September Flylady: Fledglings inspired to make a fresh start at the beginning of a brand new term!

[mixedpeel]

Whether you're starting to build a new routine, stuck in a rut, or been around for years, join us on the monthly Flylady thread! Flylady has created a series of daily and weekly prompts to help anyone who finds it tricky to get or keep their house clean and tidy. She totally gets it if you feel overwhelmed or don't even know where to start - as do we! The best thing about Flylady is that you are never behind - just jump in at whatever point you are at, and do what you can.

This is a long running thread, but as a newbie myself I can confirm everyone is very friendly and all are welcome to join in. We spur each other on, but also commiserate when life gets in the way and we don't get as much done as we might have wanted to.

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
We usually link to the daily missions (jobs to do in whichever zone we're in) every day, but the new website doesn't seem to be working for me right now. I will keep trying, but they should update every day so you can click the link yourself to check. We will post the missions in the thread too so don't worry about missing anything. Most importantly, don't worry about finishing it all this month, it'll come around again next month! Flylady is NOT about perfectionism!

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

Flylady also tries to help us get into habits so that eventually we do things without even having to think about them. She has 31 baby steps to gradually pick up (on the previous website, since the link isn't working on the new site yet): https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/

Daily focus: each day of the week has a different focus. It's not all jobs jobs jobs by the way.
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

If you can, it's worth downloading the app (link on the flylady website), you can even have it send you notifications. You can also modify the tick lists to suit your home & lifestyle. There is a paid version and a free version, though the missions haven't been updating on the free app.

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

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 probably more, feel free to ask us to explain something!

ooof I’m still here fly-gang! I’ve finished reading the whole thread and am cheering you all on.

Loving all your posts and sending support to those that need it today 💗☕️

Started replying to congratulate @KitsyWitsy on handing in her dissertation and commenting on all the creative power in this thread! @HedgehogNotes @GreenWillowAndSnowdrops @PamelaColmansMustard

also @ExpertlyDecluttering I’d like to know more what you do in those diary sessions in the low sun outside waitrose with one of their coffees

@CherryogDog and @HazelNotHungryLCI have a storage box with cards too…urgh

The cards to declutter are from my first communion 🤯 they’re smelling a bit musty (decades in my parents’ basement) but they’re lovely sturdy quality with gold embossings and from people I care about. And some that have long passed. But, I need to steel myself to throw out. I’ve declutterred way more emotional items! That’s what I tell myself when it gets hard

It’s been a week since we dropped oldest off to uni, I have to admit that I wasn’t able to get dressed the first day she was gone. I couldn’t lift my arms, they were actually locked. Until evening when I HAD to get dressed to go to a party lol But she’s happy and now I am too.

I have no idea what zone we’re in 😭I’ve focused on keeping dinner on the table and kitchen cleared including shined sink ✨

But ready for the new week so looking forward to @mixedpeel‚s next post!! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ I‘m joining you guys

I'm still here. Trying to fly lady between migraines and other health issues. Not managed to finish any zones/rooms other than the utility room but I am plodding on.

I have managed to list a load of stuff on Vinted which has made me £150 already so that will help with spends this week. Got lots more things to list but it is so boring. I did manage to get Claude to list a load of comics for me but clothes and stuff like that, I need to do manually. I am so overwhelmed in this house by my stuff and the lack of time to do anything. My partner is American and is going back to the US in a week or so, so I will have more time then, but then I am going to US in Nov so not much! Especially since I am away twice in October as well. I am wondering if my ex will get the house valued while I am away in the US as he will be staying here with our disabled son. Hmm.

@HazelNotHungryLC You reminded me of my son's emo phase where he was constantly dying his lovely blonde hair black. I started doing it for him which cut down on the mess but still.

@WattTheHell Thank you! I just have the viva next and should really be preparing for it but I honestly would rather stare at a wall.

that’s understandable, you have a lot on your plate right now! Viva sounds like a big professional goal that needs more headspace.

However, well done for making £150+ on Vinted 🤑

I am here .......

This week I decluttered....... DS1 - as he moved out to uni 🥲

@WattTheHell if you haven't already thrown them out, you could photograph the cards and keep a record on your phone? It's not easy; I had a box full of old photos on a shelf that I hadn't looked at in years - I was lucky in that my DH had been through them and sorted them into categories, so after extricating a few I put the rest in the bin. Felt sad but also a lot "lighter". Can't keep everything!

