Thanksgiving week is upon us, a time to gather with family and friends and give thanks for our blessings this year. Organizing your family celebration can be stressful under the best of circumstances, so it’s always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to calm yourself down. Even if you’re going to be a guest at someone else’s feast, making your home more welcoming can help you feel grateful once you get home and sink into that post-feast food-induced coma.
As you do your last-minute shopping, meal prep, and cleanup, consider these tips to help make your celebrations feel even more festive.
1. Tidy up, sweep and remove cobwebs from your porch and rake those leaves. Nothing says “welcome” like a clean and tidy front porch. This time of year, however, you are also likely to have leaves all over the place. Wet sheets are not only difficult to clean, but also slippery. For your safety (and that of your guests), sweep up fallen leaves as soon as they begin to accumulate. You’ll appreciate how much better your driveway looks and you won’t have to worry about slipping.
2. Fix that little thing that drives you crazy. Do you have a slowly dripping sink? What about that toilet that starts running in the middle of the night? Maybe you have photos that you wanted to post, but never realized.
Set aside a few minutes and go through your house, looking for those little things that you have been avoiding. Imagine how wonderful it will feel when you no longer have to “meant to do that”!
3. Clean the gaskets on your refrigerator. A staggering amount of energy leaks from these joints if they are not clean. Have you ever “thought” that you closed the door, only to turn around to see that it’s still ajar? Cleaning those joints can help with that too. Considering how many times you’ll be going in and out of your fridge this week, making sure you have a clean, airtight seal will save energy and hassle.
4. Give your hardwood floors a little Thanksgiving treat. Sweeping and using regular household cleaners can scratch, dull, and damage your hardwood floor. Regular cleaning should include a mop or vacuum (not a broom!). For a deeper clean, use a liquid cleaner made specifically for hardwood floors. If your floor still looks dull or damaged afterward, consider hiring a professional to polish and wax it.
5. Prepare for spills. A spill at your Thanksgiving festivities won’t seem like a big deal if you’re prepared. Assemble an emergency spill kit. Here are some ideas:
- Extra Absorbent Paper Towels – If you don’t usually buy them, treat yourself this week. You’ll notice the difference when Uncle Ted spills his soda or you have to soak up spilled sauce.
- Pick up some Scotch Guard “Wine Away.” This is a must if you are serving red. It’s funny how often, after a wine spill, all the guests have their own “thing they heard works on wine stains” that they think you should try. “Wine Away” is inexpensive and will save you the hassle of participating in a group science experiment.
- Baking soda or cornstarch can help remove sauce stains from your carpet.
- A brown paper bag and a hot iron will lift the candle wax from the fabric and carpet.
We hope these tips help you make the most of this vacation week.
In conclusion, we would like to say that we are thankful for you! Your support and trust mean a lot and we really appreciate your business. We wish you and your loved ones a safe, happy (and delicious) Thanksgiving!