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Chaos to Clean: in 31 Easy BabySteps
Whatever your level of CHAOS in your home and life, don't give up. There is a solution. Marla Cilley's book, CHAOS to Clean in 31 Easy BabySteps will take you through a 31 day program that will teach you how to live a life that is CHAOS free! Learn small BabySteps that build upon each other in order to live a clutter-free life.
1. Realize the power of what you can accomplish in 15 minutes.
2. Find more time to enjoy life by eliminating stress and clutter one step at a time.
3. Build routines to eliminate all day cleaning sessions and make house work seem automatic.
4. Use time-tested methods that help you and your family enjoy your home and each other.
5. Find the free time to become what you were meant to be.
1. Realize the power of what you can accomplish in 15 minutes.
2. Find more time to enjoy life by eliminating stress and clutter one step at a time.
3. Build routines to eliminate all day cleaning sessions and make house work seem automatic.
4. Use time-tested methods that help you and your family enjoy your home and each other.
5. Find the free time to become what you were meant to be.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2017
1283 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 17, 2017
Two stars for a fair number of practical and sensible cleaning suggestions.
Zero stars for the writing itself. This is possibly THE most annoying book I have ever read. I get that the Fly Lady system and style works for a heck of a lot of people ... but not for me. As someone who's only come across Fly Lady very tangentially in the past, I found the writing intensely irritating: the tone was constantly patronising, in a sickly-sweet sort of way (especially the references to "Fly Babies"). It's geared towards mums, and I don't think there was a single case study from a man; the implication seems to be that it's the role of women to clean (to "bless" their home so that their family will stop treating it like a dump...)
I am probably well within the target audience -- mum to two young children, work part-time whereas husband works outside the home before -- but really, this bordered on unreadable for me, it was that annoying!
Zero stars for the writing itself. This is possibly THE most annoying book I have ever read. I get that the Fly Lady system and style works for a heck of a lot of people ... but not for me. As someone who's only come across Fly Lady very tangentially in the past, I found the writing intensely irritating: the tone was constantly patronising, in a sickly-sweet sort of way (especially the references to "Fly Babies"). It's geared towards mums, and I don't think there was a single case study from a man; the implication seems to be that it's the role of women to clean (to "bless" their home so that their family will stop treating it like a dump...)
I am probably well within the target audience -- mum to two young children, work part-time whereas husband works outside the home before -- but really, this bordered on unreadable for me, it was that annoying!
April 29, 2022
Second time I tried. The first time I was so shocked by her first tip where you have to clean your kitchen sink and it had to be dried and all in a specific way. Too much effort and time spending it on a lousy kitchen sink.
Okay guess I am lazy.
There were some good tips but I have moved on to The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning
See if that can help me.
Okay guess I am lazy.
There were some good tips but I have moved on to The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning
See if that can help me.
October 16, 2017
This book puts into book form a lot of what is on the Flylady.net web site, under the heading "Baby Steps", and adds longer explanations and the experiences of others. So if you don't want to spend the money, just go to the web site.
But for me, after years of getting Flylady emails, and trying her system on and off in fits and starts without much progress -- it helped immensely to have this info in book form. I spent 2-1/2 months going through the steps one by one, not 31 days -- because even though the book is set up as Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc. Flylady makes it very clear that you shouldn't try to do too much at once. Baby steps, baby steps. Establish one habit before adding the next.
It helps. It really does.
But for me, after years of getting Flylady emails, and trying her system on and off in fits and starts without much progress -- it helped immensely to have this info in book form. I spent 2-1/2 months going through the steps one by one, not 31 days -- because even though the book is set up as Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc. Flylady makes it very clear that you shouldn't try to do too much at once. Baby steps, baby steps. Establish one habit before adding the next.
It helps. It really does.
January 30, 2019
Read this while she was making motivational videos on YouTube for each of the steps. She gives away all her book ideas for free on her website too. I am a huge fan.
This is great for an easy boot up into her system. Highly recommended for people like me that are totally clueless about keeping a house clean and overwhelmed about where to start.
She seems to be geared more toward stay at home moms. But I am NOT that and got the most help from her system when I was working 60-80 hours a week.
This is great for an easy boot up into her system. Highly recommended for people like me that are totally clueless about keeping a house clean and overwhelmed about where to start.
She seems to be geared more toward stay at home moms. But I am NOT that and got the most help from her system when I was working 60-80 hours a week.
May 12, 2019
Three stars for the cleanin system, none for the writing style which to me sounded quite patronising.
Glad to have read it, but I much rather listen to Diane in Denmark or The Secret Slob on Youtube talk about the Flylady system.
And nope, not getting 'dressed to shoes' in order to clean my house.
Glad to have read it, but I much rather listen to Diane in Denmark or The Secret Slob on Youtube talk about the Flylady system.
