If you've ever searched for the best cleaning routines, likely you came across someone who is raving about the FlyLady Cleaning System. The question is, does it really work for busy moms?

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What is the FlyLady Cleaning Method?

In the home cleaning world, the FlyLady is an icon that has stood the test of time. It is a cleaning system of small tasks that keep the house looking neat and clean when done consistently.

Marla Cilley is the FlyLady, a nickname she adapted because of her love of fly fishing. She has authored several books including Sink Reflections and Chaos to Clean which are available at most book sellers. You can also visit her website FlyLady.net but I warn you it can be overwhelming! (Which is ironic for a person literally writing a book about clearing the chaos!)

Why does the FlyLady System work?

The FlyLady system focuses on simple routines. That is the beauty of the whole thing. Marla Cilley walks you (very slowly I might add) through baby steps to create habits that add up to success. When many other cleaning systems say run and marathon clean, the FlyLady system is slower and more steady to win the race.

Another key point with FlyLady is to not focus on perfection. The idea that if I had this or my house looked like that, then I could keep it clean is a myth. The house did not start off a mess. When you moved in, you brought the stuff. I am guilty of all of this! I had to start digging myself out of MY mess to see the beauty underneath. It's like when you clean out your car and it looks new again, nice!

That quote is powerful. While raising my kids, I would get upset when tasks were not done right. Think about that quote again. I wanted my daughter to vacuum so the lines were straight and it looked perfect but as long as it was clean did that matter? The FlyLady System has me seeing that it is done, so move on!

How do I Find Time to Clean with FlyLady?

This is the biggest problem for busy moms but you can't FIND the time, you MAKE the time. However, FlyLady breaks up the cleaning time into small doable pieces that you can arrange throughout your day.

What works for me probably will not work for a working mom since I recently got to quit my job due to extremely long commute time. I am now home but as all stay-at-home moms already know, time flies with all of the extra things that get tossed your way. It's always a struggle to find time but you can do it!

FlyLady has some basics that she adds in throughout the Baby Steps for your routines. Here is a sample of what is working for me but I often have to make changes to make it work. Do not get stuck in the length of the list because I have found that most steps in my routine take about 2-3 minutes even though my mind thinks it takes 15 min-I have timed myself!

My FlyLady Morning Routine:

• Make Bed 2-3 min

• Dress to Shoes (shower, make-up, hair, etc.)

• Swish & Swipe (quick wipe down of bathroom with cleaning wipe) 2-3 min

• Grab dirty clothes & start a load of laundry (on way to make coffee) 2-3 min

• Empty Dishwasher (while waiting on coffee and toast to pop) 2-3 min

My FlyLady Afternoon Routine:

• Flip Laundry to dryer 2-3 min

• Prep for Dinner

My FlyLady Evening Routine:

• Wipe Counters/Shine Sink/Load & Start Dishwasher 5 min

• Prep for Tomorrow (layout errands/coupons/returns/lunches)

• Tidy Hotspot 2 min

• Room Rescue 2-3 min

• Journal/Prayer Time

I had to get my family to flip the laundry when they got home from work/school since they were local. Either my hubby cooked or we eat late and had super easy meals. Occasionally I meal prepped which was AMAZING but since I hate cooking I would procrastinate that on the weekends. My evening routine was the same but let time to watch tv with the fam.

I did this routine for years as a working mom and out of the house from 5:45 am to 7:30 pm. I was a lot less stressed by my house and things ran smoother for the extra effort it took. Totally worth it!

How to get started with the FlyLady System?

So, you have decided to give the FlyLady Cleaning System a try. Now what? The FlyLady website recommends starting the 31 Baby Steps. Each day for a month you will add in a new task to your list to create routines.

Don't Run! Many of the steps are as simple as drinking your water or getting dressed.

The number 1 reason people fail with FlyLady is that they quit the FlyLady System during the Baby Step phase. "This takes too long." Remember it did not get dirty in 2 days and unless you hire a cleaning team it is unlikely to be fixed in 2 days. FlyLady is here to fix the problem--lack of routines to keep a house clean--not to just get the house clean.

However, I feel your pain. I got fed up and quit the first time too. Lived in my mess another year and decided I had had enough so I restarted it with a real understanding that I HAD to really do the thing. I've been Flying since!

Is the FlyLady Method the best?

Just search YouTube and you will find a ton of videos from people who love the FlyLady Cleaning System. Many have reported that it works exceptionally well for people with ADHD. I can attest that it is the only system that has worked for my ADHD brain but I have had others say that it is too rigid. The debate on which cleaning system is pretty fierce with two top contenders splitting the difference: FlyLady Cleaning System vs Clean Mama.

Both systems work to get your home clean. The big question is which system works best for YOU. I have tried them both and to be honest I think a combination of the two work the best for me. I needed the FlyLady system to teach me the routines and encourage me when I couldn't keep up. All of those amazing YouTubers became crucial to my success. I could put in my earbuds and listen to them while I was cooking or loading the dishwasher and it inspired me to keep with it.

Clean Mama is like my ideal house. Her website is completely Pinterest and Instagram-worthy! However, I am not sure that I will ever feel good enough when seeing perfection every time I watch her videos, see her posts, or visit her site. Plus she has a paywall for a lot of her content on the website and far fewer YouTubers are deep diving with Clean Mama so less motivation shows up in my playlist.

It's a struggle for me because I really want it but it makes me less happy with the home that I have because it isn't bright white and sparkly. I live in an 80's farmhouse...golden oak cabinets everywhere, kind of dark, and lots of dust and spiders from living in the country. Eventually, I will update things but I really felt frustrated that mine wasn't as pretty which is not good for me. FlyLady is a hot mess, but it's relatable.

Tips for success in Cleaning with the FlyLady System

• BE CONSISTENT! Mess and dirt are cumulative. A few minutes each day works miracles to maintain a clean home.

• Use a timer. For my ADHD brain, this is invaluable. I set the timer for 15 min and do whatever cleaning task is on my list for the day and then move on. Before FlyLady, I would get a project in mind-clean the bathroom and 2 hours later finish it because one thing lead to another and I got hyper-focused on perfection. Now, I can quickly do the maintenance and then move on to other things.

• Download the free app FlyLadyPlus on the App Store. This little gem has all the lists at your fingertips so that you don't have to waste time skimming her website to figure out what to do today.

• Invest in a planner! Once you start getting routines set, you will see the value in planning. When I am doing Errand Day, I grab my planner and get so much more done in one trip saving my weekends to relax with the family.

• Create a cleaning caddy with all your go-to products and rags so you are not making laps around the house, getting tired, and wasting time.

Frequently Asked Questions

The last thing you need to know about FlyLady

This system works but you have to actually do it consistently. There are a LOT of parts to it which is why it is so robust but can feel overwhelming. I strongly recommend downloading this free printable of the Baby Steps or searching her website at flylady.net to print it off and then stick with the steps. It's fine if you need to clean your usual routine as you add in the FlyLady steps but DO THE STEPS! Creating a routine that works for you is the secret sauce to having a clean home! For more information about routines and more on FlyLady, please feel free to check out this playlist: