The best ways to prepare for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving can be a stressful time especially if hosting family or friends. The key is to prepare beforehand for this joyful time. Most people are thinking about what things to cook and dishes to serve them on while cleaning the house gets left out of mind until you remember while in the middle of cooking. So, this year let’s think clean first and then worry about the food.

Break the cleaning up into chunks over a three day period before the guests arrive. This will make it easier to achieve and it is much less stressful.

• Start with the most visited common areas. Put items away that you would typically not have in these areas. The easiest thing to do would be to carry a clothes hamper or box around and put all of these items in it. Then put them up in the appropriate place.

• Vacuum or sweep and mop all corners of the room where dust tends to gather. Move furniture to get the places that are typically left out.

• Dust off the furniture and bookcases. Dust off the fan blades. Dust off the air vents. Don’t forget to clean the dust off of your blinds.

• Repeat these steps in the rest of the rooms until all rooms have been cleaned.

• Move on to the bathrooms by starting with scrubbing the toilet with a brush and cleaner.

• Wash and place clean hand towels up to be used during the gathering.

• Clean the mirrors and refill the soap if needed.

• Scrub down the shower and tub for overnight guests.

• Organize any other items on counters or shelves. Take out medicine that may be in reach of small children.

• Lastly, let’s clean the out the fridge before visiting the grocery store.

• Throw out old items and make room for food that you are about to buy.

• Wipe down shelves and drawers.

• Check to make sure ice maker is working properly. If not, don’t forget to pick up some ice.

• Now is a good time to make sure all dishes, plates, and glasses being used are clean.

• The day of arrival, sweep or vacuum the common areas one last time. Wipe down eating areas.

This may seem like a long list of things to do, but this can be very easily achieved if you start a few days ahead of time. You will enjoy the holiday much more if you do! Happy Thanksgiving!