Clean Mama vs FlyLady | Review

If you struggle with keeping your home clean, Clean Mama is your program. If you struggle with self-management or self-discipline, then FlyLady is your program…I tell you why is this video!
Websites:
FlyLady dot net
Cleanmama dot com
YT accounts mentioned
The Secret Slob
A Better Life with Kat
Inspired by Nikki
Clean Mama and FlyLady both have amazing routine-based, homemaking programs to help you keep and maintain a clean and organized home.
Clean Mama and FlyLady programs have very different offerings and I compare and contract which routine will work best for you!
e-mail: [e-mail]

[@owllover5462]

Love the Fly Lady System and Diane In Denmark and The Secret Slob teaches it in a fun and motivating way .

[@StephanieSMGH]

Owl Lover I’ll check out Diane in Denmark! Secret Slob is one of my favorites for sure!

[@valivida995]

Me too, I adore Diane in Denmark. Thanks to her I began to move forward!

[@maggiedrouillard4272]

Yes! Same here! I also felt Kat helped give a bit more modern approach especially for work outside of home mom's.

[@maggiedrouillard4272]

And I think FlyLady approach helps with mindset which can be really important, especially for certain personalities.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Maggie Drouillard exactly! I could not have said it better!

[@autumnspring6624]

The biggest thing about fly lady is the idea of creating one habit at a time and not taking on too much too soon. Hence the term "baby steps". The other equally important principle is that you are never behind. Progress, not perfection. This means that even if you don't finish this time it is still much better than before you touched it or better than before you started in that area. It's a process of falling and getting back up. the chores loop around and you'll eventually get to all the areas you wanted next time around. So you do 3 things for your AM routine 3 things for you before bed routine. Gradually you get more efficient and fast with your routines. You add decluttering your home 15 minutes a day till it's decluttered. Once you've mastered you AM & before bed routine and you've decluttered your home, THEN you can graduate to zone cleaning.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Autumn Spring I totally agree! I wish I would’ve covered more of that in my video. I definitely think that got lost, so thanks for pointing that out for other viewers. It’s such a great system and I’m thankful that I found it when I did.

[@karennelson5334]

I am a FlyLady mentor for FlyLady Premium. My children were raised in this way of life. It is an amazing life changer for all stages of life. One thing you will learn is that it never was about the house.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Karen Nelson what a lovely way to put it!

[@emilymosley3184]

Lord! I’m so thankful we didn’t have KZbin way back when I a young momma. Such pressure y’all put on yourselves. I kept my kid alive and my husband and I shared the bare minimum for keeping a decently clean home.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Preach! So true.

[@suznknight5896]

When we had three small boys and both worked full time I was happy with a path in the middle of the toys and clean clothes (piled high in a playpen). Now that it is just my husband and me, I am enjoying decluttering and maintaining a clean house just to have a peaceful home.

[@emilymosley3184]

@@suznknight5896 same!

[@DianeinDenmark]

Great review of both systems, Stephanie! As you say, use the parts which work for you and adapt to suit 😄 I've been doing Flylady for years (helped me not only with running a home, but with other areas of life which had been neglected). If you enjoy project management, the "Getting Things Done" method by David Allen is brilliant and goes hand in hand with Flylady, or any "homemaking" methods 🖐

[@StephanieSMGH]

Diane! Your channel was recently recommended to me by a reader. I'm your newest subscriber and I can hardly wait to get caught up on your videos. I will look into "Getting Things Done." It looks like there is an audio book available, so that may be my next read. Very happy were were able to connect! Thank you!

[@chantelmcfall5502]

Diane in Denmark your amazing! I watch all your videos!

[@jenniferrosenthal7731]

I started flylady over 10 years ago. I love it!

[@TheSmdl]

I have watched your channel for years. I love it.

[@TheAbergel]

Ive just started implementing the Getting Things Done method. Great so far!

