It’s that time of year again! Yes, you guessed it: it’s time for the annual Thanksgiving pre-game house cleanup!
The holidays are looming on the horizon, beginning with the traditional turkey day kickoff, and you’re probably wondering how on earth you’ll ever get everything done. Rest easy, there’s still plenty of time to get your house in order.
Here’s a motivator to spur you into action: when you get the housework done ahead of time, that’ll leave some wiggle room to accommodate any culinary misadventures that might derail your holiday timetable.
Considering that Thanksgiving is the ultimate food holiday, the gastronomic Superbowl of the whole year, it’s crucial to get it right!
So, get moving!
The first step is always making a plan. Set goals. Consider what needs to be done and how you will get it all accomplished.
For example, are out-of-town guests coming to stay with you? If you answered yes, where will they sleep? Does that area need attention, from a simple spruce up to a major overhaul? This would be a logical place to begin right now, since you’re three weeks out.
If we’re talking major overhaul, start purging and organizing. See my blog posts on same for some guidance. In a nutshell, get rid of anything you’re not using and find a home for anything you use regularly.
If your guest room is also your storage room and you’ve got what seems like a huge project ahead of you, make reservations for your guests at a local B&B and close the door. Ha! Just kidding! You can fix it, and it’ll be amazing when you’re done. Truly it’s an easier job than you think.
Nine times out of ten, a big pile of stuff can very easily be re-structured into a very small space, you just have to get serious about eliminating things you don’t use. I can’t emphasize that enough. Don’t hang onto things you don’t need!
Moving on…
At this stage of the game, there’s still time to take your time (quickly) getting some deep cleaning done. This means tackling tasks that don’t routinely get done.
Go through your home with a tall dusting tool, getting into high corners, dusting ceilings & ceiling fans, valances, picture frames, window grates and ledges, and any horizontal surfaces you don’t routinely do. Dust lampshades, blinds, curtains.
Vacuum upholstered furniture and underneath, clean in corners, vacuum the back side of area rugs and the floor underneath, and take a good look around for other areas you don’t usually clean that could use attention now. Check my blog post on the subject for ideas. Don’t forget to give bathrooms a good scrub down.
As the big day draws closer, your cleaning field should begin to shrink. Start focusing on living areas used every day. De-clutter, organize, and generally tidy up. Get these areas into a condition such that a quick once-over just prior to Thanksgiving Day will do the trick.
The kitchen should be the last area to get a good cleaning. Leaving the kitchen until last (hopefully) ensures there won’t be enough time to for it get too messed up before Thanksgiving food prep begins. Simple clean as you go techniques such as wiping down appliances and countertops daily and cleaning up spills immediately after they happen should keep your kitchen in tip-top shape.
And there you have it. Simply tighten up this guide into a schedule that meets your specific needs and you’ll be on track to get your Thanksgiving cooking done on time, leaving you free on the big day to enjoy your friends, family, and football!
Want more organizing and house cleaning tips and ideas? Check out my author page. My books include De-Clutter and Organize Your Home in 7 Simple Steps, Clean Like A Pro: Tips and Techniques for Cleaning Your Home Like a Seasoned Professional, and How to Become a Cleaning Pro: the Ultimate Guide to Starting and Operating Your Own House Cleaning Service.
