Firstly, sorry I’m a bit late with this post. I’ve been knocked for six by a virus and looking at a computer screen is making my head crack open! Still not feeling great today, but I wanted to wrap up the CTMs v MUMs Home Organisation challenge and announce a winner of the Sabco cleaning pack.
As you know the CTMs have been crash testing the FlyLady system for keeping your home clean and organised. Unfortunately just Cécile and I are left to tell you about our results. Cherry had other priorities come up (far more important than making lists and organising) and graciously pulled out.
Laney’s Results
Whilst I was a bit resistant (and slack) to begin with (see my interim results), the last two weeks have been a whole different story. Once I actually wrote down my daily and weekly routines and checklists, everything changed. 15 minutes here and 10 minutes there has saved a whole lot of work for me. I kept finding myself in the kitchen marveling at how clean it was!
Checklists
I think using checklists is a great idea. It can be a bit overwhelming sitting down and thinking of all the things that need to be done on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. It seems like a hell of a lot of cleaning! But it really helps, because if you don’t identify it and make a time for it, chances are in this house it ain’t getting done! I like FlyLady’s way of creating lists. It’s not too prescriptive. You design it to fit your own home by breaking it up into zones that suit you. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Routines
I love the way FlyLady approaches her weekly routine. Her’s is pretty full on, and you can work your way up as you get things under control. I like how easy it is to slot a zone into each day, or to focus on one zone for detailed cleaning each week. I found myself checking on my routine (which is only on my blog) to see what needed to be done next. I need a better way of keeping up with my lists and routines and I think I’ve found it via Shae at Free Range in Suburbia. Shae mentioned what we were up in a blog post last week and took it one step further with the use of an app. I love technology, so am going to check it out. It’s an app called homeroutines. You can program in all your lists and routines and it will remind you what and when things need to be done! Easy! Apparently it works well with FlyLady and also The Organised Housewife lists that Jodie and her team are using on Muddled Up Mumma. I give her routine system a 4 out of 5 stars, but think it could possibly be a 5 with the use of the app.
Overall
I really like the FlyLady system, but you have to make sure you don’t get ahead of yourself as it can be a bit overwhelming. Move at your own pace, if the baby steps are too small or don’t resonate with you (I hated shining my sink rather than sleeping), then skip ahead and use the process to create your own steps.
I’m humming along quite well now, other than being sick the last few days. That’s been a slight hiccup, but I’m not overwhelmed by getting back into it again, because I know it works and it makes me insanely happy to have a clean tidy house without toooooo much effort (or should I say with just a few short bursts of concerted effort?)
Cécile’s Results
So it’s 2 weeks later – Yikes! Where did the time go? – and I am supposed to produce some checklists or something, right? Oh and a review of the system… Can I just go off and fold the laundry instead? Or rather bury my ostrich head in the pile and not publicly admit that maybe I have not done all – or any – of those checklists. But I HAVE made a list of the checklists I need to make! In my head… buried in the clean laundry pile.
Checklists
So, how would I rate the checklist system? I reckon if you actually manage to get to the ‘writing the list’ stage, it’s a good system. It would help me to have it all down and visual – but of course that would also mean I would not be able to ignore it, hence the lack of ‘writing’ them in the first place so I can pretend to remain entirely oblivious – and so I’m giving the checklist system a 3 star rating (out of 5 shall we say?).
Routines
When it comes to the routines – whether it be shining your sink, getting dressed or making your bed – I am slightly better. My downfall comes when I skip a day/task and I then just let it creep up back on top of me. So I give the routines system 4 stars – because I’m feeling generous.
Overall
In summary, the steps are easy to follow even if FlyLady can come across as slightly patronising at times. I do find that maybe it is too easy to get bogged down in all the information available on the website – mainly because I am a sticky-beak and I like poking around and peeking ahead – and so you need to really stick to the step-by-step system. Unfortunately, as mentioned before, I am rebel when it comes to routines and so I still haven’t really managed to stick to the system. But I don’t despair…
I will certainly try to keep trying and I do recommend the system, if only to pick up some really useful tips, tricks and habits along the way.
Now for some thanks and giveaways
The winner of the Sabco $60 cleaning pack is Rebekah with this fun tip:
My best time saving housekeeping tip is to play hide and seek with my little boy inside… and pick up and put stuff away on my way to my hiding spot. Keeps us both entertained and motivated! :)
I love this tip because it makes the work seem less like a chore and you’re playing with you little boy at the same time. Without even knowing it, he’s watching you have fun keeping the home tidy and perhaps he’ll pick that up too!
Now, there are two more winners who I want to thank – Cécile and Cherry. Thank you for joining this crash test with me and giving it a go. Sabco also have $60 cleaning packs for you too! Yay!
I feel like the cleaning fairy :)
Don’t forget to pop over and visit Jodie at Muddled Up Mumma to see how her team got on :)
So, are you inspired to fly the FlyLady way?
Laney x
