2 Weeks: The Dining Room

Okay, I admit it.  My dining room is...ahem, disgusting.  I mean, from a distance, it looks just fine, but when you get up close....eeeeewwwww!

I have 4 kids, I suppose it's inevitable that my dining room gets nasty right, along with every other place in my house.  So, today, it's time to clean the dining room.  In my home, the dining room flows right from the entryway and living room, so it's one of the first things you see when you walk in my front door.

The tricky part of my dining room is that it also doubles as a photography studio, so I have got to keep it clean.  Let's roll up our sleeves and get started.  Here's a list of supplies you might find helpful for this project:

Bucket of Hot water
Liquid Castile Soap
Small Rag
Broom and Dustpan or Vacuum

I don't have much in my dining room, so I will mostly be focusing on the table and chairs and the flooring.  First thing, clean your table and chairs...really well.

I have grime smooshed into all the crevices of my chairs, there's stuff stuck to the underside of my table, the cracks in my table probably have dried milk in between them.  Yuck!  So, let's start with the table and chairs.  Grab your rag and bucket of HOT water.  Dunk your rag, then ring it out well, and scrub the crevices and cracks and all the in between places on your table and chairs.  If your table comes apart to add a leaf, pull it apart and wash in between the sections.  Scrub the splattered milk off the legs and the spaghetti sauce off the underside of the chairs and table, then put everything back together.

When your table is clean, move on to the floor.  I am using the same bucket of hot water and just adding a couple squirts of soap to it.  Sweep all the yuck up off the floor, then scrub like crazy, until your floors positively gleam.  If you've got carpet (I wanna know who thought carpet in a dining room was a good idea) bust out the vacuum, suck all the loose stuff up, then grab your favorite carpet cleaning spray or foam and spot treat that stain that's been driving you crazy.

Once your floor is clean, put together a centerpiece for your table that breathes a little life into your space.  Now, if you've got a buffet or hutch, dust it and clean off any clutter that's accumulated.

Your dining room is an extension of the heart of your home, it should feel comfortable and look beautiful, and you should want to spend time with your family there.  With this cleaning project, hopefully you'll again learn to love your dining room and be able to use it to it's full potential.

Good Luck!

Kristin