@THATbasicbitchingwitch decluttering DS made me laugh! Hope you are doing OK with an emptier nest.

@WattTheHell I stick cards I want to keep in my diary. Or maybe you could stick them in a scrapbook?

No flying for me today. Been to church and Sunday lunch with family. Going on a walk this afternoon with my Dad. Then planning on reading, watching telly, and zoning out as much as I can.

Really must do house blessing tomorrow though!

WattTheHell according to my app we are moving to zone 4, the master bedroom.
I am doubting myself for throwing out all of DDs cards, but she really doesn't even know we have them. Nowadays we put any cards up we get for just a few days, then they get thrown away. We don't even do cards anymore really!

Kitsy well done on making £150 on Vinted! I noticed it is now here in the US. Is it worth it? I have a few things of DSs that could be sold (a suit barely worn, dress shoes for concerts etc.) But I really don't seem to have a lot of time! I haven't sold anything on marketplace for years as there were issues with people not showing up. If we do a yard sale we won't make as much money on that stuff either. I could donate it all to the charity shop, but we could also do with making a little bit of money back!
I really hope this hair dying is a one off, but if not, we now know what works to clean it off, and he's perfectly capable to do it.

THAT it's hard when they move out!

Hedgehog that sounds like a great day to me!

No plans yet today, about to have some coffee. DH got up with Coco so I could sleep in. I slept until after 9am!
I might enlist DHs help with making some Halloween decorations, or see if the neighbour wants to come over to paint Halloween signs. Hmmm 🤔
But first, coffee!

@THATbasicbitchingwitch how is your DS settling in? So hard to let them go isn’t it? We’ve dropped DD to uni last week as well.

Thanks for the card declutter tips @HedgehogNotesand @PamelaColmansMustard - no they‘re not yet gone 😂 just thinking about it.

Thanks @HazelNotHungryLC reading your post made me remember my stash of old cards. You’ve done the right thing to declutter tbh! Enjoy your coffee. Also commiserations on the hair tinting. Our teen got himself highlights this summer when they were all at their cousins house. meant to be blonde but came out orangey

Also I’ve cheated a bit and dove into last week’s zone: laundry room. So I spent 30 minutes chucking it all in baskets and told the kids to pick up their load. This room is a big problem for me because the heated airer / dehumidifier keeps churning out dry laundry. There’s now a massive pile that’s not helped by the fact that I never do the ‚reboot my laundry‘ step. Something for next week. There’s still about 40 random socks that seem a nightmare to partner up and quite a few cloth bags

I’ve had a nice catch up with the thread for the last few days.

I’ve been a bit tired and achy the last few days so a bit under the weather I guess. DD was dropped off at uni on Saturday and seems to have settled in ok, despite a few grumbles re the accommodation which looks perfectly clean and fine albeit too basic for her tastes.

Ta Das

🐭 Swept and Mopped the kitchen and hallway floor
🐭 Mopped skirting boards too while I was at it
🐭 DS spotted a mouse in the kitchen
🐭 Swishing and swiping
🐭 Cleared out DD room ready to hoover properly etc
🐭 Took various items to the tip
🐭 Constantly on top of even the tiniest crumb on kitchen counters which I have been since previous mouse.
🐭 DW
🐭 LOL
🐭 Cleared and cleaned kitchen table
🐭 Tidied up and cleaned coffee table

Need to hoover stairs and I want to Vax them again whilst weather is still warm but I’m away for a few day so I’ll save that for my return.

Hello everyone. Really iffy internet here, so will just post the basics regarding babysteps and missions so you’re all caught up. I’m home later today so back to being able to post a bit more regularly.

Babystep 20: one load of laundry (this is the infamous LOL!) every day
https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/20/

Babystep 21: any questions so far?
https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/21/
You’ve been able to ask questions throughout the thread of course, but as we’ve gone on if there’s something that you’ve been meaning to query, ask away!

Monday is home blessing/bleugh day

And we are now in a new zone: zone 4 is the master bedroom

Mission 1: Today we're going to spend 15 minutes under the bed!

There could be all manner of things under there, from sensible long term storage to things you quickly shoved out of sight for a quick tidy up.

