Flyladies...step inside the one room we don't have to clean!

[robinb]

I have 3 of the dusters--a regular and long one for my main level and a regular one for upstairs. They do a wonderful job at holding the dust and not spreading it around. I shake it outside often. As a matter of fact, dusting is on my chore list today and it's finally something that I don't dread.

I also have a timer. It's simple to use--some of them are a pain to program.

T&B

Can you dust around knick-knacks? Or, do you have to pick them up? I don't have a lot of them, but the ones I do have collect a lot of dust!

My main problem is paper clutter!

ETA: You Flybabies would be proud of me. I took 4 bags of clothes to our local Free Clothing Center and 2 bags of toys, a bag of rubbermaid containers I don't use any more and a bag of books to the Goodwill.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Can you dust around knick-knacks? Or, do you have to pick them up? I don't have a lot of them, but the ones I do have collect a lot of dust!

The best part is that I don't move my knick knacks! It wouldn't hurt to occasionally move them, but normally I don't. The feathers are so soft they reach around things. My wooden White House Easter eggs roll over, but everything else is ok. I also don't have many knick knacks, but it probably takes me only 5 minutes to dust the main level of my house.

T&B

 

[graygables]

I've been a Flybaby for so long, it's not even funny! My wings are still a'draggin' behind me. My problem is a complete and total lack of routines (and the seeming inability to establish any). It comes, I'm sure, from being ADHD, but I'm trying to work around it. I've gotten rid of so much clutter and my house isn't gosh-awful, but with homeschooling 2 special needs DDs who like to do a lot of "art", I am overwhelmed with scissor snips somedays! It is a vast improvement but I have a very long road still ahead.

BTW, I have 2 of the dusters and I never use them. Yes, they are Flylady, but no, they don't "hold" the dust. They do knock it around (I can see it flying). They look very pretty in my umbrella stand and serve as a reminder that something that works for someone else might not work for me (same goes for 15 minutes at a time). For dusting, I SWEAR by the new swiffer dusters. They really do hold the dust, won't knock things over, and reach everywhere (top of ceiling fans). I love these puppies! The other cleaning tool I swear by are the microfiber cleaning cloths. I keep one in the bathroom and use it to swipe the sink/mirror every day...works like a charm and no need for cleaners! I keep pine-sol and water in an old ceramic canister behind the toilet with my brush stored in it, so the swish is easy, too.

You're never behind!!!

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

I'm in! I got as far as wearing shoes all day (when I was home in the summer, back to teaching now...) and the bleaching/cleaning out the sink.
I'm trying super hard to reduce clutter right now.
A huge problem is what to do with all the papers my kids come home from school with. I won't keep them all forever, but they want them on the wall, on the fridge and 'don't throw that away, mommy!' There are papers everywhere.
I also need to find a way to reorganize my closet without spending money. It's a mess!
I like the bathroom tip. My DH uses so much hairspray ( ) if I don't keep up with it, it completely messes up the floor, the tub, the sinks, and it is so hard to clean!

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We have the carpet cleaners coming tomorrow so DH and I spent the day cleaning. Part was decluttering and part was just plain old picking up.

We threw away 4 (yes, 4) garbage bags of "stuff".

I need to go clean my sink and start flying again.

Thanks for the kick in the behind.

 

[phorsenuf]

Morning all! Its nice to see all who have stopped by!

So, I got up yesterday all fired up to get going and I flopped!

When I flew before I didn't work and now I am working 3 days part-time so I guess I have to adjust.
Yesterday was a busy day tho. When I got out of work at 3 I picked up my son and took him to the Drs. He's been having problems with his Ulna nerve in his arm. They checked him out and the Dr. informed us it was the worse case he's ever seen. figures.
He has to go for a EMG (nerve test) in a week or so and then they'll do surgery to fix it. It keeps popping out of place and it makes part of his hand go numb. So they are going to move it to another place on his arm. Hopefully that will work.
After that was the grocery store and then finally home! I hate days like that. By that time I was pooped and didn't feel like doing anything! LOL

However, when I got up the living room was picked up and the kitchen was clean so it wasn't too bad I guess. It's been worse! LOL

For anyone who is new or new again, I had to reinstate my emails from Flylady. When I did I was sent an email that laid out for the first month a day by day routine. I haven't looked it all over yet but from what I did see it seems pretty neat.
If you want it go to flylady.com and join the email list or perhaps I could post it here, but its pretty long.
OK, just back from her website and here's a link to the 31 day schedule
http://flylady.com/pages/begin_babysteps.asp

Hope this info helps!

Well, off to have some morning coffee and get the kiddos off to school. See you all soon and happy flying!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I just wanted to share how I swish and swipe the bathroom. I wasn't all that sure that I needed to S&S, but I figured like everything else it was the habit I wanted to get into. I am very, very good at overlooking dirt and clutter.

