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 had to write in as I owe you a big thank you. Last year all of Florida was warned of a terrible hurricane that was sting enough to do us all harm. We needed to make a run for it. My house is a mess, but thanks to your Office in a bag, I was ready to drive away in 30 minutes. I didn’t buy your office, because I had so much stuff at home. I made a copy of yours. And all these years, that where I keep all the important insurance info, health info, anything terrible important. But, because I’m a pack rat, it was stored in a rolling briefcase. Basically it was a rolling office. So, it took me 30 minutes to pack our suitcases, my rolling office, and the dog, and then we left. All along my drive, I was so happy that you had taught me about that office in a bag. I had no worries. If my house was gone when I get back I’d have all my insurance info with me in my car. I was so relieved about that. I did not have to waste time searching for things or emptying a file cabinet i nto my trunk. I had just what we needed. And I have you to thank. So, a big THANK YOU, FLYLADY is well over due. I got home a week later to find minor damages. I am grateful there too. But I can’t express how grateful I am to know that I was ready and prepared if the worst would have happened.
Flybaby Karen
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
Then after some hard times in my life I quit doing it. After a couple of major surgeries in 2012, I spent a lot of time in bed.
I haven’t used the walker for a couple of weeks. I think that it fits in the category of things that don’t belong in the bedroom. However, if I do need it I can’t get to the basement to retrieve it. So I will let it stay put for a couple more weeks. I did remove the other things that don’t belong in there.
I had a laundry basket in there that I put my comforter and pillows with shams. Now that I make my bed everyday that can go! Because I couldn’t get around to the far side of my bed with the walker. My clothes were piled on my bed. When I made my bed, I could leave my door open, and I enjoyed looking in at the beautiful comforter DD bought me for Christmas 2011.
I could also open my shades, and enjoy the sunshine. We don’t get a lot of that in the winter in Michigan. Well of course with the door open, the shoes had to go in the closet. The dirty clothes were not going to stay on the floor. I can’t turn my mattress alone, so I decided to sleep on the other side of the bed. I have been really looking forward to cleaning my bedroom this week.
Oh my what I found this morning on the other side of my little bedroom!! Cobwebs floor to ceiling. I had to move my dresser out and I rubba swept out the mess. What an awesome tool. I could extend the handle all the way and reach all the way to the corner of the room and up to the ceiling.
Well, I has having so much FUN cleaning out my bedroom I attacked the floor of my closet and dust moped the whole floor. I certainly had no idea what was lurking on the other side of the bed. But I will sleep better tonight.
All it took was 2 – 15 minute sessions. I can’t thank you enough for your routines, products and inspiration. I suffered from the 2Ps, procrastination and perfectionism. Thank you for giving me a place to START and letting me know I was not behind.
Terri New flybaby in Michigan
FlyLady Rebecca here: Do you have a Bed Making Testimonial? Let us know, and send an email with I LOVE MY MADE BED in the subject line.
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
HELP! I used my beautiful feather duster on some really dirty mini blinds and now it is looking very poorly. I can’t remember what you said was the best way to clean them. I would appreciate it if you could let me know.
This is to anyone who has not bought a FlyLady feather duster yet. It is the BEST thing you could buy for yourself. It makes dusting so much easier and quicker. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!
FlyBaby in California
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Dear FlyBaby in California,
If you have been putting off getting yourself this fun tool, don’t wait too long! Our husbands love to get new tools to make their jobs go easier. Usually those tools cost a whole lot more than our cute little dusters. You will love your FlyLady Feather Duster so much that you will use it every day. When it only takes you 2 minutes to feather dust, you don’t mind dusting. Where were these dusters when we were kids?
It is just a little dirt. No worries. All you really need to do is get a bucket of warm water and some baby shampoo. Don’t use much and lather it up and rinse. You can let it air dry or you can blow dry it.
You can also check out this page for more care instructions. Scroll Down!
Ok everyone! Get out your dusters and let’s do 2 minutes!
