Use the FlyLady Method to Make Your Cleaning Routine Less Tedious.
A clean home is a peaceful home, but what if cleaning it could be peaceful too? This is the fundamental principle of the FlyLady cleaning method , popularized by organization guru Marla Seelly. Let’s look at what the FlyLady Method is and why you should use it now to see some benefits in your space over time. You won’t get instant results, but you will get long-term results that will contribute to your overall feeling of cleanliness and peace.
What is the FlyLady cleaning method?
Cilley’s method has been around for more than two decades, but it has found new life on TikTok, where CleanTok influencers have brought it to the digital masses.
The goal of using this method is to feel less anxious about cleaning and maybe even start to enjoy it. You will do this by completely changing the way you clean. On her website, Cilley instructs would-be adopters to divide their home into “zones” and spend just 15 minutes a day cleaning them at specific times each month. She promises that within a week the difference will be noticeable: “It didn’t get dirty in a day and won’t get clean overnight.”
Setting up FlyLady zones
There are only five zones to consider in this method, but they are quite comprehensive. Here’s how the zones are divided:
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Zone 1 is the hallway, porch and dining room. You fill this zone in the first week of the month.
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Zone 2 is the kitchen that is done during the first full week of the month, that is, the first week that has seven full days.
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Zone 3 is the master bathroom and another room in your home, such as an office or storage room. This occurs in the second full week of the month.
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Zone 4 is the master bedroom, its closets and bathroom for the third full week.
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Zone 5 is the living room, but since it’s not a full week, it may overlap with Zone 1.
Cilley’s main goal is to keep cleaners from burning out, so spending 15 minutes a day in a designated area for that week is plenty. Routine is the key to cleaning as efficiently as possible , so make sure your 15-minute chunk is planned out and done every day, ideally at the same time, so it becomes more of a habit than a full-blown chore.
Maximizing the benefits of FlyLady
While it’s great at giving you a schedule and guidance on what you should focus on at the moment, it’s pretty vague on how to clean those areas. Try another method, like the Core 4 method , to make sure your 15-minute bursts and weekly zones reach their maximum potential. Core 4 requires you to organize, classify, cut and contain clutter. Once you’ve cleared away all the clutter and general clutter, you’ll find it easier to tackle the nitty-gritty tasks of cleaning and disinfecting outdoor spaces, vacuuming, and dusting.
Try using a few decorative storage containers to keep everything organized without compromising the overall look of your home.