And nope, not getting 'dressed to shoes' in order to clean my house.
August 1, 2017
this lady is nuts. I stopped taking her seriously when she said no one should wear sandals or slip on shoes because having to lace up our shoes provides structure in our lives.
June 8, 2018
Easy read to declutter our lives of the tangible stuff and intangible baggage. Minimalists will like this book.
July 26, 2017
FlyLady has also helped me!
I grew up with a hyper-controlling mother, including house cleaning every Thursday and Friday. If it wasn't "just so," I had to keep going until it was.
I rebelled in college and have been messy ever since. Only rarely do we have people over, and that requires extensive crisis cleaning.
With the FLY system, there's hope and promise. My husband and I have used it a few times!
Thanks for loving and helping us Marla!
I grew up with a hyper-controlling mother, including house cleaning every Thursday and Friday. If it wasn't "just so," I had to keep going until it was.
I rebelled in college and have been messy ever since. Only rarely do we have people over, and that requires extensive crisis cleaning.
With the FLY system, there's hope and promise. My husband and I have used it a few times!
Thanks for loving and helping us Marla!
March 8, 2021
Plagerism
Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Plagiarized from Dave Ramsey.
Baby Steps? Plagiarized from Dave Ramsey
That is two instances of plagiarism I noticed and I didn’t even read the whole book.
Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Plagiarized from Dave Ramsey.
Baby Steps? Plagiarized from Dave Ramsey
That is two instances of plagiarism I noticed and I didn’t even read the whole book.
February 17, 2018
Clean Habits
Read the book over 31 days! Or an hour and a half same difference right? But great advice and super helpful. And now I am polishing my sink and dressing to my shoes and have divided my tiny clutter filled apartment into zones and am using my timer and things are getting better. Lots of testimonials and upbeat advice. There's other books, a website, YouTube videos and on and on but the bottom line- 15 minutes at a time things get done.
Read the book over 31 days! Or an hour and a half same difference right? But great advice and super helpful. And now I am polishing my sink and dressing to my shoes and have divided my tiny clutter filled apartment into zones and am using my timer and things are getting better. Lots of testimonials and upbeat advice. There's other books, a website, YouTube videos and on and on but the bottom line- 15 minutes at a time things get done.
June 7, 2017
Progress Not Perfection
An updated, encouraging new book by Marla Cilley, on her fabulous technique for living a gracious, orderly life. Highly recommend... She has brought such peace to my life!
An updated, encouraging new book by Marla Cilley, on her fabulous technique for living a gracious, orderly life. Highly recommend... She has brought such peace to my life!
August 10, 2024
A great way to get back in control of your home
I have a soft spot for the Fly Lady. Back in the year 2000, when I had a new house I had no idea how to maintain, I started reading her books. I loved the simplicity of her messages, particularly the gift of knowing that even poorly performed housework is better than no housework at all. Just shine your sink, she said. Get dressed to your shoes (with laces!) Blitz areas for 15 minutes (timed), and see what a difference it makes. Do it imperfectly. But do it. I did these things and it made the house OK. And then I fizzled. But my soft spot for the FLY lady remained.
Skip ahead 24 years… and I’ve just had a massive declutter and turned to this for practical tips on how to maintain my house. The book assumes that you are still living in CHAOS (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome), and gives you 31 days worth of activity to give yourself some positive habits to make inroads into your home. It basically fulfils that brief, although I think the learning curve is probably quite high. But the book is full of thank you letters that other people who have adopted the FLY Lady’s methods have sent her, showing us the difference these tools can make.
The Fly Lady is not for everyone: the tone is relentlessly positive, and sometimes it feels a bit much. FLY stands for ‘Finally Loving Yourself’ and there are lots of mottoes like ‘staying on top of Mount Wash More.’ But this book isn’t really intended to be read end to end. Marla Cilley knows how many of us are ashamed of our houses, having never known how to clean them in the first place. She tells us how, starting with just shining the sink. Just shining the sink is a lot. It is achievable. It makes a difference. It shows you how the rest of your house could look. If you follow this set of procedures, you’ll get a clean house. Good luck.
I have a soft spot for the Fly Lady. Back in the year 2000, when I had a new house I had no idea how to maintain, I started reading her books. I loved the simplicity of her messages, particularly the gift of knowing that even poorly performed housework is better than no housework at all. Just shine your sink, she said. Get dressed to your shoes (with laces!) Blitz areas for 15 minutes (timed), and see what a difference it makes. Do it imperfectly. But do it. I did these things and it made the house OK. And then I fizzled. But my soft spot for the FLY lady remained.
