Taking baby steps with FLY lady!

[ScummyMummy]

Here's a thread for anyone trying to get their house a bit cleaner the FLY lady way. I've had a look at her website now and, well, I've decided to give it a go, despite the bath flooding disaster while I was trying to sign up! I like the sound of doing things in baby steps but so far I must conclude that I haven't even learned to walk yet...

She dictates three first steps for novice cleaners' first day on the road to organisation:

1. Get completely dressed including shoes
2. Make your bed
3. Shine your kitchen sink

Well, I manage the first, though I can't find a hairbrush AND spend 15 minutes searching for my right shoe. My muttered curses whilst I look for it wakes up one of my boys about half an hour earlier than usual. He says "What's the matter Mum?" I reply "I can't find my shoe." He asks "Where are you going?" I reply "Nowhere. I am getting merely getting completely dressed, including my shoes, if I can find them." He looks confused and says he needs a poo and he can't find his potty.
I decide to skip making the bed since my partner is still in it.
So straight on to shining the sink... except I can't find it... there seems to be a washing up mountain the size of Gibraltar where it should be. I start to wash some wine glasses and break two. Crash. Curse. "What does *#@£$$ mean, Mum?" asks my boy. "Oh nothing," I reply, weakly.
My other boy wakes up. He says "MummyMa, why are you washin? up? I want Cocopops and where is my Captain Scarlett car?"

LOL, good start to the day, Scummymummy!! I must admit, I don't wear shoes in the house. We've enough holes in the carpets already, due to wear and tear. I don't shine my sink either, cos it's white plastic, so I can't, so I just make sure it's tidy and clean away any stains. It is amazingly cheering to get up and not see the sink full of clobber.

I just can't seem to get on to this Fly Lady site (been trying the link from the other site), either she has gone off to do her spring cleaning or I am just failing at the very first hurdle and should give up now. Not sure I can cope with needing to put my shoes on first thing in the morning!!! Also I only make the bed if we have visitors coming because the cat is always in it and I feel sorry for her as it is the only place she can hide from DS. Is the kitchen sink an everyday requirement?

Sorry that should say the link from the other thread.

The link from the other thread didn't work for me either - but I found it via Google.

I too am making a conscious effort to take Flylady babysteps. My sink is clean and the dishwasher is empty. My MIL is coming over this evening (although I'll be out) - and I am relaxed about it because I know the lounge is tidy and the kitchen is clean (not that she would be that bothered - in fact, her own untidiness is the reason why dh has a thing about being tidy.... so I'm not sure why he married me!)

Now, I need to remember to continue to take baby steps and make these habits before I start getting uptight about all the untidiness BENEATH the surfaces! ... and then there's the piles in the spare room, the mound on the upstairs landing, the bathroom cupboards, my knicker drawer (which I can't shut), my makeup drawer (ditto).....

Calm down, remember, baby steps!

Sorry, I think I posted the wrong URL. Try this one! Fly Lady

The link from the other thread didn't work for me either - but I found it via Google.

I too am making a conscious effort to take Flylady babysteps. My sink is clean and the dishwasher is empty. My MIL is coming over this evening (although I'll be out) - and I am relaxed about it because I know the lounge is tidy and the kitchen is clean (not that she would be that bothered - in fact, her own untidiness is the reason why dh has a thing about being tidy.... so I'm not sure why he married me!)

Now, I need to remember to continue to take baby steps and make these habits before I start getting uptight about all the untidiness BENEATH the surfaces! ... and then there's the piles in the spare room, the mound on the upstairs landing, the bathroom cupboards, my knicker drawer (which I can't shut), my makeup drawer (ditto).....

Calm down, remember, baby steps!

A wee bit of advice for those of you who have plastic sinks and are using the excuse "they can't be shiny".

I used to work for ICI, who made Asterite. If you pour bleach around the sink (and smear it over the surfaces) and leave it for a wee while, before wiping/rinsing it off and volia! ... the sink will come up beautifully clean and almost (especially if it is white) sparkling!

So no more excuses! .... and no elbow grease required!

