Thanksgiving Cleaning Checklist: Get Your Home Ready for Guests

Most people try to clean the whole house the night before Thanksgiving. Then they are worn out before the turkey even goes in the oven.

There is an easier way. Do the big jobs early, a little at a time. By Wednesday, all you need is a quick one hour reset. This is the same order I use when I get a home ready for the holidays.

The two week plan at a glance

Print this or save it to your phone. Then follow the details below.

What guests notice first

Guests do not open your closets. They use a few rooms, and they notice those rooms a lot. Put your time here first.

• The guest bathroom. Every guest uses it. Sink, toilet, mirror, floor, a clean hand towel, full soap, and extra toilet paper where people can see it.
• The entryway. It is the first thing people see. A clean floor, a mat, and a place for coats.
• The kitchen. Everyone ends up in the kitchen. Counters, sink, stovetop, and the fridge handle.
• The dining table and chairs. Wipe the chair seats and legs, not just the table.
• Smells. The trash can, the garbage disposal, and the litter box if you have cats.

Two weeks before

These are the big jobs. They take the most time, so get them done early.

1. Clean the oven. Spills on the bottom of the oven will smoke when you preheat for the turkey. Cleaning it now means any smoke or cleaner smell is long gone by the big day.
2. Clean out the fridge and freezer. Toss old food, wipe the shelves and drawers, and make room for the turkey, the sides, and the leftovers.
3. Check your table linens. Pull out the tablecloth and cloth napkins. If last year left a stain, you still have time to treat it and wash it.
4. Wash the serving dishes. Platters, gravy boats, and the roasting pan have been sitting in a cabinet all year. Wash them now.
5. Dust the dining room. The light over the table, the tops of picture frames, the china cabinet glass, and the chair rails.
6. Plan where coats will go. Clear part of a closet or set up a rack by the door.

One week before

1. Get the guest room ready. Wash the sheets, dust the nightstands, vacuum under the bed, and empty a drawer and some closet space for a suitcase.
2. Clean every bathroom guests might use. If anyone is staying over, include the tub and shower.
3. Do the floors. Vacuum and mop the whole main floor. Wash or shake out the entry rugs.
4. Wipe the glass. Patio doors, storm doors, and any glass people will walk past. Fingerprints show up in the afternoon sun.
5. Vacuum the couch. Take off the cushions and get the crumbs underneath.
6. Stock up. Paper towels, trash bags, dish soap, hand soap, toilet paper, foil, and containers for leftovers.

If the house has not had a good clean in a while, this is the week to do a deeper job. My deep cleaning checklist covers the spots a quick clean skips.

Two days before

• Clear the kitchen counters. Put away any small appliances you will not use, so you have room to cook.
• Empty the dishwasher and run it, so you start the week with clean dishes.
• Take out the trash and recycling.
• Give the guest bathroom a quick wipe.
• Set the table if you can. It is one less thing to do on Thursday.

The day before: a one hour reset

If you followed the plan, Wednesday is easy. Set a timer and work through this list.

That is it. Then go cook your pies.

Thanksgiving morning

• Empty the dishwasher before you start cooking. This one step saves the day. Dirty dishes go straight in, not into a pile in the sink.
• Fill one side of the sink with hot soapy water. Drop in tools and pans as you finish with them.
• Put a spare trash bag in the bottom of the can. When the bag fills up, the next one is right there.
• Wipe as you go. A quick wipe of the counter between dishes beats scrubbing dried gravy later.
• Give the guest bathroom a last check right before people arrive.

After dinner: cleanup that does not ruin your night

• Get leftovers into the fridge within two hours. That is the food safety rule, and it also clears the counters fast.
• Do not pour turkey fat or grease down the sink. Let it cool, pour it into a can or jar, and throw it away. Grease clogs drains.
• Soak the roasting pan. Fill it with hot water and dish soap and let it sit overnight. It will be much easier in the morning.
• Treat food stains on the tablecloth right away. Scrape off what you can, rinse from the back with cold water, and wash it soon. Do not put it in the dryer until the stain is gone, because heat sets stains.
• Blot spills on carpet. Do not rub. Rubbing spreads the stain. