't sleep and had spotted one in the corner of her room. I did a thorough clean yesterday morning and may have warned her about the dead mouse tale from here last week. We (she) is apparently tidying the lounge table today. She will then be using it to build a rolife model, but as long as I have my table back for September I will be happy. <wistfullly remembers sitting there on winter morns past with a candle, cuppa and a book>

Dishwasher on and under sink cupboard cleaned and cleared this morning. Stove top was done yesterday after jam making. I need to tackle window areas as a matter of urgency this week. I need a quote for new double glazing, so I need windows to be clean, clear and accessible.

Having a 5 minute lie down then I will do a 15 minute blitz. I also need to stick Gilmore Girls on my TV in the bedroom later as background distraction whilst I clean the seemingly never ending wooden venetian blinds. Does anyone have one of those blind cleaners or any top tips for this?

Ooh, and two big charity bags put out for collection this morning