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TiggerandPooh,
I have 'flown' out the window too with school holidays. All I think is, well, if I can get JUST ONE HOUR of cleaning done a day, that's enough. ONE LOAD of washing. I am so sick of 'To-Do' jobs, my hot-spots are going insane, but somehow I have gone past that and I am okay with it.
As long as I get the dishes in the dishwasher, and get one load done, I am happy. And don't forget - it's too cold to do anything anyway!
What can I say? I keep trying to FLY to no avail. It goes well for awhile but I don't seem to be able to keep my routines going and as for the shiny sink :p.
I need motivation big time ladies as I do my chores but the house still seems messy :wall:
I have however, washed the dishes, put them away :dance:
I am also trying to find ways to clean without chemicals. knw of bicarb soda, vinegar ad water :cryinglaugh: anyone know any others? Also can anyone tell me ho long it took the men in their life to help you keep the sink shining?
You ladies who iron, no offense but, why bother I dont iron and dont see the point, cnvnce me wh need to iron :p
Great idea, but does that mean you hant the clothes on the line on the hangers? What about winy days :wall::
I shake-shake-shake and hang. That way it eliminates 1. ironing 2. hanging them up 3. having that 'clothes chair' in the bedroom for things intended to go back on hangers.
And I haven't been able to get the hang of the babysteps :rofl: what do you expect from someone who didn't learn to crawl until after she walked :p
I would love not to iron. But sadly most of my work shirts need at least a quick iron. And as for DH's shirts - they need more than a quick iron! Of course sometimes he does his and sometimes I do. I don't iron anything else though.
I am the same as you Rachael - lots of fits and starts. But the concept of baby steps has finally gelled. Just pick up ONE change at a time, even if it takes a month or two, just do ONE thing different. This then becomes a habit. The sink shining seems to work for most people, but for me the load a day has worked better. Then I added swish and swipe. Just do that one extra thing each day until it's habit, you no longer need to "remember", you just do. Then you add the next thing. It is slow, but eventually you get there (in theory - I'm not there yet either LOL!).
GL, I hope you get there.
Does FLY actually stand for anything?
I don't have a Control Journal, but have seen a diary I like for next year. Its called 'mum's diary' from debden I think. I was going to use my old a5 organiser, but that is at my Mum's house, and given that I don't go there much (and since she isn;t really talking to me atm), I don't see myself getting it in a hurry. Unless I can psychically figure it out and ask my brother to get it out for me. But if I do happen to get it by the end of the year, I will use that instead. I have this thing for writing notes and lists. Sometimes I think I'm obsessed by it. Honestly, I do!
I am reading this whole thread in between typing my post, and also looking at FlyLady's site. I don't get the whole shine your sink thing, but I am sure I will when I start. Sounds to me almost like a spiritual revelation. But I do make the bed everyday, so it is very tidy, and always clean the stove when I do the dishes (which I try to do every night). When I get up in the morning (which is often around 9 or 10! :redface:) I put on a load of washing before breakfast so that its dry by the arvo.
Ha, I just thought of something. Not really related to FLy Lady, but the Man said to me a little while ago (when I was in the groove of my daily list, including make up) that I don't have to do all that (especially the make up), as its not the 1930's, I don't have to have the house perfect for him, and be all made up awaiting his arrival home. Awww, isn't he sweet? But at least he noticed.... And I was trying to have a roast every Sunday. That works fine, when we are home. But for the last two weeks, and the next Sunday coming, we won't be home. Maybe I'll have to SC a chook? Hmmm, new browser window please! Okay, Sunday's roast dinner sorted, SC chicken with french onion soup cooked on onions. Microwave and fry some veges when we get home. Then for other times, I think I will try to cook in an oven bag (saw it on Better Homes the other week) to try and keep my oven clean, which means less cleaning, even though the Man has volunteered to clean the oven for me when needed. Sorry, bit of a deviation there...
Just thought of something good my Mum has done. Got me out of ironing. The only thing that gets ironed now are jeans. Mine (if I can be bothered) and the Man's. That's it. I don't even iron the Boy's jeans (well, he dumps his clothes in the bottom of his wardrobe, so I don't see the point. Actually, I'm tempted to dump his clean clothes in a pile on his floor, as that's where it all usually ends up because he won't put them away!). The Man wears flouro shirts for work, which I hang up asap (along with most of the washing, which helps keep it wrinkle free). Ironed jeans and flouro shirts for work, I know, an odd combo, but he teaches trucks for a living, so likes to look good.