DON'T use and abrasive cleaner such as Jif (or Cif) as that will only make it get dirtier quicker in future.... unloess you have a Corian sink (lucky you) in which case you SHOULD use an abrasive cleaner!

It's over 10 years since I worked in that industry. I'm a sad person. (I could also still tell you plenty about crisp packets, as that was the first product I worked on was used for!)

Thanks SueDonim that one works. No time to look just now so I have bookmarked it for later, I'm so good at this procrastination thing, I think she'll have her work cut out with me.

Ah, but Demented, Wednesday is her anti-procrastination day so she's already got you sussed !

I haven't looked at this FlyLady site, but if I didn't know my Mum couldn't use a computer I would be sure it was her in disguise from what you have said. The instant she walks in my house (even if I'm not there and she's just gone round to drop something off) she walks straight upstairs and makes the beds. Next job is bleaching the kitchen sink and emptying the teapot. She just can't relax if she thinks any of those things are festering!!

Janz you need to get out more....and you have put me in the mood for a bag or two of crisps.Don't you think I am fat enough?

I have a pet theory about one of the reasons we all feel not in control and a bit snowed under at times. I think we own too much "stuff" so that a lot of time is spent either tidying things away/getting overwhwelmed at the mess/hunting for things....take Scummymummy as an example. She got stressed this morning and part of that was being unable to locate
a) her hairbrush
b) her shoe
c)the potty
d)the sink
e) captain scarlet car

HOW I sympathise

I completely agree about having too much 'stuff', Jasper. We have tons of things like books and CD's, CD players in most rooms, with the resultant tangle of wires, toys and clutter for hobbies and, worst of all, paperwork!! I remember the time when computers were going to make us a paperless society. What happened???? We've just taken out some new insurance and the number of letters we received from the company was ridiculous, probably six or seven separate envelopes for each of us and for each policy. It's crazy! It overwhelmed me in the end as I didn't know what could be safely throw away and eventually took the whole lot to the bank and got them to sort it out for me.

It is so good to hear of other Flybabies! My sister and I are hooked!

I think you all need to get out more!

I have unsubscribed from Fly Lady, she was sending me about 15 emails a day. Thought I was getting really popular but it was just her all the time saying things like 'don't forget to go to bed' and 'go clean your hotspots'!

The one valuable tip I use a lot is setting the kitchen timer to do jobs you really don't want to do. Works well for me and my DS. R

Just unsubscribed from Flylady, DH doing his nut about the amount of e-mails that has come in from her today!!! A bit of a laugh but all too demanding for my liking, will try and put some of her suggestions into operation mind you and probably will look at her site from time to time. Did I understand correctly that you were to put 27 items in a black bag and throw them out on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday? If this is the case I would have nothing left in a couple of weeks!!!

I've just signed up. I'm sitting on my still unmade bed, the sink is still full of dishes downstairs and my daughter's uniform isn't even dry yet for tomorrow. Ooops!

Demented, I have no problem throwing out 27 things every day! We have so much 'stuff'. Each piece of paper counts.

The emails can just be deleted unread, or you can set up a separate email folder for them. Some of the hints are useful and you can just go Nomail rather than unsubscribe. HTH.

PS Maybe if I wasn't Nomail my house would be less of a tip, lol!

She is a scary lady, DH turned computer on early this morning to find the in box choc-a-bloc full of her e-mails again. I thought her reminders last night were hilarious, 'have you had your bubble bath' and 'make sure you get enough sleep', well it was midnight and I was still reading her e-mails!!!

Perhaps this is not the right time in my life for Flylady, I thought she might help me get the house organised for the new baby but I think I will rely on the good old fashioned nesting instinct! DH has suggested that he could phone me every hour and give me instructions on what cleaning chore to do next but I have told him not to bother, I think I would prefer Flylady!

Batters, I did manage to get the bit about keeping your shoes on. Apparently it's all to do with being ready for action! If the garbage suddenly needs to be put out or you get an impromptu invitation for lunch you are all ready to go! Also she says that if you have your lace-up shoes on you are unlikely to lie down on the sofa as it is too much hassle to take the shoes on and off. Hasn't convinced me mind you, don't like wearing shoes in the house at all!