6 Do’s and Don’ts for your Thanksgiving Preparations
Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away! If you haven’t started yet, now is a good time to start your holiday preparations. We’re sure you know all about how to plan your meal ahead of time, get your decorations put up, and clean your house from top to bottom. But what about the other home maintenance tasks that fall through the cracks? Read on for our 6 Do’s and Don’ts for your Thanksgiving preparations.
Do Check Your Fridge
Let’s face it, the food is the centerpiece for Thanksgiving, which means your fridge must work overtime to keep up with all your cooking. Before you start prepping your pies and mashing your potatoes, make sure you’ve cleared out enough space to fit all your leftovers. You should also check your water filter. If it’s been a while since you checked your filter, there’s a good chance contaminants have had time to build up. Change your filter out for a new one so your water is fresh and clean for your guests. After the Thanksgiving feast is over, make sure you’re not blocking any of your fridge vents with leftovers. You don’t want any temperature issues to pop up at a time you need your fridge working seamlessly.
Don’t put grease down the drain
The grease from your cooking, even just a little bit, will harden and eventually clog your pipes. To avoid any plumbing related disasters this Thanksgiving, wait for the grease to cool before throwing it in the trash instead.
Do inspect your HVAC unit
You should check your HVAC unit regularly to avoid any major mishaps but with Thanksgiving coming up, this routine check is even more important. With so many people in the house and the oven working overtime, you don’t want to try turning on your AC unit only to find out it’s not working. Schedule an appointment with a trusted service team to avoid any surprises on the holiday itself.
Don’t clean your oven
Yes, you read that right. An oven’s self-cleaning cycle puts a lot of stress on it which could possibly cause it to fail. It’s a good idea to clean the top of the oven around the elements but leave the rest until after the holiday.
Do have your vacuum and mop at the ready
With a house full of people and little ones running around, spills are much more likely to happen on Thanksgiving. To get any messes taken care of quickly and easily, clean out your vacuum’s container or bag and install a fresh head on your mop.
Don’t forget to check outside
Daylight Savings Time is firmly in effect which means our days are getting darker earlier and earlier. Your guests need to leave safely on Thanksgiving night, so make sure you check that your entryways and outdoor paths are well-lit. Replace any burned out bulbs you find or even install some small solar powered lights along your driveway. You should also clear any obstructions in the pathways that your guests might not see at night. Remove branches and large rocks from high traffic areas. Use double-sided tape to stick down welcome mats. If the weather gets even colder, you should also de-ice your home’s driveway and pathways.
We hope these tips will help you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!