The Fly Lady Challenge: Start Cleaning and See Results
The Fly Lady 5-week challenge breaks home cleaning into manageable zones—kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, and one more area—with just 15 minutes of daily effort. Each week focuses on one zone while building core habits like a shiny sink routine. No perfectionism required: small, consistent steps transform both your home and mindset without burnout.
Why you should try the challenge
The Fly Lady method works for millions of women around the world, but many wonder: will it work for me? The best way to find out is to try it yourself. A 5-week challenge isn't a lifelong commitment—it's an experiment. You're simply testing how the system works when you follow it consistently.
In five weeks, you'll work through all the main zones of your home and establish key habits. That's enough time to see real changes and understand that the system truly reduces stress and makes cleaning easy. No promises to yourself about "doing this forever"—just five weeks of honestly following the method.
How the five-week challenge works
Each week of the challenge focuses on one zone of your home. You work on it for 15 minutes a day, completing simple tasks from a list. At the same time, you maintain basic routines: a shiny sink in the morning and a quick cleanup in the evening.
Week one is the kitchen. You start with the main symbol of the method: polishing your sink until it shines. Then you move on to countertops, cabinets, the stove, and the refrigerator. By the end of the week, your kitchen sparkles, even though you didn't do a deep clean.
Week two is the living room or main room. You clear surfaces, dust, and organize cabinets and shelves. This is where many people notice that 15 minutes fly by, and they feel motivated to continue.
Week three is the bedroom. You work on your wardrobe, nightstands, and create a cozy space for rest. At this stage, the habit is already forming, and cleaning becomes a natural part of your day.
Week four is the bathroom. You organize cabinets, sort through cosmetics, and clean fixtures. It's a small zone, but the results are impressive.
Week five is the nursery, office, or any remaining zone. This is the finishing touch, after which your entire home is in order. And you realize: this works.
Rules that will help you finish
For the challenge to deliver results, it's important to follow a few simple principles:
- Start every morning with a shiny sink—it sets the day off right
- Work on the current zone for 15 minutes daily, no more
- End each day with a 10-minute cleanup before bed
- Once a week, tackle one "hot spot"—a place where things pile up
- If you miss a day, just keep going without guilt
The hardest rule for many: no perfectionism. Did less than you planned? You still did great. Didn't finish a task in 15 minutes? You'll continue in the next cycle. Progress matters more than perfection—that's the core principle of Fly Lady.
Your starter plan for week one
Ready to start right now? Here's a concrete plan for the first seven days:
- Day 1: Polish your sink until it shines
- Day 2: Clear all countertops, put away clutter in cabinets
- Day 3: Wipe down kitchen cabinet fronts with a damp cloth
- Day 4: Organize one kitchen drawer or shelf
- Day 5: Clean the stove and the area around it
- Day 6: Tidy the refrigerator—one shelf or compartment
- Day 7: Wipe the windowsill and wash the kitchen window
Complete each task strictly by timer. The LadyFly app will help you track time and check off completed tasks—it's incredibly motivating to see your progress.
What will change after five weeks
After 35 days of the challenge, you'll notice changes not only in your home but also in yourself. Your home will be cleaner and cozier, but most importantly, your attitude toward cleaning will shift. It will no longer be a source of stress and guilt.
You'll have a system that runs itself. You'll know that each zone will get its attention, and you don't need to tackle everything at once. Clutter will stop accumulating because you're working on your home a little bit every day.
The most valuable thing: you'll prove to yourself that you're capable of change. That small steps lead to big results. That you can care for your home and yourself without burning out. Start today—and in five weeks, you won't recognize your home or yourself. The LadyFly app has everything you need to complete the challenge: task lists, timers, and a habit tracker. Just download it and start with one shiny sink.