Anyway ... here goes. First, I squirt a bit of toilet bowl cleaner into the bowl and swish around. I don't use a lot because it really doesn't need that much every day. Then, I grap a wipe and do the mirrors and then move onto the sink, toilet, etc. I swipe for maybe one or two minutes. I keep a package of Windex Glass and Surface Cleaner wipes in my bathroom so I can easily grab them. I tried the generic Target brand and they streaked the glass, but the Windex brand works great. I usually do it after my 6 year old has finished brushing her teeth as I think most of the toothpaste ends up in the sink and not in her mouth. In less than 3 minutes I have a clean bathroom!

Thank You. This is my bug-a-boo...I have 4 BATHROOMS to clean! It is driving me insane.
I will adopt your S&S....

OK so I will join your group...it beats deleting the 1000 emails I had...oh the shame.

 

[phorsenuf]

Thank You. This is my bug-a-boo...I have 4 BATHROOMS to clean! It is driving me insane.
I will adopt your S&S....

OK so I will join your group...it beats deleting the 1000 emails I had...oh the shame.

The bathroom is my biggest problem too and we only have 1! LOL The dog tends to hang out in there so the hair just drives me crazy, not to mention the fact there are 4 boys who use it, and yes, that includes my DH! LOL

 

[swilphil]

If you want it go to flylady.com and join the email list or perhaps I could post it here, but its pretty long. OK, just back from her website and here's a link to the 31 day schedule
http://flylady.com/pages/begin_babysteps.asp

I would love it if someone would post each day of the 31 steps. I can't handle the Flylady e-mails (been there, tried that), but I do want to do join in, like Robin's bathroom swish and swipe, the Baby Steps, and the daily areas. Here is the first day of the 31 steps from the above link (maybe others could help post subsequent days because I'm not organized enough):

Day One: Shine Your Sink

BE SURE AND RINSE WELL BETWEEN EACH STEP OF THE WAY!

1. Take all the dishes out of the sink.

2. Run some very hot water into the sink. Fill to the rim. Only do one side at a time. Then, pour a cup of household bleach into the hot water. Let it sit for 1 hour. Now, pull the plug with a pair of tongs. If you don't have tongs, then scoop some of the water out of the sink into the other sink and use your hand to pull the plug (wear gloves and don't get the bleach-water on your clothes).

3. Rinse your sink well.

4. Use some cleanser (Comet, Ajax, or Baking Soda) and scrub your sink. Ensure you rinse ALL of the cleanser from the sink.

5. Take a sharp edge and clean around the rim of the sink, just like you would clean dirt out from under your fingernails.

6. Clean around the faucets too. You may need an old toothbrush or dental floss.

7. Now, get out your window cleaner, I use Windex, and give it a good shine.

8. If you still don't like the way it looks, then you could try some car wax. Just know in your heart that you have cleaned it very well now and it doesn't have to be perfect. Our perfectionism is what got us in this situation in the first place.

9. Every time you run water in your sink, take your clean dishtowel and dry it out (I lay out a clean one, every night with my before bedtime routine). Before you know it, you will be doing this everytime you leave your kitchen. The rest of the family will too. No more water spots. You will have a clean and shiny sink.

10. Don't have a fit if someone doesn't take as much pride in your sink as you do. It is very easy to fix. You have already done the hard part. You will never have to go through this process again. Daily maintenance will keep it looking this way all the time. Nasty hurtful word are not as easy to repair. Just be sure and tell your family what you are trying to do. They will think you have gone crazy.

11. If you don't have a dishwasher, don't worry. A dishwasher is just a dirty dish disposal. Clean out a place under your sink and put a dishpan in there. Teach your family, that instead of putting their dirty dishes and glasses in the sink, place them into the dish pan. Get into the habit of putting your dishes away as soon as they have been washed and are dry. No more leaving the dish drying rack on the counter or in the sink. Put it away under the sink when you have finished. If your old one is nasty, you may want to soak it in the sink full of bleach water at the same time you soak the sink or go buy a new set.

12. To insure that your family remembers this, put a note in the sink. It will get their attention and remind them where to put the dishes. Be patient! They have never been taught either. It is going to take some practice.

Now if you have a stainless steel sink, I recommend all of the above directions with one extra instruction added: after you soak your sink, rinse well, and use SOS pads to scrub it. This will buff the finish. It will look like new.

If you still can't get it to shine after the Windex, put a light coat of lemon oil or olive oil on it. I mean just a tiny bit on a cloth and rub it. This will make you smile. Some people have had very good results from Bar Keepers Friend.

 

[pamlet]

Well - at least I got the sink.. sort of.. laugh!!

Though this morning I'm dressed to my shoes.. yes a baby step but it's earlier this morning!!

Ok - so we're doing bathrooms this week! I like the tips above! I'm also working on decluttering! LOTS and LOTS of clutter!!! I have rooms in my house that looks like those on "Clean Sweep" on television! They probably could do a whole season on my house alone!

