Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

I had read a pp about how often do you clean, etc. and there were a few posts about FlyLady.com. So I went on it, signed up hoping it would help me not be so overwhelmed. I think I'm more overwhelmed.

Does anyone else on here work full time outside of the house and use FlyLady?

It seems like you are on a schedule of cleaning or picking up around the house from the moment you get up until you go to bed.

I think I am missing something here.

Thanks in advance!

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

I've tried it in the past and it seemed overwhelming to me also. Since it's been mentioned recently Iwas going to give it another try. Hopefully someone can provide some feedback.

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

Thanks! Good to know it wasn't just me!!!

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

I signed up 2 different times and once I started getting 54213458456121 emails a day, I unsubscribed. I could probably clean the house in the time it would take to read all the emails.

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

Here's some advice, if anyone still wants to try it:

- Do the digest email format- then you get one email instead of 39587576.

- The "flight plan" for the day is usually at the beginning of the digest email. It's usually pretty short and I never feel like I have to do everything. It's not necessary to read the testimonials, etc.

- Don't feel stressed! FlyLady is the anti-Martha Stewart. Not everyone can crap potpourri the way Martha can! FlyLady always points out that every little bit helps and that housework done improperly still "blesses" your family. It's good not to be a perfectionist.

-The testimonials are great to read when you are feeling overwhelmed. However stressed you feel, there are always people who are in bigger messes than you.

- I also read the one email while I'm waiting for the train in the morning- I have nothing else to do during that time but then I know what I have to do later.

Hope this helps!

Message edited 11/2/2010 2:18:20 PM.

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

What Mrs Professor said, plus, start with the baby steps & build up to the routines & missions.

The emails were overwhelming & the site is a little confusing, so it took a while to get the hang of it . I am still not following it exactly ( I started in the summer), but some of her ideas help.
Also, I got her book, Sink Reflections, from the library & that helped.

Message edited 11/2/2010 9:19:29 PM.

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

I agree, it's confusing...it's not clear exactly where to start - yes....the baby steps - but then it goes into the deep cleaning, the "bless your house", decluttering...what is the order in which I should be doing these things...after the baby steps.

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

I agree about the emails. I read the flight plan for the day and try to stick with it. What really has helped me is the habits of the month. Like cleaning your sink and toilet daily let me tell you since I started doing this my bathroom is ALWAYS clean. I thought it was going to be a PITA but it literally takes less than 2 mins. I just keep clorox wipes in there and wipe down the toilet and counter everyday when I'm done getting ready. I think last month was getting into a bedtime routine and this months learning habit is menu planning.

Its overwehlming for me to stick to everything on flylady so I choose what works for me HTH

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

I bought the book ( yes I could have gotten it for free , but it iks easier for me in front of me) and set up a control journal and it became easier.

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

I love love flylady. As far as the emails, I delete most of them. I am a SAHM (sometimes WAHM) mom and I don't have time to read them, although I wish I did. So I am not overwhelmed by them. I just go at my own pace.

When I started flylady, I did babysteps. One day at a time. I didn't take on anything else except what flylady said to do on each day. Then, after time, you develop a routine doing daily things (cleaning kitchen sink everyday, 2 minutes putting out hotspots, etc.). If something she says is too much for you or doesn't fit your style, just don't do it. As someone above mentioned, housework done "incorrectly" still blesses your family. When you are ready, after the babysteps, you move on to some of the other things like the "Weekly House Blessing" (an hour of basic cleaning a week). For me, I have not even touched "Zone Cleaning". Its just too much right now.

I recommend that you follow her "babysteps" each day for the 30 days and see how you feel after that. If something isn't working for you, just don't do it! Or modify it. Like, instead of shining your sink at night, maybe it will be easier in the morning! Good luck and let me know if you have any other quesitons. Also, remember, it takes time to get where you want to be. Babysteps.

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

Re: Spin off to cleaning - Fly Lady - do you use it?

LOVE her. I feel like it's changed my life. Basically, the plan is:

- Do your dishes every night and windex off your sink when you're done

- After getting ready for bed, give the medicine cabinet and bathroom mirror a quick spritz of Windex and give the toilet a 5-second swish with a brush.

- When you wake up in the morning, get dressed first thing after rolling out of bed, up to your shoes, so you're mentally prepped for the day.

- Do her one quick task for the day that you'll receive in an email (you're in a different room of the house for a week. On Monday you might have to wipe down your kitchen appliances. Tuesday, throw out old stuff growing in your fridge. Wednesday, dust your cupboards. Etc...)

- Once a week, do a one-hour cleaning of the parts of your house that people see (vacuum the middle of a room, wipe down countertops, etc. She has a list).

That's it. Once you get into the habit of cleaning the bathroom and kitchen sinks every night, you'll wonder how you ever lived without doing it.