Have you been living in CHAOS?
FlyLady is here to help you get your home organized! She teaches you to eliminate your clutter and establish simple routines for getting your home clean!
I have been fluttering for a couple of years now…… but have really been putting it into practice for the last 2 weeks….. but you said that if you have routines an stick to those routines for 30 days it becomes a habit….. Well I’m happy to say that I have been sticking to my routines for 2 whole weeks now…. I’m half way there FlyLady….. I’m happy to be a part of your wonderful family an that’s truly what you guys are to me….
I love my home so much more than I ever have in my whole entire life…. I come home an you are so right my home now hugs me when I am there….. An I’m even teaching my youngest son to FLY as well an that is so wonderful because I don’t want him to become an adult that doesn’t know how to keep his house clean…….. My Momma didn’t teach me but you did so I’m happy for that…. But I’m teaching him how to keep his home an to have his home hug him when he is there……. God bless you FlyLady an all the other FlyHelpers….. God bless you
A Flybaby in Jeffersonville Indiana
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you! We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
Just recently I purchased a beautiful little glass “water pitcher” at a thrift store and some very pretty small glass cups. It holds about 3 1/2 glasses of water.
I like my water at room temperature, so I fill it, add a few pieces of fresh fruit, a splash of stevia water (by putting some stevia and water in an open container overnight somehow it takes the bitter after taste away) it gives it a little bit of flavor and with the pretty pitcher and cup it’s a special way to pamper myself.
Between drinking 2 pitchers and a nice big glass of water in the morning I get the water I need.
Fluttering in WI,
Cathy
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you! We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have family coming for a visit. I need some help. I can’t seem to get anything done.
Struggling to Get it all Done
Dear Struggling,
We have a podcast to help keep you focused.
I did this podcast so that you would have someone coaching you through Crisis Cleaning your home! Right now many of you are in a panic. I want you to use this to help you stay focused and get ready! You can do it!
Here are the directions of how we do this. Get out your timer.
Dear Friends,
Company is coming! I can hear the panic in your voices. “In a few days, we have a ton of company coming, what am I to do?” If you want a crash marathon cleaning session, I can help you, but be warned, without the routines, your home will be trashed again in a day. So you have to listen closely.
1. GO GET DRESSED ALL THE WAY TO SHOES, HAIR FIXED AND FACE
MOISTURIZED OR MAKEUP PUT ON. DON’T QUESTION ME ON THIS. JUST DO IT. Put on some good working music. Not too fast, just slow and steady. peppy, but not aerobic. Light a candle that has a good scent or put on some spices on to boil on a very low heat.
We are going to start in our kitchens. As the kitchen goes, so does the rest of the house.
2. Set a timer and spend 15 minutes in the kitchen. If your sink is not clean and shiny, then shine it first, then you can fill the sink up with hot soapy water and start to clear off the left and right counters. Empty the dishwasher, When the timer goes off. Stop what you are doing and go to the living room.
3. Set the timer again and do 15 minutes cleaning off the coffee tables or picking up toys or newspapers. Concentrate on one thing. Not all of it. When the timer goes off, then go back to the kitchen. Get a laundry basket and put the things that don’t belong in the living room in the basket. Take a garbage bag with you too. Start throwing away the trash. Don’t get caught up in the guilt we have about recycling this stuff. Just bag it up for now. 20 pounds of trash in a landfill is not going to kill you. So get over this perfectionism attitude. As you get your home in order there will be plenty of time to recycle. For now we are focusing on getting the home presentable. You can’t do this if you are hyper-focusing on sorting and recycling.
4. In the kitchen set the time for 15 more minutes, continue to work on clearing the counters. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND WANT TO CLEAN OUT A CABINET. WE ARE DOING ONLY SURFACE CLEANING.
5. Now take a break and walk around and look at what you have accomplished in just 45 minutes. Set the timer for 15 minutes and drink a cup of tea or coffee or whatever you love and just relax. When the timer goes off. You are back in work mode for 15 more minutes.
6. This 15 minute session is in the bathroom. Do you have this! Clean the sink in here first, then pick up towel and dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND START A LOAD OF LAUNDRY. I MEAN THIS. LAUNDRY WILL COME LATER!
7. When the timer goes off, you are back in the kitchen. For 15 more minutes. We can do anything in 15 minutes. Keep working till the timer goes off. Then you go to the Living room once again.
8. In the living room, continue to pick up and put away.
9. Every 45 minutes take a 15 minute break.
Adapt this schedule to fit your physical limitations and children’s needs. But you get the picture. Stay focused on one job for 15 minutes. You are going to be so surprised at how much you get done in a days time.
My timer is my best Friend.
You can do this.
