Hosting Thanksgiving gatherings can become so stressful that we forget what we are thankful for! However, you can plan a cozy and clean Thanksgiving dinner without the mess and stress using these tips from our house cleaning services professionals.
House Cleaning Services Tip: Start Smart With an Entry Space Decluttering
A big point of stress is not having room for everyone’s coats and shoes. Instead of stressing out about not having enough room on the day of the big event, start paying attention to the level of clutter in your home a few weeks in advance. Look for ways to create more space in your entryway, so that guests aren’t tripping over shoes and backpacks. Instead of just tossing everything in a bedroom, think of cheap and easy permanent solutions that help eliminate the problem for good:
- Check your front hall closet and toss out anything that hasn’t been worn in years.
- Consider installing a hook for each family member to hang their coats and backpacks.
- If space allows, consider adding a coat rack or more hooks to allow guests to hang their coats as they arrive.
- Add a boot tray and an indoor/outdoor mat in case it’s raining.
- Organize shoes with a shoe shelf if space allows.
House Cleaning Services Tip: Continue the Decluttering With Kitchen Cleaning
Another stressful situation when entertaining is not having a place for guests’ potluck dishes. Even if you’re doing the entire meal on your own (kudos for your initiative!), big gatherings call for a major counter and fridge decluttering to make room for your supplies, drinks, and space for meal prep:
- Throw out anything in the fridge past its best-before date.
- Organize your fridge to free up an entire shelf if possible.
- Avoid asking guests to bring food that requires refrigeration, such as salads or creamy desserts.
- Clear away unnecessary items on your counters.
- Consider investing in a rollaway kitchen island if space allows.
- Consider using a big cooler with ice for drinks to free up fridge space and make it easier for guests to help themselves.
Kitchen Cleaning Miss: Don’t Forget the Dishtowels!
Nothing is more embarrassing when hosting a dinner party than having a guest find a stinky, wet dishtowel when helping to clean up. Have a supply of clean dishtowels, rags, and sponges, allowing kitchen cleaning volunteers to have the tools they need. You can also stock up on paper towels and garbage bags while you’re at it!
House Cleaning Services Tip: Bathroom Cleaning “As You Go”
An easy way to maintain a clean bathroom in the week leading up to the big day is to adopt a clean-as-you-go policy. Make sure everyone is pitching in to keep your bathroom(s) clean so you don’t face a horrid mess on Thanksgiving Day. Some easy tips include the following:
- Put a container of wipes on the bathroom counter for people to quickly wipe up messes.
- Remind people to give the toilet a quick swirl with the brush after particularly messy “events.”
- Spritz the shower with a refreshing bathroom cleaning spray after each use to keep it smelling fresh.
- Use a shower squeegee to remove water and soap scum after each shower, especially on glass shower walls and doors.
House Cleaning Services Tip: Organize Your Garbage
This might sound like an odd suggestion, but big celebrations tend to produce large amounts of garbage. Have everything set for easy sorting with your compost, paper waste, recyclables, and general garbage designated to specific containers.
By organizing your garbage, you can manage basic tasks like clearing plates and tossing empty bottles and cans, disposing of paper napkins and packaging, etc., to keep the mess to a minimum.
House Cleaning Services Tip: Floor Cleaning With a Wet Mop
Floor cleaning before, during, and after the dinner is far easier with a handy wet mop. Spills are bound to happen, and you can be ready to quickly clean them up with a quick squirt and swipe of the wet mop. Acting fast when the spills occur also reduces work post-party while avoiding stains.
House Cleaning Services Tip: Be Stain-Ready
Use a stain-removal kit to reduce the anxiety of your home being destroyed by guests who have had a few too many. You can act quickly to remove stains on your white couch, area rugs, and best linens with the following tools on the ready:
- Stain-removing pens
- Wipes
- A small brush
- Clean cloths
- A spray bottle with water and a few drops of dish soap
Remember to blot instead of aggressively rubbing when dealing with spills on carpets and furniture. Also, never use steaming hot water, as it will set the stain into the fabric permanently.
House Cleaning Services Tip: Organize the Dinner Setup
It helps to have delegated areas to keep things organized. You will need the following:
- A prep station with all your serving dishes and utensils ready to go when dinner is ready.
- A buffet area with plates and utensils, or a set table for a family-style dinner.
- A beverage station near the fridge or cooler with water, drink mix/non-alcoholic beverages, alcohol, and glasses.
- An area to lay out things like appetizers, where people can help themselves.
- A drop zone for dirty dishes to reduce kitchen clutter.
House Cleaning Services Tip: Have Help
Enlist at least one guest or family member to help keep the kitchen and house clean throughout the evening. For example, someone can be in charge of rinsing dishes, filling the dishwasher, and turning it on while another person might be on clutter duty, helping to clear away deserted glasses and plates, napkins, and general mess.
Enlist Professional House Cleaning Services
Of course, the easiest way to reduce mess stress is to enlist a professional house cleaning service to help. Professional cleaners can do a deep clean before the dinner, help with post-cleanup, or both, so you can enjoy all the wonderful people you are grateful to have in your life!
Maid4Condos can handle the pre- and post-feast cleanup so you can focus on hosting. For more information about our house cleaning services, call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.
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