Does anyone else follow the Flylady system of House Cleaning?

Some on here may have needed this, but if people's mood gets low enough, the 15 minute rule is a common way to help with motivation.

Whether it's something seen as work, such as housework, or taking time out from work, the 15 minutes feels more possible than the whole activity so, eventually, you are likely to continue. Of course, that can take time, and some may need medical help too. Others may be able to use it for themselves or join something like Fairycakesdid.

It sounds as if most on the thread are one of the lucky ones who have never plumbed these depths of depression or anxiety so that it disabled them in this way.

I first heard of Fly Lady ages ago, before the days of YouTube. When I read "Put your shoes on and ... Get started" I decided it wasn't for me. I would feel most uncomfortable wearing shoes in the house, especially when I was doing housework.

Does anyone remember jings? - well she was always talking about “swish and swipe” and that has something to do with the website you are all talking about.

I loved her humour.

My system involves paying a cleaner because I absolutely hate and despise housework.

If you don’t invite anyone over, you don’t have to clean like a maniac.

But inviting people over for a luncheon or dinner party can put you in manic mode to get things done.

That’s about what it boils down to here.

nipsmum

I don't need a system to clean the house
I need a cleaner.
I don't have the energy to do it myself

Ditto!
I have better things to do…
All you cleaners - don’t visit me!

I don’t follow the FlyLady but do find the 15 minutes at a time approach very helpful when my joints are bad. I also find it helpful when I have a lot of different deadlines that will all need meeting soon. It’s surprising how much you can get done in 15 minutes.

Well, I think she looks fun! Thank you for letting me know about her ..... just what I need!

As an aside
Some people make a joke of having a dirty house
For some it’s a kind of virtue signaling that they are somehow too exalted/creative/busy to bother with such pettiness
I’ve never understood that
A dirty house is depressing
A cluttered house equally so plus makes it hard to think straight and doing stuff takes ages if you can’t find what you need
And doing housework keeps you fit and it’s free? Why come home from an expensive gym to a tip?

When I worked I had a cleaner which meant a weekly tidy up before she came. I stuck to weekly patterns when I retired.
My cleaning routines have now slipped completely, first when DH was ill. Since he died my house is full of boxes being packed, moved around according to who is coming to collect them next. No room to clean properly. Piles of paperwork, awaiting Probate, it seems a never- ending situation. The only visitors I have are family and they come to help not to criticise my mess.

Now I have an injury and am restricted in what I can manage to achieve. I just have to turn a blind eye to the dust. I make sure the toilets are clean and kitchen surfaces wiped but as I am now leaving things out rather than putting them away because of my injury, it is not easy.
I can now begin to understand why some people’s homes are not as clean as they would like them to be. Smugness is not a virtue.
I sometimes imagine myself living in a clean clutter-free environment but that is a long way off.
Meanwhile I must concentrate on getting my paperwork properly sorted.

That’s (almost) my method too, Oreo, but I’m all too likely to add, ‘But it’ll keep till tomorrow.’
(Unless we’ve got guests about to descend - that’s about the only time I do have a bit of a blitz.)

I can now begin to understand why some people’s homes are not as clean as they would like them to be. Smugness is not a virtue.
It really isn’t. But on here it always shows itself when anyone admits to a tiny chunk in the armour of perfection, doesn’t it? I enjoy GN for many reasons, but support without judgement is not one of them . If someone wants to try a different way of housekeeping that might make life easier, how can anyone ‘not understand’ that just because they are happy with how they do things and have no interest in change others might have a curiosity about trying something new? Nobody is saying she lives in squalor, just that housework is less of a priority for some than others.

I’m sorry for your loss, Cabbie. You’ll get through it though, and if a different way of doing things helps, it’s all to the good.

Cabbie21
I'm sorry for your loss.
You will get there although it must seem insurmountable at times and at least you have help

It's not always possible to keep on top of everything, you sort out one thing then something else needs doing. It's like the old joke about the Forth Road Bridge before the restoration.
I'm not as ruthless as I should be with decluttering and haven't the energy for deep cleaning.

A friend told me about Flylady 20 years ago, around the time we got a computer. Using her website was one of the first things I learned to do. Setting a timer for 15 minute bursts helped me break the procrastination/feeling defeated cycle & it worked for me. It helped me develop routines which became invaluable when we had a family crisis a couple of years later & my sister needed support whilst her husband went through lengthy treatment. I’m very grateful to Marla Cilley for all the free online support back then.

Cabbie21 - My deepest sympathy to you as you deal with your loss.

The paperwork (it’s overwhelming) is the worst, especially if you do not have assistance from a child, relative or friend to help you stay on top of it. I could never do it alone. Once you’ve finalized everything a burden will be lifted.

Everything else can wait. Do not worry about other people right now. Friends will emerge like cream rises to the top. The others you will figure out later.

The “house” will be taken care of according to your order. Not to worry.
USA Gundy

For some reason none of these messages were forwarded to me, so I didn't realise I had any, lol! Thank you all for your responses. I can see there are mixed views . I find housework boring ordinarily, but flylady Marla Cilley, or Flylady Dianne, inspire me and it actually begins to feel like fun

She's a great fan of the email, isn't she?

I signed up, thinking I'd start after Christmas, as my house is upside down just now, but I would have a look at it ahead of time. I've already had what seems like a hundred emails.

Oh Cabbie I’m so sorry to hear about your predicament. This is why I’m currently making a concerted effort to sort my house out because if I got ill my house isn’t liveinable. I can see how people end up in the sort of houses you see on tv programmes and I am close to that situation.

Doodledog

Was the mould on the cheese not a clue?

😄😄 I wonder if he even recognised mould, poor young man. He seemed quite keen though, so hopefully he's got to grips with it by now (five years later 😄)

Sadly I think a lot of Mums run round after their sons far more than their daughters and don't seem to feel they need to understand about hygiene or looking after themselves. MiL was like that - she was horrified when she saw Mr A iron his own shirts and my name was mud for a long time.