I had better go, finish reading flylady later. Have to do something about dinner.... :o
OMG I just looked up that diary you were saying and I WANT ONE NOW!!
How exciting! They finally have put something together to please us!
YAY!
I am getting one RIGHT NOW.... :)
You know.... I was thinking of you when I saw the Mum diaries... :redface: Who's stalking who now!?!
I am going to restrain myself and wait. Actually I'm going to tell the Man that is what I want for Christmas. I'm going to get a pink one!
Ok, I keep on looking at Flylady and taking some ideas from the site. Does anyone actually follow it fully or do they adapt it to themselves.
Well I kind of have an office in a bad organised. Recycled an old uni lecture folder/binder. I have reused the cardboard note pockets for "bills to pay" "filing" "general to do" "info". Info is for those flyer's, brochures etc that I need access to for the moment. There are some loose leaf page for notes etc, business card plastic inserts (have been meaning to get these for years). The front of the folder has a pencil case and small pockets, good for stamps etc. So I am getting more organised and have told DH what it is for in case he is looking for anything.
Having trouble doing much around the kids. Whilst I understand the concept of only doing it for 15 minutes, it is hard with interruptions. Just trying to vacuum today was a nightmare. Every 30 sec DD1 demanded something (bum wiping cannot wait) or screamed about the noise, then bubs woke up and virtually no vacuuming got done. If I am dragging out the vacuum I like to get as much done despite the time. So how do others cope?
I think I have a real problem keeping motivated with interruptions, in the end I just give up and I just feel depressed about not getting anything done. So I am not sure any routine is going to help me until the girls at school.
Does anyone else think the Flylady site needs a makeover? It is very dated in look and a pain to navigate.
Hiya Astrid,
FlyLady is great for ideas - but terrible for motivation. Don't sign up for the newsletters - it will get worse. For all the fluffy fairy floaty fun lovin' - she really knows how to make someone feel bad, depressed, unmotivated - the list goes on. She has some basic great ideas, but don't get carried away with the whole "HEY lets do this and that and this and cook for a month and clean under the beds etc etc." We have kids. We have stuff to do. We don't want EVERY single nook and cranny of our houses STERILISED. We would JUST LIKE TO SEE THE FLOOR EVERY NOW AND THEN!!!
I did flylady for a while, but then I decided to create something to fit me, us and our life.
Basically this is what I took from it all:
Have a folder (anything) to put important stuff and a contact list. Bank numbers, fast food stuff, etc. This is handy and sounds like you are on the right path.
Every morning, do - kitchen, swish toilet, and wipe sink in bathroom. Just having some bench space clear and tidy makes the room look tidy.
Try (this one is hard) to do a load of washing a day.
Have a basket to dump things in throughout the day that needs a home.
I have lots, and lots and lots of those plastic boxes on wheels, for everything!
For some reason I have this kooky sense that things look neater in a basket... From my desk in my office I can count 24 different boxes/baskets...
I usually do two big days of cleaning at home, Tues and Fri - for a couple of hours - beds, floors, vac, mop. If I am feeling 'the mojo' I'll clear out a cupboard or fix those piles of stuff that seem to accumulate everywhere. BUT here is the money = my mum comes around those days to play with the kids so I can get some done. She appreciates the time with the kids, and I can go hard upstairs without freaking out about the kids.
What about getting DD1 her own little vac - they have them at Target for $10 or so. And I have been known to hold baby whilst vaccumming.
Getting motivated with interruptions is hard, and this forum is especially harder. I have ended up having to enforce I do not visit this site until after the kids are in bed, and at 9.30 (coffee time!) Even just getting one draw, cupboard, basket done a day...
Keep your chin up, just remember that kids come before cleaning, and I just hope people look at my gorgeous children instead of the floors :redface: At the end of the day, just take what you think can work in your home, but don't bust a gut trying to follow her rules.
Thanks for the reply MissWB! Good to know I am not alone in thinking that it is too much to follow all of it.