[@nathaliecreamer4322]

I found FlyLady back in the day when her system was simpler. She was a Godsend. Every time I find myself in CHAOS out comes the control journal and the routines get re-established. But after discovering Clean Mama last week and giving her system a try I find myself wondering why I keep straying from FL. I find CM effortless. I bounce out of bed and blaze through my 5 daily chores before grabbing a coffee or checking e-mails. By 8:30 this morning all my chores were done, including my spring cleaning "mission"... or whatever she calls it. It's effortless. But it's also week 1. ;) Thanks for this video.

[@happygirl7258]

Flylady has changed our lives. My home has never looked so wonderful! And my hubby makes the bed every day now!

[@StephanieSMGH]

That's awesome! I love hearing when something is life changing. I recently read "The 12 Week Year" and it changed how I view goal setting and habit formation. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with FlyLady!

[@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654]

So awesome! I’m just starting baby steps so hopeful

[@sandyhayes7206]

BIG deal- he sleeps in it! Do we ever hear someone patting a woman's back for cooking or?

[@helpfulhabits5217]

I am a total Flylady fan. She has changed my way of dealing with my whole life not just housekeeping. Once you learn the power of habits you never look back. - Heather in New Zealand.

[@mrsupchurch2987]

I’m a SAHM and originally started with FlyLady. When I found Clean Mama about 5 years ago, I started her approach and find it much easier.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I go back and forth myself! Thanks for the feedback!

[@ginamommy]

I agree

[@sabrinasearsy1538]

Clean Mama wasn’t around when my kids were little. FlyLady has saved me a lot of headache and dirt over the years! However, I did and still do it my way, which must be a hybrid of the two from your description of Clean Mama. I deep clean in a zone once a week and break the “blessing” cleaning down over the week. It made it easier for me, and that’s the important thing with any system, use or adjust what you find useful. 👍

[@StephanieSMGH]

Sabrina Searsy that makes total sense! If I could makeup my own program it would be a combination of several programs!

[@lmmartin959]

I like FlyLady and I watch The Secret Slob. She's very motivational. But truly I don't use a plan. I just like a clean house and enjoy keeping it that way!

[@StephanieSMGH]

LM Martin thats totally commendable! I needed a plan when I began staying home...but it’s not a one-shoe-fits-all deal. Thank you for watching!

[@monicaleite5058]

What this comes down to is organization and priorities. The battle of Fly Lady's "way", Clean Mama's "way" is not important it really is about YOUR way! Taking inspiration and figuring out what is a priority and what works for you in your life is what matters. I have tried both approaches and if I had to weigh in on which I liked better I'd say it's the Fly Lady. The biggest problem I had with the Clean Mama approach was I feel like it's not completing a task. For example I can't dust and not vacuum or the next day I don't feel good about mopping without sweeping. Between yesterday and today my floors will need to be swept before I mop. I like the overall idea that the Fly Lady presents to have a plan and you attack the plan but really you do what you can and call it a day. Life goes on, the dust will always be there.

[@StephanieSMGH]

So true! We just moved and I feel like a I'm hovering between both plans. Done is way better then perfect - and house cleaning will always be there. I just strive for the house to be comfortable. Thanks for your thoughts on the subject. I really appreciate the perspective.

[@qtluvBilly3]

CM's weekly list is similar to Flylady's Weekly Home Blessing list in the "dust, mop, vacuum" part. CM's monthly tasks are similar to zone detailed cleaning. CM's daily task are similar to Flylady's daily routines. I learned of Flylady many years ago, so I tend to always go back to her. I like CM, but Flylady holds a special place in my heart. 😊 Oh, and I have both CM and Flylady's books. I love all things home related. 😁

[@StephanieSMGH]

qtluvBilly3 I feel like you and I might have been separated at birth.

[@tattoomommie]

I found flylady after battling post partum with my son in 2001. I've always struggled with organization and procrastinating thanks to ADHD. Flylady is the only system that works long term. It really is life-changing.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Thank you for weighing in! I know others will appreciate the recommendation!