15 minutes might not be enough, but for today just see it as making a start. If you don't store anything under your bed, then get your hoover and vanquish the dust bunnies that have been multiplying under there.

Read on for a sneak peek of the rest of the week…

Zone 4: Mission #2 Tuesday
Today is the day to deal with the clothes pile of doom. Almost everyone ends up with a pile on a chair, at the foot of your bed or the infamous floordrobe.

Take 15 minutes (use a timer) and hang up, fold away or chuck in the wash. And don’t waste clothes space on something that you hate or no longer fits. This is your opportunity to let it go, so have a charity bag ready too.

Zone 4: Mission #3 Wednesday
Time to take a critical look at your bedside tables. Take everything off, wipe and dust the surface and only put back what you actually need. You might even have made space to put something small that you enjoy looking at - a favourite photo in a frame or a pretty candle.

Zone 4: Mission #4 Thursday
Yesterday it was bedside tables, now do the same job on your dressing table if you have one. For me this is the top of my chest of drawers. Just get rid of anything that is not necessary, and put as much as is practical away in the drawers.

Aim to keep this space neat and clutter free, you will love to wake up to the flat surfaces in your bedroom decluttered. It’s so much easier to keep up with the dusting this way too.

Zone 4: Mission #5 Friday

A full remake of your bed today.
I’ll say a bit more about this nearer
the time!

Things not going too badly. I almost finished the main bathroom yesterday but we ended up watching a film and then my ex drove his car into a deer so we had to do my son's Sunday night drive so I never got round to finishing it off. Can do it later. It looks a lot nicer in there. I feel bad about this, but I just chucked out a load of tiny body lotions and stuff that I had in there. I never use them. Body wash, I will always use at gym etc but lotions can smell too much for me and I am sensitive. Anyway, they've gone.

I have been looking for jobs with my PA Claude. So fun to see how many rejections I can get in a day, but today I have been offered an interview at the council! It's not the most exciting job ever but it's slightly above minimum wage and would be great for me. I have accepted the interview and now I am working on stressing out about it. My MSc is AI and DS but the jobs in that field are impossible even if you're a young whipper-snapper. I feel too old and knackered to even bother. I do keep looking though. I haven't worked since the 90s so I am terrified. But I need to work hard on self-sufficiency.

Today, I really want to get some stuff to the tip. I have been piling it outside the front door and my neighbours are the type to write to the council about it. I literally have a stack of complaints from the council that I kept for my amusement. Neighbours complaining about my dog, cats, state of my front garden etc. I don't know why they don't have better things to worry about.

@CherryogDog It's the past life in the box, isn't it? Nothing to add other than have a hug.

@KitsyWitsy good luck with the interview!

My zones are way out of synch - when I started Flyladying after a damn good house clean, I began from top down as it seemed most logical, and we don't have all of the zones anyway. So this week is my kitchen; cleaned the window with some spray and a (clean!) swiffer - worked quite well surprisingly. Cleaned the fridge, yay! and am halfway round with the cupboard fronts. Also cleaned my tiled splashback and the tiled windowsill. Thankfully nothing is really grim so it didn't take much effort. One lol on the go (towels) and dishes put away.

Last week I did clear out under the bed and won't be storing the knitting machines there again - they weigh too much to lug up and down stairs. So I might spend a few minutes hoovering under there and giving it a good mop. Might retrieve one of those plastic under the bed boxes from the garage, clean it and store old towels and spare table cloths in there; one box will be easy to keep clean now. Well, that's the plan! Have a good day all xx

DP is having a huffy sulk because I've
A) reminded him again that he was going to clean the hob last week.
B) moaned about his stinky pork joint that's making the fridge stink.
C) I've pulled him up on leaving a black handmade on the fridge.
IHis excuse? The cheese is greasy, which is colourless, then somehow dirt appears and sticks to the grease. In the kitchen that I spent hours scrubbing. And miraculously only sticks to his cheese marks, not mine.
I've gone out, and have left cleaner and rags on top of the cooker .
I'm flying at my field, catching up on some jobs before I saddle up the old bog trotter, poor horse thinks he's retired!