I already do a load a day, well almost as we are now on tank water and a water waster machine. Would love to put it on first thing, but I put it on after I have bucketed the shower water into the machine. There is extra work to do at this property, but I suppose it is kind of made up by being well laid out and not too big, well except for the land :lol:
Have a few plastic tubs and will get some more. Both DH and I have decided if it is not used everyday/weekly it is to go in a tub, on a shelf in the shed. Even stuff like all the gear needed for swimming (bathers, towels, wetbag, bucket spade etc) will be out of the house in tub. Will save heaps of time as we wont have to hunt around for the bathers that DD1 loves to pull out of her wardrobe :rolleyes: and for the beach towels DH likes to use a everyday towels. Also found some good plastic baskets at Bunnings that are quite reasonably priced that I will grab for room tidies, already have one in the bathroom as a small laundry basket. Would love to have wicker, but not at the cost at the moment, plus I want to learn basket weaving (well one day).
It is probably a bit sad, but I found a new vacuum makes me want to vacuum more often. Finally retired our old Dyson (DCO2 model) and now have a DC19 with turbo head. It cleans so much better, so it is enjoyable (when not interrupted) to vacuum as I can see the result. Actually a new mop and bucket has helped as well. Gee, I am sad.
DO NOT even utter the words you are 'sad' for feeling motivated by having nice shiny new cleaning stuff - hey, every monday nearly I buy something that will magically transform my home - today a real lambswool duster... mmmm.... fluffy.... (dog ate last one)
Last week it was a bucket, and sponge, and car cleaning stuff. Whenever I finally get motivated to clean the car, we have no stuff to do it with! So now we have the 'car' bucket.
Bunnings has great big 50l tubs with ropes on the side that are perfect toy baskets, because they are reinforced. As you probably already know, I have lost many plastic 'tubs' to the kids who love to sit in them instead. I've had these now for a year and no breaks!
Excellent idea about the swimming tub. Don't forget sunscreen!
Another idea I did recently was to grab an old backpack, and go through the kids clothes, and anything that I would usually send to Life line I made up a couple of outfits, then added a nappy, some wipes, sunscreen, mossie coil, pens etc and now that bag lives in my boot of my car. You just never know when you might need it! We recently did a 'quick' trip out to the IL's, and I had NO clean clothes, no nappies, nothing with me, thinking we were just dropping past. So this is a just in case you never know bag.
Here is something from an older thread that I wrote:
"I also have an "Action Station", which is our old baby change table. It is just as you walk in the door. Baskets for everyone in the house on top, with calendar and incoming mail. (Technically I should open mail, mark on calendar event or payment, and go and immediately file the paperwork). Pegs for "school notices/excursions/tuckshop" stuff. Key hanger (I am a shocker for losing my car keys). Then underneath, on middle tray, all school bags, 'yoga bag' (cobwebs and all), beach bag etc. Then a basket underneath for school shoes. Also a 'four hook hanger" off the side for school jumpers/coats. Also an "Out Going" basket, for all those things you borrow/get/need to give back to friends, family. For eg, my mum gets parcels to our house. So I put it in the OUT basket and she knows to check there everytime she drops in. It is really, really handy, especially for school notices and shoes and stuff. But also is the worse place for dumping stuff.
Just have to keep on top of it and clear it out/take action every week. I find the baskets really handy because if there is something I need my DH to do, (handyman stuff "BLUE JOB!"), I write it on a sticky and put it in his basket. (Fix knobs, leaky tap...) He usually takes more notice that way than me nag nag nag."
I think the main motivations are to not to try to do it all in one day. You will end up with more mess than before. Start in a corner, and slowly, slowly, you'll get there.
Having a garage sale is a great motivation to declutter!
I too just pick bits. I actually found a load a day the easiest for me. But then I noticed that our water usage had gone up and electricity wasn't too good either so I'm back to fewer loads a week again. The office in a bag is working for me though, and I think swish and swipe would too if I ever got to it :redface: Although I do it with the toilet and usually one of the bathrooms most days.
I had the house to myself for a while Sunday morning while DH took the boys out. I slept in then vacuumed and mopped. Then after lunch DS2 decided to clean the toilet and get toilet water all over my mopped floors :rolleyes:
Oh Astrid I'm so glad someone posted this!! I have the same problem. I love what I FLYlady stands for but the reality is so much different. to try and follow her routine just leaved me mega stressed!!
Already have a backup bag in the car, have needed it a few times. Working with DH on an action station, just need to workout if we can buy something or does DH build it. Need to balance reigning in the spending or waiting ages for something I think we need sooner rather than later. Also have a list going for the little jobs DH can do when he gets home, we a few things that need doing since we have moved in that will make things better.:
So looks as though I am a bit better at this than I thought.