[@cathylange7245]

I love both. I'm a teacher and I use Clean Mama for weekly cleaning and add my Zone cleaning trough out the week. But during holidays and summer I follow Fly Lady. I like the to do the Weekly Home Blessing Hour on one day and the Zone Cleaning throughout the week. It allows for more free time to hang out with my children.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I feel the same about the blessing hour! It's kind of a "just eat the frog" approach to getting things done as supposed to doing heavier cleaning each day of the week. Thank you for the thoughtful comment!

[@tinamurrah7282]

I love Diane in Denmark and the way she explains the flylady system and how she makes it work!

[@StephanieSMGH]

Tina Murrah she is one f my favorites!

[@kylieghnicole]

I do a mix of flylady and clean mama. I do clean mama weekly schedule (but no deep cleaning in those areas). Then I do my zone cleaning for 15 mins a day. I feel like this way nothing gets missed. I wasn’t a fan of fly lady’s weekly schedule.

[@samanthaquant7411]

Never heard of clean mamma! Will have to check that out! I’ve done fly lady and read her book but personally find her website to be pretty unusable.

[@sandyhayes7206]

I find her a waste of time-adds to my feeling of not liking to do housework and putting it off...the flag on the wall, the perky statements and slogans on the wall---clutter!

[@sherryseher7736]

I’m a senior, so I BLEND the two plans .

[@StephanieSMGH]

That's awesome! I catch myself doing that as well!

[@ginamommy]

I agree. I like the cleanness and simplicity of clean mama. It is the only one i have been able to follow for a long time. I loved flylady at first but found it hard to keep up with and her website is too cluttered for my cluttered brain. I like the idea of having a clean sink but there is no way I am keeping my dirty dishes in my cabinet. One thing I loved from flylady that I still use is the emergency clean up.

[@sexyafter502]

I wasn't familiar with Clean Mama, interesting analysis of them both! I have used FlyLady but I guess I just wasn't interested in being that...clean. This was back in the day when I had more energy, lol. Thanks for the video!! --Kay

[@judyrobertson9479]

I am partial to Clean My Space.

[@MalitaJones]

Love how you said Clean Mama’s website is so good and easy to navigate but you didn’t say anything about FLYLady’s website, cause even if you know her you admit it’s a mess and easy to get bogged down on it.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Malita Jones I just wanted to highlight each programs high points. My background included usability testing for websites, so I’m a pretty hard sell regardless. Her website has some major opportunity of growth. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. I really appreciate it!

[@MalitaJones]

@@StephanieSMGH sadly she is pretty defensive of her site and her crazy email system, so it will likely stay as is

[@StephanieSMGH]

@@MalitaJones I’ve been known to be pretty hard headed myself. 🤪

[@drpaddi]

FlyLady is about the whole person and the entire family not just about the house. WWW.FLYLADY.NET check it out for yourself.

[@barbaramaver2404]

Diane in Denmark is great. Hope you look at her chanel. She uses Flylady and her house is lovely. She also goes winter bathing. Brave woman.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I did! She even took the time to come over here and leave a sweet comment and a book recommendation. She's won me over for life!

[@barbaramaver2404]

@@StephanieSMGH 👍

[@emacwakeup]

Starting. Clean mama. Except I’ve got my own tasks for each day. It doesn’t make sense to lug my hoover upstairs to only do one room. Or to bring my mop to the bathroom only. Or to have my duster in my hand just to use it in one room. I also have a small home so maybe that’s why :)

[@StephanieSMGH]

I totally get it! I think you will enjoy the program. Let me know how it goes!

[@racheld.8364]

Like many others, I had not heard of Clean Mama but I have tried Fly Lady. I have 3 toddlers, though, so I had a hard time making it work. I could see where it would have worked for me before kids, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Rachel D. My pleasure! I’m actually working on a slimmed down version of the FlyLady program for people in the same boat as you! Thanks for watching.