Now turn off the computer and get to work!
Let’s FLY through this Crisis Cleaning, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your guests.
FlyLady
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you! We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
Here it is that time of year again when we are faced with the threat of Evacuation from our homes. We never know when we this could happen because of fire, train wreck, floods, riots, earthquakes or hurricanes. It is up to us to be prepared!
1. PEOPLE: Have a plan for getting out of the house and make sure everyone knows it. Have an emergency bag of food and water for your family. Include wholesome snacks and treats for the children: dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars.
2. PETS: Keep pet carriers and leashes readily available to lead pets to safety. Also take pet food with you.
3. PICTURES: Keep negatives, CDs, or hard drives of pictures in a lock box or at a family member’s home. Have picture albums in one place ready to grab and go at a moments notice.
4. PAPERS: Have all your important papers in a lock box at a bank and only keep copies at the house. This keeps you from panicking. If you have them at home then put them in a folder that you can easily grab if you have to move fast. Color code it so you can find it!
5. PRESCRIPTIONS: Take your medications with you. Don’t forget the ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin. Have small ice chest and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go. If you have babies; remember their formula or medications.
6. PURSES and PETRO: This is where you keep your identification, credit cards and cash. Keep a stash of cash for emergencies and grab it. You may not be able to use an ATM in the event of a power outage. Make sure your car always has a half a tank of gas.
7. PROPER CLOTHES and COMFORT ITEMS: According to the weather conditions; gather up a change of clothes along with outer clothing: coats, rain gear, boots, gloves and hats. If you have babies remember diapers. Remember to grab your children’s favorite blanket, stuffed animal or toy. A game or a deck of cards could keep them occupied and calm too.
8. PLANNER/CALENDAR/CONTROL JOURNAL: These documents have all the information you will need from phone numbers, insurance numbers and important dates. They are small and filled with things you don’t have to try to remember.
9. PERSONAL PROTECTION: Many of us still have that time of the month. Be sure and grab a box of your preferred protection. It may be hard to find if you have been evacuated. Stress can cause our bodies to do strange things too. So be prepared. Take medication for cramps too.
10. PHONES, RADIOS, FUEL FOR THE CAR: Many of us have cell phones now. Always keep them charged up and have a charger in the car or an extra battery. They may not work in the event of power outages, but then they might. Know which local radio station has emergency bulletins. Keep your battery powered radio tuned to that local station and have plenty of batteries for it. Also keep a old type regular phone that does not operate with electricity. GAS PUMPS don’t work without power either. You can’t leave if your car is on empty. So keep your car fuel tank topped off when it hits a half of tank. This way you will have gas to drive at least a couple of hours. Evacuation routes are usually bumper to bumper traffic. Having a tank filled will keep you less stressed.
11. PATIENCE: This is one of the most important things to pack. Keep it inside of you so that you have a clear calm head. Having your P’s to Preparedness list guiding you will keep you patient. In the event of an evacuation there will be lots of displaced people. Being patient will make things less stressful. Your children need to see you calm and collected. This will help keep them calm too.
We can FLY in the face of Danger and Emergency if we are prepared. Don’t wait till you are being asked to evacuate. Everyone thinks that it could not happen to them. Well it could and it is up to you to make sure you are prepared.
Don’t wait! DO IT NOW!! I know you have been procrastinating because you don’t think it can happen in your area.
FlyLady
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you! We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
About two months ago, a friend’s wife mentioned your site to me at a party. She said “it has changed my life”. When someone says something like that, I pay attention.
I am a new mom (my adorable son just turned 1) and I was completely overwhelmed with keeping up with him and the housework. Naturally, I decided to surrender and let the house go so I could focus on being a good mommy. That is the most important thing to me (as I know it is for other moms too) so when I heard about your program I was skeptical because I thought that it would just try to force me to become obsessed with housework and essentially ignore my son.
Boy, was I wrong.
Your system has given me the freedom and comfort to really focus on being a fun-loving, good mommy. For me it is both philosophical and pragmatic. Philosophically, I can relax and be nice to myself and just take babysteps. Pragmatically, I feel so much less frazzled and more empowered because the little messes he makes take no time at all to clean up in a clean house. Let me give you an example.
Yesterday, we were playing in my kitchen while I cleaned our dishes after lunch. The kitchen floor is hardwood, in bad shape and needs to be replaced. I had given up on cleaning it because of this so I never used to let him play on it….until now. With your system, I found time to mop the floor, and I found patience and strength to accept that I am saving the money to fix it and that it is clean enough, if not perfect.
I also found the time to just let him play because the house is in good order. First he emptied a few cupboards, then he moved on to the butcher block drawers.
