34 Weeks of Clean 2019! Week 7- The Dining Room

OK, I am going to just jump in feet first and say it- I am so excited about this week's challenge.  Why, you ask? 

One, we are DONE with the kitchen.  Finally.  And two, because my new dining room is pretty simple.  Dining rooms tend to be areas that only get used a few times a year and otherwise go unnoticed.  This one is getting a lot more use than usual with all of our visitors, and in our case, it doubles as a school room, but that's another post!

If you have a separate eat-in area of your kitchen, include that in this week's assignment.  

Ready?




This week- The Dining Room

 Your assignment-

• Clear everything out!  That means empty drawers and clear off flat surfaces.  Once a room is fairly empty it is easier to clean.

•  Now that those furniture pieces are cleared out, time to clean them up and make them shine!  Clean top to bottom. I love to Murphy's Oil Soap a few times a year, but up to you!

• Pull all the furniture out from the walls and clean behind each piece, vacuuming or mopping, whichever is applicable.

• Now is also the time to deep clean your table and chairs.  If you have one in the kitchen, sorry, but go back and hit it, too.  Not just the top, but the legs and all.  Chairs too!  Just think about how many dirty hands touch the rungs and sides of chairs.  Ok, don't think about it- just scrub!

•  Other areas to clean- mini blinds (did I tell you I loathe mini blinds?), windows, curtains (yes, take them down and wash them), chair rails, light switches, and chandeliers.  This is the time to get it all.

• Last big area, the floor.  Just like in the kitchen, work your way around the baseboards and then on to the floor.

• So all that stuff you pulled out of the buffet and such- time to declutter!  Evaluate and purge what you do not need, then put it back, neatly please.  We are currently using this dresser as a "hutch" because my daughter doesn't want it in her bedroom.  This is actually the third house we have done this in, and it has grown on me.  Inside it are things like placemats, tablecloths, and a few silver trays I use for entertaining.  After weeding out so much last year, we can now house school supplies in the six outer drawers.  Yay me!

 A few notes, especially for those of you with formal dining rooms!


  -So here's the deal- grandma's china may be lovely but if it does not get used it is just taking up space.  If you love it and use it, keep it.  If not, give it to someone who will.  A few years ago I finally let go of one of our Christmas china sets.  Now I have only one, but someone somewhere is now enjoying the other set (I hope).  Win win!


 - Almost 25 years ago I thought it was a great idea to register for 12 wine glasses and 12 champagne glasses, along with 12 of a lot of other things I did not need or use.  Eventually I gave our movers a break and passed them on (you are welcome!).  Yes, they were pretty, no they were not necessary.  Ask yourself if everything you have you really need.


 -Yes, I admittedly own several sets of dishes.  (Although not Christmas ones anymore!)  I promise I often feed large groups at a time and I use them.  ;)  Again, if you use it, keep it.  If it is just sitting around for some day, it may be time to let it go.

 -Yes, you CAN have too many tablecloths and placemats.  Ask me how I know.  I now have a few less.  Grandma's old "antique" tablecloth was lovely, but, with a few holes in it, I was not going to use it. Sensibility trumped sentimentality.  I think she would understand.

  -If you entertain and can justify owning glass plates and a punch bowl, by all means keep them. I do.  But if not, most churches have sets like that and are usually more than happy to let you borrow theirs in a pinch.  Again, make decisions that are right for you and then be happy with those decisions.

  
Remember, our goals include deep cleaning all those surfaces, de-cluttering what we don't need or simply do not use anymore, and reorganizing.  This is what can happen when you put your mind to it-

The local Goodwill store likes us these days!

Tired yet?  Trust me, this is probably not going to be a one-day job for most of you. If you do not have a dining room at all, then make that kitchen table sparkle and reward yourself with a treat.  Chocolate works great!

6 weeks of challenges down!  How are you doing?  We love seeing all of your pictures each week and are amazed at all of the people still with us.

Blessings and happy cleaning!
 Intro Week
Week 1- Holiday Decorations
Week 2-The Pantry
Week 3-Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers   
Week 4- Fridge, Freezer and Floors
Week 5- Recipes 
Week 6- The Stove and Loose Ends

34 Weeks of Clean Rinse and Repeat- Week 7: The Dining Room

 

 OK, I am going to just jump in feet first and say it- I am so excited about this week's challenge.  Why, you ask? One, we are DONE with the kitchen.  And two, because I do not currently have a dining room.  We have had many in the past but short of being just another place to hold extra stuff, they are not a good fit for our family so I am ok with our lack of one.  Dining rooms tend to be areas that only get used a few times a year and otherwise go unnoticed.  Or get turned into a school room, but that's another post!