[@hairdebi]

I went over to the clean mama site, I can't help but notice that she charges for a lot of her stuff, I never had to buy anything from the flylady. Her control journal and all of her other journals are free downloads and you don't have to give her your email address like you do at clean mama

[@StephanieSMGH]

Thank you for your comment and your views! I did provide my email to Clean Mama to receive her printables and perhaps I should have included that information in my video! You can find quite a few on Pinterest without providing an address (if that makes you uncomfortable). Thank you for taking the time to add that detail to the comments! I'm sure other viewers will find that valuable.

[@happygirl7258]

I love Marla

[@michelleb6395]

I loved this! Diane in Denmark, The Secret Slob, and Clean Mama turned my life around!

[@StephanieSMGH]

They are my forever favorites! Diane even commented on one of my videos and I almost passed out!

[@sophiasummer7339]

I love fly lady!! We’ve had family come over and they asked us who cleans your house? 😂 we do ! It really has transformed our home and lives. But I’ll check out clean mama!

[@StephanieSMGH]

I agree! Its amazing to have a program that works for you! Love to hear your thoughts about Clean Mama!

[@jfm813]

I'd love to hear your views on A Bowl Full of Lemons too! Personally I love all 3!

[@Stephanie-rj7nz]

I’m not super familiar with her program, but I’ll check it out! Thank you!

[@lebe6863]

Fly lady wins for me I haven't really explored clean mama enough to comment but what I have seen didn't really get me excited enough yet will give update when I know more about her site etc

[@StephanieSMGH]

le be thank you! I’d love to hear your thoughts and I’m sure other commenters will as well.

[@pattymullen1695]

Thanks for this video steph! I think I may be more of a clean mama plan. I’m going to look at her plan this weekend 👏🏻

[@StephanieSMGH]

Patty Mullen Habit Fanatic thanks, Patty! I’d be curious what your thought are!

[@pattymullen1695]

Printed out the clean mama plan, laminated it and put it on the fridge 😁 family will test it out this week! 🤗

[@kindmama]

I've never heard of clean mama. I'll look into that. We have 5 littles. I tried to do fly lady for years and ta never stuck. I've tried modifying it but I get lost easy. Maybe clean mama will be better suited for me.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I would definitely try her! Her program is almost entirely cleaning based and not geared towards all that goes into home management.

[@arifahilma4840]

Ddw

[@jowatson2607]

Have you tried The Organised Mum Method? ( TeamTOMM)?

[@StephanieSMGH]

Jo Watson I’ve not heard of that! I’ll check it out. Maybe it will be a video...who knows!

[@DanikyH]

I´ve been looking for your channel for a while! I´m so glad the KZbin algorithm put your video on my home page. Thank you for sharing!

[@StephanieSMGH]

You just made my morning! I've been having a lot of fun creating the videos. A lot more work for sure, but so much more satisfying. Glad we found each other.

[@naomimagee844]

I use Clean Mamma

[@StephanieSMGH]

Naomi Magee I go between. I love home making programs, so switching them up is commonplace.

[@thepeddler9226]

The problem I see with Clean Mama is that she has specific tasks for specific days. If I'm always tired by Thursday, my floors will never get washed. Before the lockdown, I travelled on Saturdays, so when do I clean my sheets and towels? I love The Fly Lady because I can work on one zone at a time and still have time to catch if I'm too tired or not home. Like others, I didn't think you thought this through. You missed a lot of things that are great from TFL; they have printables too and a website to explain in details what to do and how to do it and more.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I feel the same way about losing steam while cleaning. I typically lose steam as the day wears on which is why I like to front-load my days and get cleaning out of the way. I am a big fan of both programs and find myself mixing them up all the time. Thanks for the other feedback, I will make sure to incorporate it into future videos!

[@reallyluckygirl1]

I’ve heard of Clean mama. I’ll have to check out this fly lady. I’ve never heard of her. Thanks for the info.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Do and please let me know what you think!

[@ckhartzler2437]

Just found your channel! Love it!!!