Instead of freaking out, I encouraged him and laughed…then cheered loudly as he put the contents back in. And when he was done, I set him in his playpen with a toy for five minutes (I set the timer) and quickly organized the cupboards again. Done. No big deal. On to the next exciting experiment with him. House in order.
Happy baby. Happy mama. What a happy, peaceful afternoon.
Thank you for giving me new freedom and confidence. It has made me a better mommy and that means everything to me.
Heather in Portland, OR.
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
So I came up with a game on our fridge. I drew a game board with a dry erase marker. It goes in a circle with 8 squares & a large start/finish space and ends where it begins.
As we drink a cup of water, we get to move our magnet piece to the next square. The kids are loving it! When they reach the finish line they get a prize. We do tickets in our home as rewards and have a reward cabinet much like chuck e cheese.
So my kids really want as many tickets as possible! Thank you for this months habit! You are not just helping me, but you are encouraging me to help my children too.
Flybaby in Newcastle, Oklahoma
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
Why not post FlyLady’s directions for Swishing and Swiping in that bathroom? Others may take notice and help or even apply the method to other bathrooms in their lives?
FlyLady here: This is a good idea. I wish we had a cute little poem to post on the wall for all to see. If you get creative just whip one up for us about Swish and Swipe send it to me FlyLady@flylady.net with SWISH AND SWIPE in the subject line.
FlyMary from Michigan
I have a really quick question about swishing and swiping. I am trying really hard to work this into my morning schedule because I am a payroll SHE, and it really helps, but I don’t think that I have time for it for the same exact reason. To make it quicker, I used your advice and just left the cleanser in a crock beside my toilet. (Top Job)
My question is about just leaving the cleaner there. Is it safe to do that? My bathroom smells clean because of the cleanser, but is it okay to breathe it in as it evaporates? I promise that I am not a hypochondriac or anything… but I’m just curious I guess… I don’t want to become one!!!
Thanks lots and lots for all you do!!!!
It takes all of 30 seconds to swish and swipe your bathroom. In fact you don’t even need cleaner in your crock to swish the toilet. Just the scrubbing action will keep things from growing in there. I don’t use any harsh cleaning products. Any kind of soap will work. I have been using shampoo that I don’t like very much in my crock. I put one part shampoo and one part water. It smells good too. You can even use your soap slivers by just putting them in the crock and putting some water over them. The soap will not allow germs to grow in the liquid. I also love anything with a lavender smell. I just use what I have.
Here is the full explanation of Swish and Swipe from our FAQ section on our website.
What does Swish and Swipe mean?
As part of my morning routine I clean my bathroom. Now this is not the crisis cleaning because company is coming and you have not touched the bathroom in months. This is a daily maintenance that keeps it company ready all the time! I know many of you don’t think that this needs to be done but I assure you that you deserve to clean and fresh smelling bathroom all the time too.
It doesn’t take much time to do this either. This is why I called it a swish and a swipe. Doesn’t that sound like a lick and a promise! Quick and easy! Here is how it works and once you establish this habit, your bathroom will never look and smell dirty again.
To accomplish this you need a couple of things to keep in your bathroom. I have my favorite window cleaner in each bathroom just for this purpose along with a Purple Rag. You can use what ever you like just so you don’t have to leave the room to swish and swipe. You will have no excuse to get sidetracked if you will do this.
Here is the swipe part. I take the window cleaner and a purple rag and wipe off the mirror and then the counter, faucets and sink. Bam it is just that fast. Now I do this as I am getting dressed and I put my things away. Do you hear me! put your stuff away as you use them this keeps your counter clear and easy to wipe down.
Then I take wad of toilet paper and head toward the toilet. I keep a toilet bowl brush(Rubba Swisha) beside each toilet in our home. They are kept in a crock (one like you put kitchen utensils in) or a vase. I keep an old shampoo or body wash(not bathroom caustic cleaner) in my holder. Soap is soap as far as I am concerned. You could use old bubble bath that you hate or what ever you have.
Now don’t do this if you have little children or pets that will get into this.
Each morning take the brush and let the excess cleaner drip off; if it is thick you may have to water down the solution a bit so it will drain well. Then take the Rubba Swisha and swish it around in the toilet. Even if you don’t use any soap; you will keep stuff from growing in there. Then wipe off the back of the toilet with the rag, then the seat with toilet paper, the rim and lastly the sides and floor. If you have little boys you know how they miss. When you do this once a day you will find that your toilet is always fresh as a daisy.
There you have it Swish and Swipe! This takes all of about 1 minute from start to finish but you have to have everything in the bathroom so you have no excuses to not do this.
Now go gather up an old vase for the bathroom and look in the bathroom closet for some shampoo or bubble bath that will work for swishing the toilet. Put your purple rag and Rubba Swisha in your bathroom so you can Swish and Swipe with ease!