BUT, lest you think I got out of this week's challenge entirely, let me put your mind to rest.

I may not have a formal dining room in this house but I do have two additional storage areas- one that "should" be housed in a dining room-type space and one that happens to be a good place to hold the overflows that usually end up in our dining room.  When one moves frequently and lives in a variety of types of homes (yep that's us), one gets a little creative and has to think outside the box.

Actually, I am not particularly good at that, but luckily I have a few friends that are. So, let me show you a few of their creative solutions to my lack of a dining room while we tackle some clutter and clean those spaces.

Your to-do list -

•     Open up those buffets and such and declutter!  Start by taking it ALL out, purge what you do not need, and then put it back, neatly please.  We are currently using this dresser as a "hutch" because it will not fit in my daughter's bedroom.  This is actually the second house we have done this, and it has grown on me.  I will miss it when it someday goes back where it belongs

Inside it are things like placemats, tablecloths, and a few silver trays I use for entertaining.  One of the deep drawers is also the perfect place to store the punch bowl.  After taking out a few things to move on to Goodwill, four of those drawers are empty!  Yay me!
 

ahhhh, I love empty spaces!

 The second area we keep dining room type stuff in is in our basement wet bar area, so I cleaned it up as well.  Remember, if you have things spread out in different areas, catch them all.

 A few notes, especially for those of you with formal dining rooms!


  -So here's the deal, grandma's china may be lovely but if it does not get used it is just taking up space.  If you love it and use it, keep it.  If not, give it to someone who will.  This past year I finally let go of one of our Christmas china sets.  Now I have only one, but someone somewhere is now enjoying the other set (I hope).  Win win!


 - Almost 25 years ago I thought it was a great idea to register for 12 wine glasses and 12 champagne glasses, along with 12 of a lot of other things I did not need or use.  Eventually I gave our movers a break and passed them on (you are welcome!).  Yes, they were pretty, no they were not necessary.


 -Yes, I admittedly own several sets of dishes.  (Although not Christmas ones anymore!)  I promise I often feed large groups at a time and I use them.  ;)

 -Yes, you CAN have too many tablecloths and placemats.  Ask me how I know.  I now have a few less.  Grandma's old "antique" one was lovely, but, with a few holes in it, I was not going to use it. Sensibility trumped sentimentality.  I think she would understand.
 

 -If you entertain and can justify owning glass plates and a punchbowl, by all means keep them. I do.  But if not, most churches have sets like that and are usually more than happy to let you borrow theirs.  Again, make decisions that are right for you and then be happy with those decisions.

• Now that those furniture pieces are cleaned out, time to clean them up and make them shine!  Clean top to bottom.

• If you do have a separate dining room, pull all the furniture out from the walls and clean behind each piece, vacuuming or mopping, whichever is applicable.

•  Now is also the time to deep clean your table and chairs.  If you have one in the kitchen, sorry, but go back and hit it, too.  Not just the top, but the legs and all.  Chairs too!  Just think about how many dirty hands touch the rungs and sides of chairs.  Ok, don't think about it- just scrub! Castille soap and water are great for this job!

•  Other areas to clean- mini blinds (did I tell you I loathe mini blinds?), windows, curtains, chair rails, light switches, and chandeliers.  This is the time to get it all.

•  Last area, the floor.  Just like in the kitchen, work your way around the baseboards and then on to the floor.

Remember, our goals include deep cleaning all those surfaces, de-cluttering what we don't need or simply do not use anymore, and reorganizing.  This is what can happen when you put your mind to it-

The local Goodwill store likes us these days!

Tired yet?  Trust me, this is probably not going to be a one-day job for most of you. If you do not have a dining room at all, then make that kitchen table sparkle and reward yourself with a treat.  Chocolate works great!

6 weeks of challenges down!  How are you doing?  We love seeing all of your pictures each week and are amazed at all of the people still in the running for our prize giveaway at the end of our series.   A BIG thank you to 621 Gifts and Redeemed for supplying such great treats!!!

Wanna see another one of my favorite signs from Redeemed?

 

Beautiful, huh?

So... another week of cleaning and we are on our way to taking our homes back one week at a time!  Glad you are with us!

Blessings,

34 Weeks of Clean! Week 7- The Dining Room

OK, I am going to just jump in feet first and say it- I am so excited about this week's challenge.  Why, you ask?  One, we are DONE with the kitchen.  And two, because I do not currently have a dining room.  We have had many in the past but short of being just another place to hold extra stuff, they are not a good fit for our family so I am ok with our lack of one.  Dining rooms tend to be areas that only get used a few times a year and otherwise go unnoticed.  Or gets turned into a school room, but that's another post!