[@katescreativejourney]

I feel like this was a rather slanted review. You mentioned that Clean Mama has printables, but not that Flylady has them too. You only mentioned the control journal. I'm curious as to why, when discussing usability of websites, you didn't mention anything about the Flylady website (which I find very busy and not so user-friendly). I will say, that particular point makes me curious about Clean Mama simply because I have trouble remembering where things are on the Flylady website.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Flylady does have printables and perhaps I should have provided a few examples since I do recommend Clean Mamas. I mentioned the control journal because its a high-point in FL program and mentioned Clean Mamas website because I consider it a high point of her program. I think both programs are great and I hope that's what comes through on this video. I did this video as a way to highlight the differences and provide recommendations based on personality types, not which program is "better." Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback - it will help improve future videos.

[@mimibuckles]

Thanks Stephanie! Great overview of both systems!

[@StephanieSMGH]

You are so welcome!

[@MariaSegovia]

Thank you!!! This was a great comparison and I’m enjoying your videos

[@StephanieSMGH]

I'm so glad!

[@raemills3089]

I'm a Clean Momma fan; fly lady was just too much for me to follow with

[@cameobabec968]

Just like houses, organization is key when making comparisons. A chart showing each site and the features of both would be a more efficient way of showing what each has and doesn't have to offer.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I love graphs and charts! I will definitely keep this in mind for future videos! Thank you!

[@notyourpinterestmom7921]

I didn’t realize my method has basically been the clean momma method (never heard of her). I use a combo of that and the FlyLady system I guess! (I learned something about me watching this video lol). I’m a project manager too and very much need routines and structure to thrive. I just had my first baby 2 weeks ago so I’m going to be using this combo method to start getting back into things before my maternity leave ends. I’m going to document it on my new channel. I believe being organized and productive is a form of self care. Excited I stumbled upon your channel. I’m going to check out your other videos ❤️

[@vickizsecrets]

Flylady all the way! Check out Diane in Denmark on KZbin. She’s a former flylady coach.

[@elenamarco4785]

I follow clean mama and I believe flyy lady should get updated. However, Fly Lady has been doing this for over 15 years, way before social media frenzy and cute home accounts and quick cleaning hacks. She refers to her predecessors S.H.E. (stay at home executives). 15 years ago when I moved into my first house, I learnt how to organize my cleaning and not be overwhelmed, her emails, her book and her site taught me alot. At the the time I paired fly lady with organizedhome.com who had the best free organizing printables (I still use many). I owe them.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Elena Marco I feel like FlyLady have a lot of ladies there start! I learned from How Jenn Does It and she learned from FLylady! A giant circle of life, if you ask me!

[@debbylynch7450]

SHE actually stands for Sidetracked Home Executives. Because FlyLady knows that is a lot of our problem, she keeps the mission times short so we will stay with it until they're done. And it's always amazing to see how much you get done in a short time!

[@FollowingAmanda]

I’m still trying to find the ideal cleaning schedule. I’ve tried fly lady for some time and I’m on a Flylady group on FB but I see that people are constantly falling off the routine and always starting over. It doesn’t appear to have worked long term for anyone. I also watch The Secret Slob here on YT and she’s really fun and I’m sure just trying her best like the rest of us but constantly her house looks chaotic with stuff and she too seems to start over regularly. She gives advice about staying organised and yet never seems to be organised herself. I haven’t tried Clean Mama but I might check it out especially with having little humans, being a student and soon to be a working mom.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I posted a slimmed-down Flylady video that might be beneficial if Clean Mama doesn't work out and you'd like to give FL another go. That being said, with your schedule and desire for a routine Clean Mama is right up your alley. Keep me posted. I'd love to hear your thoughts once you've tried it!

[@alejandrapaz1976]

I don't understand when we do the monthly tasks on the flylady method

[@StephanieSMGH]

Do you mean the monthly habits? Or something else?

[@PHDinMeTV]

I had never heard👂🏿 of clean mama. Thanks for sharing 🌸

[@StephanieSMGH]

My pleasure! I hope you got something out of it!