Skip ahead 24 years… and I’ve just had a massive declutter and turned to this for practical tips on how to maintain my house. The book assumes that you are still living in CHAOS (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome), and gives you 31 days worth of activity to give yourself some positive habits to make inroads into your home. It basically fulfils that brief, although I think the learning curve is probably quite high. But the book is full of thank you letters that other people who have adopted the FLY Lady’s methods have sent her, showing us the difference these tools can make.
The Fly Lady is not for everyone: the tone is relentlessly positive, and sometimes it feels a bit much. FLY stands for ‘Finally Loving Yourself’ and there are lots of mottoes like ‘staying on top of Mount Wash More.’ But this book isn’t really intended to be read end to end. Marla Cilley knows how many of us are ashamed of our houses, having never known how to clean them in the first place. She tells us how, starting with just shining the sink. Just shining the sink is a lot. It is achievable. It makes a difference. It shows you how the rest of your house could look. If you follow this set of procedures, you’ll get a clean house. Good luck.
May 15, 2022
Marla Cilley known as The Flylady, gives the reader tools and suggestions of how to develop the mindset of establishing a system of performing household chores, forming habits , routines and organizational skills and menu planning to make a person's life less stressful. She also mentions how pampering yourself is important. She covers the topic decluttering your home and how it takes baby steps to accomplish all the above goals. She mentions how progress is more important than perfectionism. Many years ago, I read one of her other books called Sink Reflections which went into more detail about her system. I loved it.
November 17, 2022
I gave this book a chance since I have an interest in staying organized, and this was a Kindle Unlimited selection listed as a “Great on Kindle” book. However, I am not familiar with the FlyLady concept, and I was more annoyed than inspired by this book. I got about a third of the way through and couldn’t read any further. I consider myself very organized anyway, so maybe it wasn’t really for me to begin with. But I disliked the writing style, and I didn’t feel it flowed in a logical way. I just decided that I wasn’t going to waste any more time on it. I rarely stop reading without finishing a book, but there was no way I was getting anything out of it anyway.
August 9, 2020
I love this book. The ideas are excellent for those of us who are perfectionists.
Being a perfectionist can paralyze us if we think our actions will not be good enough.
I'm going to start today to start using the ideas put forth to help to start small & take the time to make small routines into habits by doing it for at least 21 days!
Hopefully that will help me to get my house clean & organized. Slow & steady routines will eventually get the task under control. Then continue!
Being a perfectionist can paralyze us if we think our actions will not be good enough.
I'm going to start today to start using the ideas put forth to help to start small & take the time to make small routines into habits by doing it for at least 21 days!
Hopefully that will help me to get my house clean & organized. Slow & steady routines will eventually get the task under control. Then continue!
April 13, 2024
A simple method to get on top of housework based on habits and routines
I got started with the Flylady system years ago and it changed my life. There is flexibility to focus on what your home needs most in a zone. The more you declutter for five days a week for 15 minutes a day, the easier life gets. I suggest considering if you would buy something again brand new if it broke. If not, consider curating your life - you'll never have to clean it again if you get rid of it. Another hint is to focus on the larger things in a room first. If you don't't need it, get rid of it.
I got started with the Flylady system years ago and it changed my life. There is flexibility to focus on what your home needs most in a zone. The more you declutter for five days a week for 15 minutes a day, the easier life gets. I suggest considering if you would buy something again brand new if it broke. If not, consider curating your life - you'll never have to clean it again if you get rid of it. Another hint is to focus on the larger things in a room first. If you don't't need it, get rid of it.
January 1, 2018
Best book ever!
I was recommended the FlyLady on a social media group. The group does a 100 day challenge on anything you chose. Several people want to declutter their home, and that's when this book was mentioned. I immediately downloaded on kindle and read it front to back in one go. I love it! I will now start it again,following the advice given in the book. Its a fantastic little book, you won't need any other books, only this one!
I was recommended the FlyLady on a social media group. The group does a 100 day challenge on anything you chose. Several people want to declutter their home, and that's when this book was mentioned. I immediately downloaded on kindle and read it front to back in one go. I love it! I will now start it again,following the advice given in the book. Its a fantastic little book, you won't need any other books, only this one!
October 14, 2021
it was okay
I love FLYLADY, but there wasn’t anything in here that wasn’t in “Sink Reflections.” Also, as an English teacher, I was distracted by the typos and grammatical mistakes… which was definitely perfectionism. That being said, it read like a straightforward, loving pep talk from an old friend, and I found comfort in that. I’ve been struggling to get with the program for a long time, but I can hear Marla telling me that it’s okay.
I love FLYLADY, but there wasn’t anything in here that wasn’t in “Sink Reflections.” Also, as an English teacher, I was distracted by the typos and grammatical mistakes… which was definitely perfectionism. That being said, it read like a straightforward, loving pep talk from an old friend, and I found comfort in that. I’ve been struggling to get with the program for a long time, but I can hear Marla telling me that it’s okay.
