Top Tips to Prepare Your Home for Thanksgiving
As hard as it is to believe, Thanksgiving is just three weeks away. If you are planning to host a Thanksgiving gathering in your home, it’s a good time to get started on preparations so you can focus on enjoying time with loved ones when Thanksgiving Day finally arrives.
If you haven’t done a deep cleaning of your home lately, this is the perfect opportunity. For maximum curb appeal when guests arrive, carve out some time to tackle these outdoor projects that will help make your home shine for Thanksgiving - and Christmas.
- Power wash the driveway and paved sidewalk or path that leads to your front door, in addition to your front entry porch area.
- Wipe down the front door, including glass, with mild soap and water and a gentle sponge. Rinse off with a hose on a low pressure setting. A pressure washer is highly discouraged for this step, as it could damage the finish on your door.
- Keep up with raking or blowing the leaves between now and Thanksgiving so you don't have a massive pile-up right before the holiday.
- Remove any dead plant material that succumbed to the drought over the summer. Before replanting, carefully consider the varieties you wish to plant and whether fall is an optimal time to plant. With winter around the corner, some newly-planted varieties may not make it through extreme cold temperatures and need more time to get established.
- If your trees are overgrown, this is a great time to have them trimmed so that guests can easily see your home from the street upon arrival.
- Consider planting some seasonal flowers like mums, dusty miller, crotons and pennisetum for a beautiful pop of color in your front yard. If you like to plant seasonal flowers in designated pots, consider a vibrant addition of creeping Jenny to cascade down the sides of your pots.
- Place a fall wreath on your front door.
- Refresh your front door mat with a new one if needed.
As for the inside of the home, consider hiring a professional to perform a deep cleaning that will make your home gleam on Thanksgiving. Before the service, check these items off your list.
- Be sure to put away loose items around the house so the professionals can focus on cleaning instead of tidying up.
- Make a list of items you really want the crew to take care of like wiping down kitchen cabinets and hard-to-reach places, cleaning window blinds and shutters, and dusting areas and/or furniture with lots of crevices.
- Replace lightbulbs around the house, especially those that are up high or in your dining room like chandeliers.
- Consider having carpets professionally cleaned, especially if it's been a while since this has been done. For those with pets - especially geriatric pets - this is a great time to get your carpets freshened up.
- Move furniture to create better flow for guests if it feels crammed in areas like the living room or dining room.
If you are more of a do-it-yourselfer, plan out when you are able to get these items done by scheduling them on your calendar.
With a little planning, your home will be sparkling on Thanksgiving Day and without all of the stress that comes with last-minute preparations. Go the extra mile and get your menu planned out now, then begin to purchase non-perishable items at the grocery store so you have the best selection of items while they are plenty. And last, but most importantly, remember to enjoy the season and don't sweat the small stuff. If it all gets done, wonderful! And if it doesn't, that's okay, too. What matters most is being together and making memories with those you love.
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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