[@twitterbug9134]

Can anyone tell me who the three die-hard Flylady youtubers are that are mentioned in this video ❓

[@StephanieSMGH]

The Secret Slob, FlyLady Kat and Inspired By Nikki. How Jenn Does it also did a series on FLY that was incredibly well done. Does that help?

[@rebn8346]

Fly lady now has app for Android. There is already one for iPhone.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I actually use the iPhone one and its super helpful and motivating.

[@roxanne4534]

This was helpful to hear the differences. I've done a modified Flylady for almost 10 years and still do the zones weekly. the website is visually unappealing but still informative. i just clicked over to her YT and was mortified to see all the religious icons in her background. I'm an atheist so I find this extremely unappealing but regardless her system does work. I went to Clean mama's website and was instantly turned off by everything costs to buy. I'm sure she has some free PDFs there but I wasn't going to waste my time navagating her ads and constanlyt selling her items.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Thank you for the comment! Clean Mama has some of the best printables around ( I think!) Have you seen her Bathroom Quick Clean? It's my favorite.

[@JustScribble]

Clean Mama has amazing free printables and so many!!! I found them so easy to find and her site easy and clean for navigating.

[@MultiMischiefMaker]

I just went over to the clean mama website and it is NOT free as this video indicates. It is a monthly subscription of $15 or yealrly for $149. Flylady is actually free!!! Your video is only a month old so I believe that this is a misrepresentation of clean mama. You stated in this video that both systems are free, which is NOT the case.

[@jammieheckenberg5799]

The Clean mama does have a premium subscription which is optional & has monthly printables & a monthly focus but like fly lady, Clean Mama system is free. You can use her system without paying any money.

[@StephanieSMGH]

@@jammieheckenberg5799 Thank you, Jammie! I think this is an important distinction! That being said, I do wish I would have mentioned the upgraded membership - might have been an added benefit to others.

[@JustScribble]

You can get the entire Clean Mama system for free and like 100+ free printables on her site too. She does have a paid subscription but that’s a premium subscription and not needed at all. She offers all the guts for free which is awesome 👏🏻

[@allisonstephens8706]

FlyLadyKat and Nikki paired up. Kat spoke and then Nikki did the videos.

[@StephanieSMGH]

I had completely forgotten about that! I need to re-watch the next time I need cleaning motivation!

[@ErikaLopez-lu3gt]

Thank u for sharing!!!🥰

[@StephanieSMGH]

Erika Lopez my pleasure! I appreciate you taking the time to watch!

[@ErikaLopez-lu3gt]

No problem girl!!

[@harmony1307]

Never heard of cleanmama but will have a look. I know fly lady but HATE her website so only get info from you tube. Clean mama sounds a little like teamTom

[@StephanieSMGH]

Alice Lane I’ve only recently heard of The Organized Mum, but her method seems super helpful!

[@kpatience6977]

It’s versus not “verse”

[@StephanieSMGH]

Fair enough.

[@kryssygee4814]

😉 Comparing apples to oranges… so different and both are sweet and good for you! 👉🧠 Appeal to different sides of the brain… or even cricket vs butterfly👈

[@StephanieSMGH]

I totally agree! I hope it came across in the video that both are great programs, but fit different stages of life or cleaning preferences.

[@tzazilgamez3282]

La APP de FlyLady Plus en iOS es genial

[@margohaddad6005]

Voy a usarla, gracias :)

[@strivingforzen]

are any of these more secular/faith neutral? I liked fly lady's youtube videos but they are very christian faith based in content and that isn't compatible with our family's spirituality.

[@StephanieSMGH]

Try Clean Mama, The Organized Mum Method or An Organized Life (Instagram). You may see some faith-related content, but they stay more cleaning and organizing focused.

[@KelliK77]

@alejandratv is an awesome channel too. Zero talk of religion.

[@BastianBooks]

Great review!

[@StephanieSMGH]

Thanks!