The Complete Dining Room Cleaning Checklist

by
Updated on December 18th, 2023

Cleaning your dining room is essential to a healthy home. It’s likely where you eat most of your meals, do your homework, pay your bills, and socialize with guests – some may argue it’s one of the most frequently-used areas of the home. It’s also a space that gets dirty more quickly than others. Luckily, there are routine steps you can take to keep messes from becoming overwhelming. 

Cleaning is especially important if you live in an apartment; less space means more obvious messes. To help, follow this dining room cleaning checklist so you can breathe new life into your home, crush your cleaning goals, and eat in peace.

dining-room-cleaning-checklist-3

Begin by decluttering

Kick off your dining room cleanup by giving your table the Marie Kondo treatment – sweep away unnecessary stuff. A clutter-free canvas not only makes cleaning a breeze but also sets the stage for an exquisite dining experience. – Cleaner Vibe

How to clean a dining room table

To clean your dining room table, first, scoot out all of the chairs. Then, take a light mop and remove any dust, debris, or crumbs from the table’s surface. Once it’s ready, decide if it needs furniture polish or peroxide cleaner. If it’s natural wood, use polish; if not, use peroxide. Once the table top and legs have been cleaned, repeat the process with the chairs. Finally, vacuum, sweep, and mop underneath the table before putting the chairs back. – Tennessee Trendy Cleaning

People often forget to maintain their wooden dining room tables.A regular spray and wipe-down with a furniture polish will keep your wooden furniture looking its best for years to come. – Sparkle and Shine

Take extra care when cleaning a wood table

Generally, you can clean wood tables quickly and effectively with a wood cleaner and a clean polishing cloth. If the table is especially dirty, you can lightly wet it with warm water and wipe it down. Use this simple method as efficiently as possible and without causing allergies. The best way to clean a wooden table is to use a basic cleaner daily. If the table has a glass top, you can use a glass cleaner. – Superb Maids

Use The Simple Scrub to clean crumbs with ease 

The Simple Scrub cleans hard-to-reach places with ease. It’s ergonomically designed to glide under dining tables and between chair legs effortlessly; no back-breaking bends or squats are required. And with various multi-surface cleaning pads, you can make sure every surface – from baseboards to tabletops to ceilings – sparkles. – The Simple Scrub

Clean spills as quickly as possible

Spills happen, and when they do, channel your inner ninja. Have a spill response kit ready with cleaning supplies, and tackle those spills with lightning speed. Your secret weapon against stains? Quick action and a dash of cleaning prowess. – Custom Cleaning of the Palm Beaches

Wipe down surfaces regularly

Maintaining a spotless dining room begins with regularly wiping down your table and chairs with a microfiber cloth to prevent dust buildup and preserve their shine. This is key to keeping your dining room sparkling clean. – Cobalt Clean

Invest in quality microfiber cloths

Use microfiber cloths to wipe down surfaces, as their electrostatic properties attract and hold onto dust particles. This not only ensures a thorough clean but also reduces the need for chemical cleaners. – Cleaning Concepts

Say sayonara to boring cleaning cloths and welcome microfiber into your cleaning arsenal. These wonders not only trap dust like nobody’s business but also turn wiping surfaces into a virtually effort-free affair. – NW Maids Seattle

Use a natural, eco-friendly surface cleaner

Keep your dining room looking its best with an eco-friendly cleaning hack that’s as natural as it gets. Just mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a reusable spray bottle, and you’ve got a simple, effective, and chemical-free solution to effortlessly wipe away dirt and grime from your dining room. – Maids and Moore

Dust your chandeliers

Make your dining room feel inviting and cozy by regularly dusting your light fixtures and chandeliers. This keeps the warm glow shining throughout your room, setting the perfect mood for mealtimes. – Maid Crew

dining-room-cleaning-checklist-2

Cleaning your dining room to prepare for guests

Entertaining can be stressful, but you have one less thing to worry about when your tablecloths, table runners, cloth napkins, and placemats are clean and ready to use. You can accomplish this by washing runners and tablecloths once a month for deep cleaning and washing your placemats and cloth napkins after every use.

We recommend washing using a permanent press cycle with lukewarm water. Be sure to treat stains ahead of time for the best results. After removing your linens from the dryer, you can iron everything, so it’s ready for the next guest. To make things easier, you can also use a professional laundry service like OrangeBag. We take care of everything for you and ensure you’re always guest-ready. Now, your dining room cleaning checklist is easier to tack. – OrangeBag

Tackle your ceiling lights and fans

Two areas that people commonly miss are ceiling lights and fans. If you can safely get on a ladder, it helps aesthetics and air quality to clean these areas thoroughly. Layers of dust prevent your lights from shining as brightly as they should. To clean light fixtures properly, remove them from the lightbulb, wash them with soap and water, and then hand-dry them. You can easily clean fan blades with a damp cloth or a vacuum attachment. – Collector Care

Don’t forget to dust the light fixture over your dining table

Having good light over your dining table can enhance the beauty of your dining room. Unfortunately, lights collect dust easily. To clean the light fixture, turn it off, remove any decor under the lamp, and place a sheet over the table. If you have a low-hanging fixture, you can use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe each bulb carefully; if it isn’t within reach, you’ll need an extended duster. – House Keep Up

Clean your carpets and rugs every month

If your dining room has carpet that you haven’t cleaned in at least six months, give your local carpet cleaning experts a call. In Houston, TX, the best option is Jetty Carpet Cleaning. – Jetty Carpet Cleaning

dining-room-cleaning-checklist-1

Be sure to use eco-friendly products

The first step for dining room cleaning is to make sure you use eco-friendly products. Because it’s where you eat, avoiding any possible contact with harsh chemicals on a surface or in the air is important. Health is the number one priority. An effective DIY cleaning method is to mix lemon, vinegar, and oil mixtures. Our go-to all-purpose cleaner is safe for all surfaces. – Sparkling Clean

Jamie is part of the content marketing team and is passtionate about climate change, housing affordability, and housing market trends. His dream home is a small, modern, and minimalist forested home where he can hear the wind blowing at night.
Scroll to Top