Thanksgiving is the season for sharing what you’re grateful for with your loved ones. Also not only does Thanksgiving require hours of cooking, you have to clean the house for guests too! You’ll be too busy to clean every corner, closet, and bedroom. Plan ahead and tackle big projects first, then focus on cleaning the rooms that your guests are going to see and spend time in. Here is our thanksgiving cleaning checklist:
Two Weeks Ahead: Tackle any organizational tasks or things that will stay relatively clean for 2 weeks
Clean the refrigerator to make room for Thanksgiving food. Be ruthless! You’ll need the space.
Clean out a coat closet if you plan on hanging guest’s coats there
Do any outdoor chores: raking leaves, etc.
Wash any serving dishes or utensils that haven’t don’t get used regularly
If you are using special china or glassware, wash and polish
If you have any cluttered areas you don’t want guests to see, organize them now
One-Week Ahead: This is the time to do a really deep cleaning so that the house will be just need a quick touchup the day before
Thoroughly dust, paying extra attention to window sills and other places guests might lean and talk
Vacuum, and sweep: See our Floor Cleaning Guide for help
Use a brush attachment on the sofa and other upholstered furniture. Have a microfiber couch? Clean it up.
Clean windows in dinning room, kitchen, living room and any glass in the front door
Wash and iron any tablecloths and napkins that have been stored for a while
Deep clean bathrooms guests will be using- sink, toilet, shower, tub, mirrors, and floors. Don’t forget to dust!
Thoroughly clean the oven and stovetop and exhaust fan- you’ll want to have a clean range for all the cooking you’ll be doing
The Day Before Thanksgiving: Touchup Time
Touch up the bathrooms- wipe mirrors, the top of the toilet, an the faucet
Touch up dusting, vacuuming and sweeping- it shouldn’t be too bad since you did it a week ago
Run and empty the dishwasher
Set the table- if you don’t need to use the dinner table for cooking preparation, set it the day before so it will look nice for arriving guests and you’ll have one less thing to do
Put out any candles or decorations
Thanksgiving Day:
Put out fresh towels in bathrooms
Take out the trash before guests arrive- it will be full after all the cooking
Wipe down the stove
Clear away countertops- guests congregate in the kitchen
While Thanksgiving is a lot of work, it is also very rewarding to spend time with friends and family in a festive atmosphere. Taking the time to clean ahead of time will help you enjoy the cooking and socializing without being stressed or embarrassed about your housekeeping.
Here are some great cleaning tips for green cleaning lovers.
1.) Baking Soda
This is the work horse of your home, buy in bulk for extra savings
Shower- spray walls and floor with vinegar, sprinkle with baking soda, make a paste and scrub
Toilet- Use instead of toilet specific cleaner- just pour 1 cup in bowl and start cleaning
Clean drains and unclog pipes: To keep drains running clear, simple pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain and follow with hot water. to Clear a clog: use a cup and bucket to bail any existing water out of your sink. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into drain, use a spatula to force it in there if you need to. Pour 1cup vinegar down the drain and quickly cover the drain with a drain cover to force the vinegar and baking side to the clog. Hold it in place until the fizzing stops. Uncover and flush drain with boiling water.
Soak pots and pans with burned on food in baking soda in water to make scrubbing easier
2.) Vinegar
Dishwasher- Add 1/2 cup to the dishwasher and run it empty to keep it fresh and clean
Showerheads- Grungy shower head? Pour vinegar into a plastic bag, secure it to the neck of the shower head and leave it overnight. Rinse clean in the morning.
Windows- Mix equal parts of white distilled vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth.