The washing is tough one, we seem to have so much and I am slack at washing the sheets. Maybe need to start a thread on how many loads of washing do people do :lol::
So nice to feel not alone in all of this. What do you manage to do?:
I find it funny when I do come across someone who promots Flylady. The last couple really looked as though they did not follow it at all, I only believed them once I saw the Flylady magnet on the fridge and a discard office in a bag lying around the house. This couple do need to follow it, as they have too much stuff in a small house. Hard to hold my tongue as I watch her iron sheets (sheets of all things!!) for 1/2 an hour, whilst complaining about the clutter. My house would have to be spotless, dinner cooked and BB offline before I ironed sheets. I thought her 1/2 an hour would have been better spent doing the 27 fling boogie in 2 rooms.
Ok I confess... I love FlyLady. I sound like a moron, but seriously, she has changed my life. House is tidy and decluttered and clean. i don't stress about the housework anymore.
I do a load of washing a day, a swish and swipe, keep the sink shiny, lay out my clothes, check my calender. I do the mission every day. AT the moement I'm doing the holiday missions too. And if I have time I do my 15 mins detail clean in whatever zone Flylady's in.
And it works for me! I' m a bit OCD anyway (not to the point where I iron sheets but!!) so I used stress about the house. Not anymore- as long as I've done my routine and my mission, I take a deep breath and repeat that- It doesn't have to be perfect, just done, and it's still cleaner than it was last month....
Ah, I'm a freak **hides face in shame**. But seriously, I'd recomend FlyLady to anyone...
:lol: LoriRae - no, not a freak. I think I am getting the picture that we all use Flylady to differing degrees. I was beginning to feel bad that I didn't think I could follow her enough, so don't you dare feel bad that you follow her a lot ;)
DD1 once had to ask me what a picture was in a book on household stuff. It was an iron, poor thing had never seen me use one :redface:
Well said Astrid - Lori you are a legend if you can keep up. I am guilty of being motivated the first few days and then everything gets forgotten.
But I have found just by doing a few little things each day helps to prevent the inevitable...
I totally don't iron at all. (Maybe once a year). I just make sure the clothes are hung right. And sheets? Why?? That lady maybe should of thought to clear up the mess first, because guests aren't going straight to your linen cupboard to see if you have wrinkles on your fitted sheet sets - GOD!
I too have a friend like that - everytime I go to her house, I feel so antsy - I just want to start picking stuff up, and vacuuming - her house really, really is bad. I just don't understand how people can live like that - like, this is dirty, and unhygenic, and filty... Even my 2 year old started clearing up when we went over last time! She started picking all the toys up, and making a pile of dirty washing - now that's getting picky!
She irons her sheets, underwear etc as she was in the army and got to like it. Now I am pretty sure it was not the Aussie army, but some volunteer army in Israel. All a bit odd really. I have flatted with ex-army before and they only seemed to concerned about how well shirts were ironed, so I got them to iron mine :lol: I think she is using ironing as a way to avoid dealing with the clutter.
Both our families have the same hobby (Medieval re-creationism), that is how we met. This hobby creates a huge amount of clutter, from books (well not clutter, but you need to store them), clothing, specialised camping gear, feasting gear, material, sewing equipment, more material, candelabras, lanterns, even more material, banners, spinning wheels, looms, leather, brewing equipment, stuff actually brewing, bottled brew, bottles waiting for the next brew, armour (for actual fighting), shields, weapons etc Omg it is really like having another house full of stuff to try and fit into your current already full one. I know without it all I would have a much neater house, well as neat as I can be. I am one of those people who can dust, but it looks dusty again in 5 minutes, if someone else dusted it would look clean for a week :lol:
Astrid, my MIL was in the navy for a short time when she was a teenager and she used to iron underwear, sheets, tea towels even. She still can fold things so small you'd never believe it. She used to pack for DH when he went away on school camps and things when he was young (before I knew him LOL) and could fit way more in a bag/case than anyone else. Which is fine until it needs to be repacked to come home :doh:
Thanks MR :p and I was thinking I had a strange friend :rolleyes: Does your MIL have a clean house or does the ironing take precedence?