@mixedpeel and @HazelNotHungryLC
Thank you for your replies ☺️
Cleaning my rabbit's large "nest" cage is not a quick job, so I'll note it while understanding that FlyLady hasn't mentioned pet duties 🐇

Reading how each day has a different FL zone linked has made it clear I've (accidentally) landed right in the middle of a thread 🙃

So far today here, it has been health admin and some standard housework tasks.

@CherryogDog My DP is not great either. He doesn't have many jobs when he's staying here but I end up doing them half the time myself. He just needs to be emptying bins, putting washing up away and tidying up after himself. He is used to having cleaners in the US but I don't have one currently and even if I did, you still have to clean up a bit as you go! Mind you, Think he is currently going to tackle my lawn. Prior to coming here, he hadn't mown a lawn in decades as it is standard there to have a service. I just find it insane. The guy he rents a room off in US is struggling to pay his mortgage but has a service for lawn, cleaners and picking up after his dog. All of things he could do himself!

@Meteorite87 I am new but I think the zones last a few days. I have been changing them round a bit as I learn how much effort each room is taking. Also, it's taking me longer for each zone because of the state they were in. I am still doing bits from the last zone because im not ready to give up on the bathroom yet!

@KitsyWitsy good luck with your interview!

I've not long done under my bed, but do need to sort out my "floordrobe" and "chairdrobe". I don't quite have enough dirty clothes for a load.
I've got a bag of socks that need to be put away.
I want to replace my socks.
I want socks that are soft, don't wrinkle up under my feet, don't shrink after one wash, don't cling on to every bit of hay that ends up in my boots, don't get that annoying thread bobbling on the inside, that are left and right footed. Seems with socks you really can't have it all.

@Meteorite87 it doesn’t matter where you start with Flylady. She just cycles round five zones during a calendar month, and we happen to be in zone four this week. She’s very firm that there is no right ‘order’, so it’s not like you’ve missed zones 1-3 and need to catch up. Just jump right in where we are, and zone 1 will be round again at the beginning of October.

Also, really the zones and the missions are to help those of us who don’t have a scooby where to start. She gives you 15 minute things to do each day, often things we wouldn’t otherwise get round to. Some won’t be relevant to your house set-up, some you might already be on top of, none are compulsory!

I actually really like @Alwaysgrowing’s idea of writing down missions and taking one out each day at random. That appeals to my sense of not wanting to be constrained by a fixed system. Hope you feel refreshed from some precious time to yourself this weekend, @Alwaysgrowing. Likewise @ExpertlyDecluttering - it sounds like a rare opportunity to be free of Other People’s Demands.

@KitsyWitsy you have a lot going on at the moment, what with the ex’s driving skills being questionable on top of his house sitting failures last weekend… in terms of your viva, I hope you have a good relationship with your supervisor who might be able to help you make best use of your prep time. And very best wishes with the job. It’s a big deal returning to the job market after so long, but right since your first post in this thread you come across as ready for whatever life throws at you. More ready than maybe you feel. Did you get to the tip today? You’ll feel great when that pile of junk is properly gone.

@CherryogDog the greasy cheese excuse made me properly LOL, and I haven’t done a jot of laundry today! I’m imagining you thoroughly enjoying your horse ride this afternoon. It’s a gorgeous day here, so hope your old lad remembered what to do once he was saddled up. BTW I’m with you on the socks thing. I bought some nice ones for DH from here for Christmas, not cheap, but he loves them and so far tick most of your wishlist: https://bambooclothing.co.uk/category/bamboo-socks/?utm_content=brand&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17834757482&gbraid=0AAAAAC92Az0PPL8FFoOk0mcQ3vmSZpTpn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl7rJs4qAlwMV9ZNQBh3ReBdCEAAYASACEgIcg_D_BwE

@PamelaColmansMustard while you may be in a different Flylady zone, you are truly ‘in the zone’ in terms of getting a lot done. Sounds like you’ve already done lots in the kitchen today, but also the longer term shifting around of where you’ll store the things you are actually keeping is falling into place. Very inspiring to read!

@PeonyBulb, @THATbasicbitchingwitch, @WattTheHell and anyone else who has deposited offspring at Uni, it’s a big life change when they first go. There’s the part of us that have been waiting to have them out of our hair, but ohhh, the gap in the house! It all takes a lot of getting used to. Hope everyone’s DC settle in well.