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
What is hope anyway? What happens when we don’t have hope in our lives? Today I read my morning meditation and there was a reference to hope. That once the hope is realized; it is not hope anymore.
Without hope we find ourselves in a sad way. My birthday is January 11th and 111 is a special number to me. One day I decided to look up those numbers. I have been trying to put this together for weeks now and today it all came clear in one of my favorite Bible verses. Hebrews 11:1 Here is what I found. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
We all need something to hope for; this is our dreams. We have the ability to make our dreams come true. My friend Rita Davenport taught me about hope; what good are low hopes! We need to Dream Big and visualize those dreams in our minds eye! I like to keep my dreams in front of face. I use my computer to do this. I put pictures of my dreams as my computer screen saver. This way when I walk away from my computer and come back to it; I see those dreams and my hope is energized.
I don’t allow any negativity to slip in and beat me up. I deserve to have my dreams come true! My hope keeps those dreams alive. Without hope we lose our will to go from one day to the next. Hope and faith are connected. Hope is the dream and faith is the affirmation that those dreams will happen. We see it; we feel it and we can experience it in our imaginations and before we know it those dreams become a reality!
We have to watch our perfectionism in this process. We want what we want and we want it now! Anything worth having is worth working for and we have to learn to take babysteps to get to where we want to be. Where do you want to be? Do you know or have you stuffed those dreams into a deep hole?
Then we have our perfectionism to causes us to give up when things are not happening fast enough. This is when we just throw in the towel because our dreams seem too out of reach. As Rita and Ryan Shupe would say, “What good are low hopes? Dream Big!
Everyone asks why do we have to shine our sinks to get started. It is really quite simple; that shiny sink is a ray of hope for you! Something small that can grow into your dream! Right now we struggle with just trying to find our keys. As the clutter and chaos disappear one babystep at a time we give ourselves the freedom to Dream Big. I never knew that I could be an author or anything other than someone who was beaten down by life. With each new habit I acquired, I found a little bit more of me! I didn’t set out to be the FlyLady. I just wanted to be nice to myself. That became the fuel for my routines.
In the beginning all I knew was there had to be something more than just surviving and that God had something for me to do. Each new habit along with every item I got rid of uncovered my purpose in the deep hole. It wasn’t long until I could feel hope blossom inside of me.
That hope is still there today! Where is your hope? I have faith that my dreams will come true. It only takes a little mustard seed of faith to see those dreams become a reality.
I want you to hear one of our songs that is available on our FLY CD. The song was written by Amy Lacey and I made a music video of it for our website. Go to the Getting Started section on our homepage. You will see a sink full of dirty dishes. Turn your volume up and get out your hanky. Here is a direct link.
I want you to find hope and realize that your dreams can come true!
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
Once upon a time I lived in a tiny apartment that was out of control and I lived with CHAOS. But I practiced the baby steps you provided. (I bought your book, too.) I even wrote to you about the first time I used a feather duster on my ceiling fan blades. (A bunch of stuff flew off – I thought for a minute I was cutting the ends off of my precious feather duster, but it was really just DIRT!) After some time, I got my little apartment under control. I was proud of myself. And when I moved into my home, I thought to myself, “This is my valid reward for learning to manage a home.” I had soooo much space and so little clutter! Guess what happened? I got off the program. Now my big, beautiful home is a smelly, dirty, cluttered mess. CHAOS.
Tonight, I am shining my sink again. It took 10 years for my house to get this way. But tonight I am shining my sink and taking my first baby-step all over again.
Thank you for being here for me (after all of these years).
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
I am writing to share my bed making story. I found you about 5 or 6 months ago and started my attempts at flying. My husband travels a lot, but when he is in town he works from home. He really appreciated the efforts I was making at flying and mentioned it in very positive ways on several occasions. He thought this “thing” I was doing seemed to have the most staying power of all the “crazy things” I seem to try.
My house has never been very organized or neat – I have always been a crisis cleaner with lots of “stash and dash” situations – and we never made our bed. But, when I started with you I focused on three primary things – shiny sink, swish and swipe, and making our bed. Over the course of a few weeks those three things really became habits. Of the three, the bed making seemed to really become very firmly entrenched and I was doing it every day.
