With Thanksgiving only two days away (crazy, right??) it’s time to start getting your kitchen ready for all of the holiday fun that is coming over the next few weeks! If you are hosting a holiday meal this year (or even if you aren’t) we have some great tips to help keep your kitchen clean, clutter-free and ready for entertaining. There’s no need to get stressed out about your holiday hosting gig if you plan ahead.
Step One – Declutter
Before doing anything else, make sure you clear off all surfaces in the kitchen and surrounding living areas. Put any important items far away from the spaces where you are entertaining so they don’t get lost or damaged by accident. Don’t leave anything out on your countertops unless you will be using it during the meal. Clear away any papers, trash, and unnecessary decorations or furniture that could get in the way of your guests’ comfort or the path from the kitchen to the seating area. If you have a lot of rugs or floor mats around, consider moving those to another room to prevent your guests from tripping over them.
Step Two – Deep Clean
This is the most important part of preparing your home for guests…give everything in your kitchen a deep clean. This includes every surface and every appliance. Pay special attention to the microwave because it often gets missed, and you don’t want your guests to be embarrassed by a gross, food-splattered mess when they are trying to warm something up. As for the oven, don’t worry about running a self-cleaning cycle before the big day as it could be too stressful on the oven itself and cause it to fail. The last thing you want is for the oven to fail right after you’ve put the turkey in it!
Deep cleaning also means completely cleaning out the refrigerator. You know it’s going to be used a lot during and after the meal, so make sure you get rid of anything that doesn’t need to be in there anymore to make room for leftovers. Also, give it a good scrub down on the inside and outside after it has been cleaned out so you won’t have to do it later when you’re trying to relax.
Last but not least, make sure you clean and disinfect your trashcans to avoid any odors or bacteria from building up while your guests are using it. No one likes a smelly trashcan!
Step Three – Check all Appliances
Give all of your appliances a once-over the day before to make sure they are working properly and can handle a lot of use. Make sure your dishwasher is running correctly and can handle a large amount of dishes. Also check the burners on your stove and inside the oven to make sure they’re functioning the way they should, and check the sink for any clogs. It’s also a good idea to check any smoke detectors to make sure they are working.
Step Four – Stock the Kitchen Appropriately
Be mindful of any allergies or dietary restrictions your guests may have and stock the kitchen accordingly. Make sure there are plenty of options for everyone…this includes non-alcoholic drinks as well. Once you have all of your ingredients purchased and ready, it’s a great idea to create a cooking schedule to go along with each dish you plan to cook. This will save so much time when you are feeling like a chicken with you head cut off trying to finish everything in time. Prepping as much as you can ahead of time will save a lot of headache later as well.
Step Five – Prep Serve Ware and Decorate
To properly prep your serve ware, make sure your knives are sharpened and everything is clean. If you notice that you are missing any items that might need to be used, make note of that and pick them up before your guests arrive.
Finally, for the fun part – decorating! Set the stage by putting out festive touches all over the kitchen and dining area that won’t get in the way of cooking or eating. A nice table runner with candles, along with some festive plates or glassware, will add a finishing touch that your guests will love.
For more tips on how to keep your kitchen looking great, explore some of our other blog posts. If you are interested in having your kitchen renovated for the New Year, please don’t hesitate to give us a call today!