BUT, lest you think I got out of this week's challenge entirely, let me put your mind to rest.

I may not have a formal dining room in this house but I do have two additional storage pieces that "should" be housed in a dining room-type space.  When one moves frequently and lives in a variety of types of homes, one gets a little creative and has to think outside the box.

Actually, I am not particularly good at that, but luckily I have a few friends that are. So, let me show you a few of their creative solutions to my lack of a dining room while we tackle some clutter and clean those spaces.

Your to-do list -

• Open up those buffets and such and declutter!  Start by taking it all out, purge what you do not need and then put it back, neatly please.

 -Yes, those are games in my "china hutch."  That piece of furniture holds a variety of things depending on which room it is in and in which house.  Currently it is in between the kitchen and living room, hence dishes, small appliances AND games.  Go with me here.  I do need the space for both, but it for sure needed to be better thought out and decluttered.  Here is the after-

Games got moved to the bottom two shelves, dishes on one and appliances on another.  Special serving dishes are on the top shelf.

 -If you have small appliances that do not get used daily, consider keeping then somewhere other than right in the kitchen. Our ice cream maker, blender, and George Foreman do get used frequently but not daily.  They are close enough to be easy to reach but do not take up limited kitchen cabinet space.  Again, you may need to think outside the box.

  -So here's the deal, grandma's china may be lovely but if it does not get used it is just taking up space.  If you use it, keep it.  If not, give it to someone who will.

 - At one point in my life I thought it was a great idea to register for 12 wine glasses and 12 champagne glasses, along with 12 of a lot of other things I did not need or use.  Eventually I gave our movers a break and passed them on (you are welcome!).  Yes, they were pretty, no they were not necessary.

 -Yes, I admittedly own several sets of dishes.  I promise I often feed large groups at a time and I use them.  ;)

My second piece of furniture, our "buffet," is now in our living room.  And no it is not a buffet.  It is actually my oldest's dresser but since it does not currently fit in her room, we have taken the mirror off of it and placed it in the living room to pretend it is a buffet.  Inside of it are things like placemats, tablecloths, and more china.

 -Yes, you CAN have too many tablecloths and placemats.  Ask me how I know.  I now have a few less.  Grandma's old "antique" one was lovely, but, with a few holes in it, I was not going to use it. Sensibility trumped sentimentality.  I think she would understand.

 -If you entertain and can justify owning glass plates and a punchbowl, by all means keep them. I will.  But if not, most churches have sets like that and are usually more than happy to let you borrow theirs.  Again, make decisions that are right for you and then be happy with those decisions.

• Now that those furniture pieces are straight, time to make them shine!  Clean top to bottom.

• Now is also the time to deep clean your table and chairs.  If you have one in the kitchen, sorry, but go back and hit it, too.  Not just the top, but the legs and all.  Chairs too!  Just think about how many dirty hands touch the rungs and sides of chairs.  Ok, don't think about it- just scrub! Castille soap and water are great for this job!

• Other areas to clean- mini blinds (did I tell you I loathe mini blinds?), windows, curtains, chair rails, light switches, and chandeliers.  This is the time to get it all.

This is just to prove I DID do the silly mini blinds.  NO, I did not smile through most of f it! ;)

• Last area, the floor.  Just like in the kitchen, work your way around the baseboards and then on to the floor.

Tired yet?  Trust me, this is probably not going to be a one-day job for most of you. It took me two days even without a formal dining room. If you do not have a dining room at all, then make that kitchen table sparkle and reward yourself with a treat.  Chocolate works great!

And now for this week's printable from Kemi at Homemaking Organized- two table setting guides,  one casual and one more formal.  This a great reminder for those of you who have been eating in the living room a little too long or to print out for your kids so they can learn to set the table for you! ;) Thanks Kemi!

One month down of challenges down!  How are you doing?  It is time to link up and show us your clean ovens and finished kitchens!  I can't wait to see what you gotten done. 

An InLinkz Link-up

A special thank you to all who are participating with us.  Whether you are linking up, leaving pictures on our Facebook page, or just participating in the privacy of your home, we are thrilled you are with us.  This series started off as a way for our family to get motivated to take our house to a new level, but since then it has provided so much more - laughter, comradery, and new friendships most of all.  I thank you!

Until next week, blessings and happy cleaning!

Week 6- The Stove and Dreaded Loose Ends

Week 8- The Living Room