Welcome to Week 6 of The Deep Clean Challenge
Today, we’re diving into the dining room, a space that often serves as the heart of the home. In this week’s challenge, we’ll not only tidy up but also create an inviting area where you can enjoy meals with family and friends.
How Does The Deep Clean Challenge Work?
Each week, we announce a new cleaning challenge on our Facebook page every Wednesday morning. This gives you ample time to strategize and gather any necessary tools or supplies you may not already have. When Saturday arrives, you’ll be ready to tackle the task at hand. (If Saturday isn’t ideal for you, feel free to choose a day that suits your schedule better. We understand the demands of shift work!)
So far, we have:
- Cleared Clutter
- Cleaned the Kitchen
- Cleaned the Bedroom
- Scrubbed the Bathroom
- Cleaned the Living Room
If you’ve been with us from the start, have you noticed any progress? How does it feel? Is the printable weekly chore schedule helping you stay organized? Is it manageable for you?
What Is the Focus of This Week’s Challenge?
For simplicity, we will refer to the area we’re cleaning this week as the dining room. However, we recognize that not every home designates a specific area for dining. In some cases, it may be more of an idea, especially in studio apartments or homes with open floor plans.
Why Are We Cleaning the Dining Room?
The objective today is to refresh the space that holds your table and chairs. If you don’t have a conventional dining area, focus on the spot where you enjoy most of your meals—whether that’s at a desk, on the couch, or even in your car. We all adapt to our circumstances, and it’s essential to create a pleasant eating environment.
Life can be hectic, and we shouldn’t feel guilt or shame about how or where we eat. Finding peace in our mealtime matters, and we can create that space for ourselves, even amidst chaos at home. We understand that external factors can disrupt mealtime tranquility, such as work, children, pets, or other family members. Our aim is to help you take control of your environment where you can.
What Tools Will We Need to Clean the Dining Room?
- A vacuum with a soft bristle attachment and an edge tool, especially if you have carpeting
- Window cleaner and paper towels or old newspapers
- If you have wood furniture, polish and a suitable applicator (like a rag) or possibly paste wax
- A sturdy stepladder or chair
- A spare sheet to catch dust
- A screwdriver—maybe
- Appropriate floor cleaner for tile or hardwood
- A diluted degreaser
- A mask—because it’s going to get dusty!
What Will We Clean in the Dining Room?
Our focus will be on eliminating clutter, as well as cleaning the fan and light fixtures, windows and coverings, walls, furniture, and floors.
How Do We Get Started with This Week’s Challenge?
Dining rooms can often become cluttered with various items—piles of mail, papers needing to be filed, and other miscellaneous items that tend to accumulate on surfaces we call tables. Tackling these items can distract us from our primary goal of cleaning the dining room.
Before we jump in, take a moment to devise a plan. Will you address these items as you clean, or will you set aside time later to sort through them? Will you quickly sort (trash, keep, donate) or stash them away for a later date? There’s no right or wrong answer here; it’s important to know how you will stay focused during your cleaning session.
While you’re planning, remember that you can use timers to help keep you on track. Set a specific amount of time for sorting through paperwork and digital clutter before you dive back into cleaning. You can always come back around for another deep clean later!
Have you chosen your strategy? Great! Make sure you have an accountability partner in mind, and perhaps some podcasts or music ready to accompany you.
How Long Should Cleaning the Dining Room Take?
Ah, the classic question! The answer is: it varies. For this challenge, aim for no more than two hours. Make sure to take breaks and enjoy some fresh air afterwards! The duration largely depends on how much clutter you have. If you don’t have much to tackle, you’ll finish quickly. For those with more extensive cleaning to do, it may take a bit longer.
Let’s Get Started with Cleaning the Dining Room
Before we begin our usual top-to-bottom, left-to-right, dry-to-wet cleaning routine, let’s first clear off all the surfaces. Use the strategy you devised earlier and remove everything from your table, chairs, and any other flat surfaces. We’ll pause here while you do that.
Clean the Fan and Light Fixture(s)
Start by draping your sheet under the light fixture or fan to catch any dust. Then, clean the fan blades and the light fixture itself. Consider watching this inspiring video by Dr. Bertice Berry, who beautifully illustrates how dust accumulates over time and can dim the light in our homes. Take a moment to appreciate the brightness once you’re done!
Knock Down Cobwebs and Clean the Walls
Begin with a quick dusting, then examine the walls closely. If your household consists solely of adults, the walls might not require much attention. However, if you have young children, you may need to address smudges and food splatters. Be cautious if your walls are painted with flat paint, as it can be more challenging to clean.
Clean Curtains or Window Coverings
Decide whether you’ll remove the curtains/drapes for cleaning or simply vacuum them. Now is the perfect time to wash the windows too. Don’t forget to get into those nooks and crannies!
Dust and Polish Any Tall Furniture
Next up, take a look at any tall furniture in your dining room, such as china cabinets, shelving units, or bookcases. Dust them thoroughly and polish if necessary, moving from left to right to maintain focus.
Clean the Table and Chairs
Cleaning your dining table and chairs can be a more involved process. We have a specialized post on how to tackle a grimy table, as well as tips for removing milk splatters. Use the soft bristle attachment on your vacuum to remove most crumbs from dining chairs, and consider using canned air for any remaining debris. A toothpick can help you reach those stubborn bits that refuse to budge. Cleaning can be a bit of a chore, but it will be worth it!
Clean, Dust, and Polish Low Furniture
If you have buffets or other low furniture in your dining room, now is the time to give them a thorough cleaning.
Baseboards and Flooring
Now we arrive at the part everyone loves: the baseboards and flooring! Work your way around the dining room, using the soft bristle attachment on your vacuum. If your room is carpeted, switch to the crevice tool for the baseboards. If they’re particularly dirty, a diluted degreaser will do the trick, or you can use diluted powdered Tide if your baseboards are white. For wood baseboards, stick to the degreaser.
Once the baseboards are done, it’s time to clean the floors according to what you have. If you have carpet, vacuum it thoroughly. For wood, tile, or linoleum, give it a good mop—just remember to use a damp mop on hardwood!
Put Away Your Tools and Celebrate Your Accomplishment!
Congratulations on completing this week’s challenge! Take a moment to put away your cleaning tools and appreciate the transformation in your dining room. You’ve earned it!