Since my husband travels a lot he was either not there, or he had gotten up at the same time or earlier than me if he was home – so I was making it alone almost all the time. One day he was sleeping later than me, so when I got up to get ready for work I just pulled my side of the covers up and went about my day. When I got home that night I walked into my room and he had made the bed and even put all the decorative pillows on the bed – of which there are 7 that he thinks are crazy “fru-fru” items. I mentioned how much I appreciated that he had done it and his response was “It’s important to you, so it’s important to me”. I was so pleased.
Fast forward a few weeks and another situation where he was still in bed when I left for work. Later that morning my mother called him to coordinate a trip to the car repair shop or something and he told her he was just jumping into the shower, then he needed to make the bed and then he’d be ready to meet her. And sure enough when I got home that night the bed was made.
My mom made a point to call me to tell me what my husband had said. She thought it was so sweet that he was taking the time to do it for me. Anyway – I think there has only been one or two days that the bed hasn’t been made since I started flapping my wings and it only takes a minute or two. I wish I had known years ago how good it would feel to come home from a long day of work and walk into the bedroom and see the bed so nicely made. It is so wonderful to climb into it at bedtime.
I’m getting there with my Flying and my house is really starting to come together. Close friends and family have noticed a difference and I just love it. There is still more to do – but babysteps are getting me there! Thanks for all you do to help encourage all of us FlyBabies out there.
Jennie – In Virginia
FlyLady Rebecca here: Do you have a Bed Making Testimonial? Let us know, and send an email with I LOVE MY MADE BED in the subject line.
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
I’ve written before and this may be a silly question, but I have been wanting to buy the duster for sometime, but am limited on my budget.
I hate to dust because it was always something I was forced to do because my mom hated to dust. I want to make if fun for both me and my kids.
I just don’t really know the first thing about feather dusters as I was always made to use Pledge and a rag.
Any feedback is welcome.
Thanks,
Trying to FLY in PA
Dear Trying to FLY in PA,
We all know about being forced to dust the way our mother’s wanted us to do it! We do not have to dust our mothers did! We can do it our way! Feather dusters are an amazing tool that helps us to have fun and at the same time get the job done!
They don’t just move the dust around they pick it up with all of their thousands of tiny feathers. Each plume is made up of these little feathers. They do all the work, so you don’t have to!
I like to hold my duster as if it were a pencil! Then with little quick flicks of the duster; the feathers surround the items on your tables and pick up the dust so you don’t have to pick up the item. Did you know that dust does not get under the items on your tables; just around them.
If you use your duster every day then you will never have to see dust again. Isn’t that what our routines do for us! When we develop habits our homes clean themselves. Just a few short minutes in the morning and then in the evening along with picking up after yourself and your house can be on automatic pilot too!
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
This past Sunday, I noticed a scar on my knee. It has been on my knee since I was 4 years old. It is one of my first memories. The accident was before children were supposed to be strapped into car seats. Daddy had to slam on the brakes and I landed on a coke bottle. I remember blood and a hospital ER with stitches. I was a victim of a UFO!
UFOs are Un-tethered Flying Objects in your car! Yes you know the ones I am talking about! Our cars are usually the last frontier when it comes to getting organized. When I was a small child I was hurt by bottle in our car. I still have the scar to show for it. Think of it this way when you are riding in a car going 55 mph if you have to stop abruptly everything in the car becomes a missile. Think about being hit by a baseball or a bottle that was thrown at that speed.
Here is the worst thing about UFOs in your car! You are embarrassed for anyone to ride with you. I know because I am just like you! My car has been clear of clutter on the inside for almost two years. There is no telling how many accidents have occurred because a bottle rolled out from under the seat. Then it got under our foot or brake and we reached down to get it.
So how do we stop from cluttering up our cars? We have to establish simple habits that will keep the clutter eliminated.