@PeonyBulb we had mice in evidence a couple of years ago. Never overrun, weirdly, but we had to resort to the traps that finish them off unfortunately. Just catching them and sending them back outside did not work. I feel your pain, as I still have a large part of my brain that reacts to anything that remotely looks like it might be mouse poo.

@HazelNotHungryLC oops, another one who chuckled at a safe distance at your DS’s hair dying adventures. Glad it proved relatively simple to remove, but it does make me wonder how hard he actually tried in the first place. Now you know dish soap works he can do a proper job himself if he goes in for a repeat performance. (Also I should add that I’ve never dared dye my hair as I just know I’d make even more mess than your DS did, taking out a hell of a lot of towels in the process no doubt…)

@HedgehogNotes love the picture you paint of the glamorous Morrisons shopping trip! Good ta da lists. Hope the home blessing happened today.

Thanks for sock link @mixedpeel , they also tick another box, my feet are
size 41/2, and socks that are 3-5 are too snug, 4-7 are perfect!
I had some bamboo socks from Aldi and they lasted me years!
I had a lovely ride, short but sweet. Just trying to motivate myself to do something in my bedroom.

Thank you @mixedpeel , I've still got a lot left to tackle but the pressure's off; if I don't do it this time there'll be next month. I was up quite late this morning but DH had washed up his dishes and put them away, so after chowing down my own breakfast I could just crack on and get cleaning. I spent less than an hour including a non-kitchen stairs and hall sweep. Out for lunch so I mopped myself out of the house, which is great because we then come back to clean and dry floors.

Love Flylady. And these threads - so, thanks.

Unfortunately I don't feel refreshed, even though today I had some time to myself, did my excersice class and otherwise rested and ate. Maybe getting more on top of things will make me feel better. I wander if I have a low level infection, but I don't feel ill

@Alwaysgrowing sometimes I tell myself it’s okay to not feel refreshed, hope you have a restful evening

thanks for the missions @mixedpeel 💫 and the funny posts - was it you who had a big cardboard box that turned into a table? Something in the way you wrote that made me lol! I mean actually lollll

@PeonyBulb eeek a mouse, but sounds like your kitchen is licked clean so the mouse won’t move in permanently!

@KitsyWitsy amazing, an interview! even though it’s been a while you sound like you’re totally switched on you GOT THIS

@CherryogDog had to laugh about the smelly pork joint, hate storing chewed on meat stuff especially since you may need a massive tupperware

@Meteorite87 yes to pet tasks! we foster dogs (currently don’t have one) but those tasks are respectable. So you have a baby hare? 🥹 Must be worth the hassle though, so cute

TA DAs

💅 weekly Blerru mirror / doors wiped
💅 all bins emptied
💅 caught up on clearing the laundry mountain out of the laundry room (Zone 3)

seems an erratic collection of tadas but house looks fair enough. now….wots for dinner?

I don’t think you are at full-on burnout, but you sound like you could be sort of heading in that direction. Possibly linked to the additional stresses that pregnancy can give to mind and body. Feel justified in deploying any coping strategies that work for you, and don’t let DH make you think you’re not doing enough/not doing things properly. Easier said than done, I get that. Feel free to ignore if this doesn’t chime with you.

@WattTheHell turned out to be chicken, was probably off when he cooked it 🤑
I have tidied my bedroom, only took 5 minutes.

@PeonyBulb bad luck on the mice problem. We've had that from time to time, except it was very noisy rats. We did traps, and then poison when the traps didn't work. But they kept coming back until we got cats. No more rats but the cats do sometimes bring us mice to make up for it.

@Alwaysgrowing I second MixedPeel. You've got an awful lot to deal with. Do whatever little things you can to make you feel good. You are worth taking extra breaks or snacks.

@KitsyWitsy best of luck with the interview!

@mixedpeel hope you've had (or are still having) a good time away. Thanks for looking after us all on this thread. It's so nice having this posse of housekeeping encouraging chums on my phone!

Ta Das
🧡 Was brave and had a meeting with new boss that I was nervous about but actually went really well. Felt listened to and hopeful that some stuff can start getting fixed.
🧡 made tea
🧡 tidied up downstairs and my bedroom
🧡 vacuumed
🧡 Wiped down everything with a damp cloth
🧡 coloured with DD
🧡 had a restorative bath

Just gotta put DD to bed and that's me done for the evening.