BellyBelly Flyers - Flylady Chat #2

[MantaRay]

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 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

[*becstar*]

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!!

[Astrid]

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!

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.

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 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

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

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!!

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.

[Lolli]

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...

[Astrid]

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

[MissWingBat]

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!

[Astrid]

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 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

[MantaRay]

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

[Astrid]

Thanks MR and I was thinking I had a strange friend 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.

[MantaRay]

MIL's house is spotless LOL! She's quite a neat freak actually - easy to see where DH gets it from!

[Astrid]

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.

[*star*]

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?

[alioops]

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.

[Fleur]

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

[alioops]

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.

[MantaRay]

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!!

[Tinks]

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.

[Tinks]

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