I know what you mean about packing, I can pack nicely to go, but not on the return trip. Never sure what to do with the dirty clothes, as they need to be folded to fit, but it does not seem right to fold dirty and place beside clean.
MIL's house is spotless LOL! She's quite a neat freak actually - easy to see where DH gets it from!
See a neat freak I can understand ironing sheets, but not someone whoes house is not far off being a candidate for "How Clean is your house". Ah well, I suppose everyone has different priorites.
OK - I am getting back on the FlyLady bandwagon! I used to do it and did love it, but somehow it dropped off the radar and I forgot about it. But I have been feeling so dejected about how my lovely brand new house is becoming cluttered and dirty, that I have decided to get back to some routines. And wow – amazing at how good I felt when I re-read the flylady stuff! I thought – I can do that, no problems, I can fit that in! So, yay – I am now on day three and going to kick it in zone#2 the kitchen this week! Feeling really positive about myself – what a turn around!
Anyone else doing flylady anymore?
I am officially a flybaby. I have half cleaned my kitchen (I cant clean my sink while my kitchen is a mess) and I an just trying to settle Leah before I finish it.
I signed up with Flylady a couple of months ago, loved the idea but never could really get into it but I will be trying again soon. I really need to do something :(
There was a testimonial that cam through last night especially for me. Made me think if she can do it in the same situation as me then I can definitely do it.
Ali. that's great. I find some of the testimonials really motivating too. I've just started to save the ones that I can relate to in a special folder, with the idea that I can re-read them when I need to.
I really think the baby steps are the key - just doing one thing until it's routine does seem to work. It just takes a while to get my head around not jumping straight in with both feet!!
I found Flylady on facebook yesterday and signed up this morning.
I seriously suffer from CHAOS! I'll let you know how it goes.
I'm off to shine my sink....I still don't have shoes on though lol.
Well I just did my kitchen and shined my sink in 20 mins not 15 but it's done and is sparkling!!
Still not wearing shoes though :redface:
Funny this thread should come up. I was only thinking the other day I hadn't seen it for ages.
:redface: I used to follow religiously but was too shy to post in here.....no I have no idea why, some threads just seem off limits to me.
However, since I was thinking about it, thought I would post too.
I have fallen off the wagon a bit lately and need to get back into the 'weeks'. I still do my routines and make sure my sink is shined but it's the room thing I've let go...and the daily challenges.
Tinks I still never get dressed to shoes. I always get dressed completely, but am always barefoot until I'm in the car.
Amazing the difference a clean sink makes isn't it?
Totally off the wagon here, since dd was born :shakehead: No excuse, just laziness.
How are everyone's flying lessons going?
Still firmly off the wagon here. I know I should get back into it- it was working like a dream. But I can never seem to get the house blessing done, so don't do anything else. Bad, bad FlyBaby ;)
fluttering but not quite lifting off yet. Need to stop procrastinating.
I'm with Lolli & Alioops :hide:
For anyone who has an iPhone there is an App for FlyLady called Home Routines. It has a timer, the zone for the week and you can mark/tick off the task you have completed.
I have to get back into the routine. I must admit tho the shoes is a no no in the house.
Happy Flying! :)
I saw this thread the other day and thought "this Flylady thing sounds interesting". So I looked it up and read into it. We already do a lot of the things. I looked at the baby steps but I'm stuck at step 2. I can't get up & get dressed. I have to wait until DH comes home (he works early mornings). Either that or DS comes in the shower with me and that makes the shower less fun lol! Occassionaly I don't mind but I love my morning shower! I don't do shoes either CBG - I can't see how that could make a difference lol! I guess I'll have to adjust the morning routine so I do it in my PJs (if super clingy whinger DS lets me!)
Any way - I'm hooked. I've talked DH into tackling a hot spot this weekend - the rubbish tip aka car!
I'm slowly getting the apartment tidy, it looked terrible for a while after my son came along!
Does anyone have any of the Flylady rubber tools?
I got the rubber scrubba. I used it to clean some gunk off the bottom of my shower but apart from that it's just sat there lol! I also got the purple rags and have used them on the shower. Worked great.
I like the look of the detail duster, and I reckon the rubba scrubba would be great at Mum's for the dog fur!
Just found this thread and had a look at the site. It looks like something that I should do.....my house isn't bad, but I do get stressed if someone is coming over as it takes a bit to get it up to what I feel is a presentable condition.