1. Don’t eat in your car. If you do, then bag up the trash as soon as everyone is finished. The bag the fast food came in is a great bag to hold the trash. When you get out of the car, find a trash can.
2. Every time you get home empty the car of things you put in it before you left. Not only will this keep your family safe from UFOs but it will deter thieves. When there is nothing in the car there is no temptation to break a window. My purse was stolen from my car once when I went into a funeral home to pay my respects.
3. While you are filling your car up with gas; play a game with the children to pick up the trash in your car. Then throw it away. They can hand it to you through the car window after you have filled up.
4. Keep things in your trunk, confined in zippered bags or under a cargo net in your van or SUV.
5. Establish a day for blessing your car. Fill it up, Clean it out and Shine it up! We do it on Fridays. We have some simple tools for this; FlyLady’s MultiWand and Rubba Scrubba. Rubba Scubba sweeps the floor and seats and the MultiWant does the dash and console. Our purple rags get the windows sparkling. That is if you put them in your hand and use them.
Don’t put your family’s safety in jeopardy because you don’t think you have time. Think of it as Swish and Swipe for your car. Daily maintenance takes less time than a whole day clean up to get ready to go somewhere with strangers in your car. Be sure and keep UFOs contained in the trunk or glove box.
It’s Friday time to Clean Out Your Car Day!
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
Thank you for your words of wisdom!! I have chronic depressive and have had numerous bouts over my lifetime. It takes courage to share our stories but as we do, we bless others who may feel alone and isolated. Currently I am flying fairly well and I take care of myself I’m various ways; today I am going to a restorative yoga class. One of my gifts to myself is subscribing to your emails and taking the time most days to sit and read through your nuggets of truth. May God continue to bless you,
Stephanie, flying in Vermont
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
I’ve been following you on and off for a few years now. Admittedly more off than on. I’d stick to routines for a few weeks then something would happen and for some reason it would all go wrong. This year I decided it would be different.
Started the year by shining my sink following my control journal then after a few weeks the same thing happened that always happened it just went wrong.
March I decided enough was enough and had a really long think about what I could do to to make this work . March, It started with my control journal, I had all the sections set up like it says in your page but for me it was too much. I scaled it right back to just my every day routines and things that have to be done in certain days like putting the rubbish out for collection. I don’t feel so overwhelmed anymore.
And although I don’t always follow it to the letter it’s keeping me on track. April
Aprils habit for the month is to make your bed. Now I never and I mean never made my bed, what was the point I was only going to mess it up again It was just new sleeping in it so what did it matter? I had more clothes in my floor than I did in my cupboards. And was a general dumping ground as things just got tossed in there when I had company (as no one ever went in my room)It just wasn’t a restful place at all!! I had a focused declutter session over a few days.
Got rid of 15-20 (yes you did read that right) bags of old clothes that I didn’t love, and general clutter. I discovered I had a carpet under all that!! I bought new curtains and nets for my window. Moved my bed round and put in new bedding. I got a small laundry basket and as soon as its full I put a wash on, then as soon as the laundry is dry it’s folded up and put away, no matter how late it is or how tired I am. I make my bed every morning my room looks beautiful now. I have even found a way to keep my clean bedding together and ready to grab when it’s change day, I was always misplacing a pillow case so never having a full set to put in my bed I now fold my duvet cover and one pillow case together and pop it I to the other pillowcase, and do the same with my under sheets. This keeps it all in one place ready to just grab when it’s time to change it no having to spend half hour hunting for stray pillow cases!!!
I have concentrated in keeping my room looking clean and tidy. And have kept it up for the past 24 days. I’m really looking forward to next months habit so I can add that in and work towards having a chaos free home
Thank you!!!
Ann Uk flybaby
FlyLady Rebecca here: Do you have a Med Making Testimonial? Let us know, and send an email with I LOVE MY MADE BED in the subject line.
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!
It has your favorite tools! Got Old Cleaning Tools? Time to Upgrade with The Best! FlyLady’s Back to Basics Pack! Declutter the old to make room for the new!
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!