July 14, 2017
FlyLadyPlus is Amazing
In Chaos to Calm, FlyLady explains the 31 baby steps in an easy to follow along book with testimonies at the end of each day supporting that day's steps. This is truly a book about giving up on perfectionism and giving ourselves grace to finally love ourselves and our homes by blessing them.
In Chaos to Calm, FlyLady explains the 31 baby steps in an easy to follow along book with testimonies at the end of each day supporting that day's steps. This is truly a book about giving up on perfectionism and giving ourselves grace to finally love ourselves and our homes by blessing them.
August 7, 2018
Marla Cilley, mais conhecida nesses 17 anos com FLYLady, é uma "treinadora" online - que com textos motivacionais nos leva a organizar nossa vida e lar!
Site referência: www.flylady.com
Esse livro trata-se de sugestões de como aderir a esse Sistema com dicas diárias para 31 Dias de BABYSTEPS.
Ficou curioso para saber mais? Segue um link completo sobre o tema: https://goo.gl/iK8nmh
Site referência: www.flylady.com
Esse livro trata-se de sugestões de como aderir a esse Sistema com dicas diárias para 31 Dias de BABYSTEPS.
Ficou curioso para saber mais? Segue um link completo sobre o tema: https://goo.gl/iK8nmh
September 26, 2019
This book introduces the Fly Lady program. I liked all the positive encouragement to take one step at a time in decluttering and cleaning up our homes.
I was introduced to the Fly Lady program through “Diane in Denmark” on YouTube. I completed the 31 Baby steps through those videos and now found more encouragement through this book.
I was introduced to the Fly Lady program through “Diane in Denmark” on YouTube. I completed the 31 Baby steps through those videos and now found more encouragement through this book.
October 25, 2023
The first two steps are actually really helpful: keep a shiny clean sink and lace up your shoes when you wake up. Both actions weirdly provide mental comfort in tackling a messy home.
But the baby steps get complicated the more you add on: a fling boogie here, a room rescue there- it seemed a bit overcomplicated to me personally. Probably more helpful to those with kids.
But the baby steps get complicated the more you add on: a fling boogie here, a room rescue there- it seemed a bit overcomplicated to me personally. Probably more helpful to those with kids.
January 4, 2024
Ok, loved the practical side of it. The step-by-step solutions, the simple advices. But totally hated the “love yourself”, “your parents tortured you with chores” talk. It was worth the read for me because I mentally skipped the “self-love” advices and went straight to what I wanted to know, but wouldn’t recommend it. It’s between a 2/5 and 3/5 for me.
May 30, 2018
I absolutely love this book and I followed the Flyladies videos too.I am happier then I've ever been and I have more time then ever before! She is so genuine and sensible. Love love love her!!! I can't wait for her next book to hit the shelf!
February 10, 2019
Many thanks!
Fly lady is changing my life. I'm incorporating her routines and it is helping my depression slowly but surely. I look forward to the emails and I enjoyed her book. Thank you so very much.
Fly lady is changing my life. I'm incorporating her routines and it is helping my depression slowly but surely. I look forward to the emails and I enjoyed her book. Thank you so very much.
March 19, 2019
Perfectionism vrs calm and happy, tidy home!
Fly lady is unconditional love and acceptance. Using home spun wisdom, Fly lady inspires by example with a system that really works IF you follow her plan.
Fly lady is unconditional love and acceptance. Using home spun wisdom, Fly lady inspires by example with a system that really works IF you follow her plan.
March 20, 2019
Read this in several sittings . . .
But you can dip in and out at your own pace. A gentle guide to getting rid of your chaos. I loved this little book! My new mantra - "anything is better than nothing".
But you can dip in and out at your own pace. A gentle guide to getting rid of your chaos. I loved this little book! My new mantra - "anything is better than nothing".
September 15, 2020
You can find just about everything in this book on the FlyLady website. If you like having a hard copy for notes and a way to keep it all together then this is for you, if not just buy Sink Reflections it says pretty much the same thing but in a different format and goes into more detail.
October 2, 2020
Thank you Fly Lady.
After years of chaos, finally starting to notice clear surfaces!
Progress not perfection and remembering to be kind to myself.
A system that gradually builds without any stress.
I am very grateful
After years of chaos, finally starting to notice clear surfaces!
Progress not perfection and remembering to be kind to myself.
A system that gradually builds without any stress.
I am very grateful
January 12, 2021
Fly Lady is amazing!
I've been a fluttering fly baby for years on and off. Her books and the control journal help keep things on track. And the emails. My home is slowly but surely getting in order. Thank you Marla!
I've been a fluttering fly baby for years on and off. Her books and the control journal help keep things on track. And the emails. My home is slowly but surely getting in order. Thank you Marla!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews