Dear FlyLady,

At the expense of being told I’m a perfectionist & to get my FlyBaby act together, I’d like to share something that has been a huge help to me.

I’ve read the email where someone moved to a much larger house & you told her to just do the middles in 10mins. I have to confess that for me, if I hadn’t already had my Ah-ha moment regarding my vacuuming, I would have been turned completely off FlyLady.

It may be fine for those of you who have a good lot of mop-able area, but for those of us with super large homes, where the only area not carpeted is one tiny ensuite, & the kitchen, you’ve gotta be kidding! Add to that an upstairs/downstairs situation, & a vacuum cleaner my DH blessed me with, that works really well when used SLOWLY.

I’d like to share this in case it may help someone else.

SO, before you ditch my email, or send me one telling me to chuck the P word, here is what I discovered – thanks to you:

If I vacuum just the area my vacuum cord reaches**, I can blitz it in next to no time, (not TOO slowly as I know I’ll be back there next week, & just the middles, of course,) empty the dust canister & run down to shake out the filter (some loving movement – so easy, as I’ve dressed to lace-up shoes,) & leave the vacuum, all ready for action, handy to the area of my next Vacuum Zone, the next day, (either in a corner upstairs, or it’s home, if downstairs. Overnight, tucked in corner, is not a big deal if the place is clean & most wouldn’t see it upstairs anyhow.)

I’ve allotted myself 4 zones (unrelated to yours), two up, & two downstairs, & I can flick round it after my swish and swipe first thing.

It is the first time I’ve had my bedroom regularly vacuumed since moving into this home, not to mention the rest of the house! I’m buzzing from the difference it has made!

I do a particular Zone on a particular day of the week, Monday through Thursday, & don’t even need to think of vacuuming on Saturday or Sunday (unless the Dining needs an extra zap) as I know it’ll be done again within a few days.

If I know I’ll be unable to do one of my vacuum days, I’ll either tack that zone to the day preceding or following, & it’s still no big deal, or I can just nudge the rest one day over & still have the weekend clear.

So, thanks for giving me the principles that enabled this to happen. After 6 weeks of Zone vacuuming, I wouldn’t want to go back to the chore of thoroughly vacuuming my entire house, just the thought makes me weary.

I love vacuuming now – my way (the FlyLady Principle way, if not to the letter of her law)

Thanks so much!
This two-month old Kiwi Flybaby

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FlyLady here: I’m so glad you’re making our system work for you. There is no “right” way to clean your house. Anyway you clean, you’re blessing your home and your family.