 

[pjlla]

I tried to be a "fly" a few years ago, but I got so caught up reading her website that I actually wasted an entire day!! And personally, I DON"T CARE if my kitchen sink doesn't shine!! And I HATE wearing shoes in the house (see my tag). But I LOVE the idea of being on top of things and being clean and organized. Would it be okay if I were to be a small gnat instead of a fly?? Or maybe just a tiny fruitfly?? I'll try hard, honest I will.... but my sink will NOT be shiny every day............P

 

[phorsenuf]

I tried to be a "fly" a few years ago, but I got so caught up reading her website that I actually wasted an entire day!! And personally, I DON"T CARE if my kitchen sink doesn't shine!! And I HATE wearing shoes in the house (see my tag). But I LOVE the idea of being on top of things and being clean and organized. Would it be okay if I were to be a small gnat instead of a fly?? Or maybe just a tiny fruitfly?? I'll try hard, honest I will.... but my sink will NOT be shiny every day............P

You're more than welcome to be a gnat! Can we swat at you every so often tho???

All are welcome here! Whether we are faithful followers or part-time flyers its still all for the good of our families. Boy does that sound sappy! LOL

 

[robinb]

phorsenuf: I'm sorry to hear about your son. Is his problem due to an injury or just the way we's put togthere? Either way, I hope the surgury goes well and fixes the problem for him. You have a lot on your plate. I work at from home and if I get 2-3 15 minute chunks in and a clean sink at night I feel good. I think you did great!

The Mystery Machine: Yikes! 4 bathrooms?!? Is there anyone who could swish and swipe one or two of them? I don't remember how many kids you have or how old they are. Maybe one of them could help without the toilet bowl cleaner.

pamlet: I know exactly what you mean about Clean Sweep. I don't watch that show anymore since it's too depressing!

 

[WDWMom]

I signed up on the web-site al while ago and never received anything. If I remember right I think I could find the link to get the e-mails. I think I will try again. WIth the kids in school, I need to get things together.

 

[phorsenuf]

phorsenuf: I'm sorry to hear about your son. Is his problem due to an injury or just the way we's put togthere? Either way, I hope the surgury goes well and fixes the problem for him. You have a lot on your plate. I work at from home and if I get 2-3 15 minute chunks in and a clean sink at night I feel good. I think you did great!

It was the way he was put together. I just had to laugh tho because we end up with the wierdest medical conditions in this family! It seems somebody is always developing some odd condition or needing surgey!
This is the same boy who has osgood-schlotters (sp?) and had his tonsils and appendix removed. My other son had cat scratch fever and had to have a gland removed in his neck. He also had his appendix out too. My little guy (well he's 13) has chronic appendicitis meaning his appendix flares up every so often but then settles down so thy end up not doing surgery. He also has a bakers cyst on the back of his knee that is huge. We elected not to have surgery on that for now, we are going to wait it out. I have one son who (knock on wood) has slipped by pretty much unnoticed by that wierd medical demon that haunts us! LOL

Its always something here so now we just laugh whenever something new pops up. What else can we do???

 

[Rozzie]

got room for one more??

I got to get some direction. I have a timer....I love that shiny sink, and miss it!!!

 

[castlegazer]

I am a former fly lady - She doesn't work for me beyond the initial start (which is a GREAT start by the way) because she is geared to stay at home people. I work full time and my problem is getting home, cooking, doing the dishes and then falling face first into the bed.

My big problems are clutter in the kitchen and toy clutter in the rest of the house. Vaccuuming time is hard to come by too in my house.

But here are some things that work great for me that I will share:

I keep clorox wipes in the bathrooms at all times and use them when it strikes me. It takes about 3 minutes to wipe the sink and the toilet down.

I have a feather duster - not flylady's. This is a God send.

I do shine my sink often. It really is a mental booster.

We keep a bag next to the couch and all paper trash gets into it every day. We simply take it to the curb on trash day. No further bagging needed.

I have tupperware boxes for my son's cars (one for each size) - he must put his trucks and cars back into it every day. That way I can set them back on the shelf for him easily. (I have the same method for toy food for his kitchen too). I use baskets too for toys everywhere in the house.

I LOVE my wet swiffer.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I have my shoes on..... ;-)

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

can someone post the "recipes" for the fly ladies cleaning solutions? I read it in her book once....... Thanks!

 

[DoeWDW]

I'm a former flybaby. I'm amazed that a couple of the habits have stuck with me.

I do swish out the toilet at least a couple days a week.

I LOVE my timer. I have a very short attention span so I set it for 5 or 10 minutes and do what I can in one room. I'm always amazed at how much better the room looks after just 5 or 10 minutes!

You all have inspired me to start shining my sink again. With a fulltime job and 2 teens I can't promise I'll be a regular but I figure a little flying is better than none at all.