Nothing says I LOVE YOU like a Clean toilet when you are sick! –
FlyLady
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
This morning I started to think about how this is our perfectionism creeping in once again. We don’t seem to be able to do anything, until we get all of our ducks in a row. As my son’s paternal Grandmother used to say. “You milk your ducks and I’ll milk mine”. That was her way of telling us to mind our own business. She was so right. I don’t know what this has to do with anything, but I loved her and she taught me a lot.
Our ducks tend to run into other people’s yards. Until we are able to take care of our ducks, we should not even try to tend to others. Have you ever watched a mother duck with her babies in a row behind her? They follow directly behind her. She is setting the example and she keeps them close to her. She cannot force her family to follow her; if she tried to line them all up it would be a big mass of confusion. As it is, she sets the pace and they toddle right behind her.
I know how you think. With our ability to hyper-focus and our perfection thrown in to boot, we have a tendency to want every thing perfect before we even start. How about that control journal of yours? You want it absolutely perfect before you begin to even think about establishing your routines. This is another excuse for not getting started. Do you hear me on this one? If the control journal is not perfect in your eyes, then you have already failed.
Well I am here to tell you, you are wrong. The control journal is just a notebook to hold your routines. Now listen closely to me. Routines can be established by using post-it notes or simple lists put in a notebook. We are not a publishing a book. It is a tool to guide you through your day; it holds your routines, important phone numbers, grocery list and menus. This is such a simple tool, but it doesn’t have to be completely finished before you start to use it.
Your baby steps will help you establish your routines one item at a time. You can do this, but don’t obsess about it. So if you have said to yourself, “I’ll establish my routines, but first I have to get my control journal made:; then you are deceiving yourself once again. It is not the control journal that establishes your routines; it is you. You do the work; you focus on the problem and tackle it with your eyes wide open.
Here is the order that your ducks should be in. You can not force them, you just start the process and it will all fall into place behind you.
After you have established this small morning and before bed routine, you can begin to add more things. It is not that you even have to think about adding them, it is a natural progression. As you get good at something, you don’t have to think about it any longer. You will also be having more time to accomplished things and you will be looking for ways to fill this precious time. I know you don’t believe me, but it will happen if you will let and and not think about it too much. Let the system guide you. Babysteps!!!! You can use our calendar to help you get your “Ducks in a Row!”
These will all fall right into place, when you get the basics out of the way.
Are your ducks almost ready to FLY?
FlyLady
Duck Challenge: Put Post-it Notes on your bathroom mirror for your 3 BabyStep Morning routine.
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
I signed up for your emails because the title was so unique and got my attention. Never did I think I could develop good habits that would make my life so much easier. Starting with your baby steps suggestion, I just did one task at a time. Sometimes that 15 minutes would stretch to 30.
A few weeks later, with several of those “15 minute or more” segments, I am proud to say I have not had to frantically search for an item I need because now it is in its proper place. My sewing room is in order and I can enjoy sewing again. I have gotten rid of so much stuff I don’t need, either by donating or just trashing! My stress level is low; I don’t dread unexpected neighbor visits, and life is good! I limit time on my iPhone or computer, and get on it for a few minutes,after I finish the daily task I need to do. I am a procastinator and always have been, but your pep talks sure have made me quit putting off and get to work! I still have a garage, an attic, a storage shed and a barn to tackle this Spring and Summer. I can do it – one step at a time. Thanks bunches!
Your fan, Kathy
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
I can’t believe I am writing to you about drinking water.
I have been so reluctant to drink water that my friends and family have come up with all sorts of ways to help. It is because I live in Tucson, Arizona where in the summer 95 degrees is considered a cool day!
Well, I have recently dusted off my wings after years of flying around your system, embracing habits here and there. The best has been doing a load a day for me!
Now June is drink water month and I have decided to take the challenge. I have a water bottle and fill it with ice water and have been sipping it and refilling it throughout the day.
Now, here is a cherry of a tip! I went into the freezer to get more ice and saw I had an open bag of frozen cherries that I nibble on. I decided to drop one or two frozen cherries in my water bottle with the ice water.
The ice melts pretty quickly on a hot day, so when I finish the water, I get to top it off with a still fresh cherry! FlyLady, I will do anything to embrace this habit.
Looking forward to more tips!
Cooling off in Tucson
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done!
Hello FlyLady,
What are you waiting for? Procrastination hurts you! We have everything you need to keep your home shining! Sometimes we need a little motivation. Our efficient tools give us a jump start! They make a tough job fun. If you make it fun; it will get done! 
Dear FlyLady,
Dear Friends,