Flylady (A New Mini-Series)

Welcome to my first attempt at a mini-series of sorts.  I have spoken about my love for Flylady often over the course of this blog but it has always come in bits and pieces instead of really giving you a birds eye view of what she is all about.  The best place to learn everything there is to know about Flylady is at the the Flylady website.   I am not about to take away any of her "thunder" but, rather, I'm going to share some of her basic ideas along with what I've learned along my journey with this system. 

I first met the Flylady about 8 years ago.  A friend of mine told me about this great site that helped you totally organize cleaning your home.  Well, I heard the words "organizing" and "cleaning" and was already hooked.  This 8 year journey has been just that, a journey.  I learned what worked for me and what didn't work for me plus, along the way, I started to understand the program more and more which made it easier.  I have "fluttered" my way through a few years and finally feel like I'm "flying" for once. 

Where to begin?  Well, with babysteps, of course!  If you feeling overwhelmed by your home, please take time to pop over to THIS page and read the Flylady's encouraging words.  Baby steps are just that, one small thing at a time.  If you are like me, you'll read step one and say "Seriously, that is all you want me to do", than you'll look at steps 2-10 and try to do them all.  All I can say is  . . .don't.  This system works if you take it one step at a time. 

Baby Step 1:  Clean Your Sink.  That's right, just clean your kitchen sink.  Put out a clean towel, and make sure that there isn't a dirty dish in that sink!  If you click on that link, it will take you to the Flylady page where she gives detailed instructions on how to clean your sink.  It really does work.  Now, I don't do this step in detail anymore - at least not how she describes.  For my stainless steel sink, I have found that Liquid Barkeepers Friend works miracles. 

I usually clean my sink twice a week with this cleaner.  The other days, I just wipe it out before running the dishwasher at the end of the day.  Periodically I do take a toothpick or skewer and use that to clean around the edge of the sink as well (you know - that little lip that catches all the junk!)   I do work really hard to leave my sink empty at the end of the night but it doesn't always happen.  I hate washing dishes so if anything doesn't fit in the dishwasher, it waits for the next day :-) 

Honestly, if you have never done this, it will amaze you how good it feels to walk into a clean kitchen - or at least a clean sink area - in the morning.

You are now done with day one of your Flylady Journey :-)  

Step 2:  Get Dressed to Lace Up Shoes.  Flylady is HUGE on getting dressed "to your shoes".  Basically, it is the simple concept of getting up in the morning, getting ready, and getting clothes on, right down to your shoes.  By wearing shoes, you are ready for anything - an emergency, taking out the trash, or chasing the dog down. 

Now, this is reality in my life . . .I don't wear shoes in the house.  I really don't like wearing shoes.  Instead, I keep a pair of flip flops, crocs, or other slip on shoes by the back door so I can easily put them on when ever needed.  With little hands under foot, I don't want to step on them either.  So, for me, I get dressed to my . . .bare feet :-) (I don't even like to wear socks - even in the winter!!) 

(And remember to clean your sink at the end of the day - now you have two steps down! FYI - you don't have to bleach your sink every night, just that first night.  The rest of the nights you just wipe it out and leave a clean towel ready for the next day)

Step 3: Is simply to do what we have already done.  That's right, on day 3, just do those first two things again and you are on your way to success. 

Next week, I'll talk about a whole group of steps that have to do with writing some things down and finding hot spots.  This will also start the bare bones of a control journal (I call it my Home Management Journal) 

So . . go clean your sink :-)