09 Nov Home Tip of the Week: Easy Thanksgiving Cleanup
It can be intimidating to host a big Thanksgiving meal at your home, and cooking it isn’t the only thing you have to worry about. Once the guests are gone, you may be left with a big mess to clean up. Here are a few ways you can ease the pain of the Turkey Day aftermath.
- Start fresh! Clean out the fridge and pantry beforehand to clear space for all things Thanksgiving. Empty the trash cans, then double or triple line them for quick replacement. Clear out the dishwasher, and make sure all of your dish towels are washed and ready.
- Plan a potluck. Have each guest bring a side, dessert, or drinks so there’s less for you to do!
- Streamline the menu. Focus on 3-4 dishes instead of 8-10 to cut time and mess.
- Cook in advance. Prep as many dishes as you can in the days before so you’ll only have to clean up serving and eating messes, not cooking mess.
- Make your cookware work harder. Use pans and dishes that are triple threats: ones you can cook, serve, and store food in! Also, line your pans with foil so grease and baked-on bits can simply be thrown away.
- Set up a soaking station. Get a large dish tub ready to go with soapy water so you can give everything time to soak before you start washing.
- Get out the summer cooler. Put drinks in a cooler to free up more space in the fridge. Bonus: it will also help keep guests out of the kitchen and in the dining area.
- Use a tablecloth. Not only do they add some style to your dinner table, you can easily roll them up and shake them out after guests leave to get rid of crumbs. They also help to protect your table from stains and scratches.
- Make a checklist and get everyone involved! Make a deal with your guests that if they help clean, they get to take home leftovers, and you’ll solve two problems at once. Assign tasks to each person or make an assembly line for maximum efficiency.
- Pump up the jams. Check out this playlist or create your own with some upbeat songs to liven the mood and make the chores fly by.
Put these tips to work so you can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying your company and giving thanks.
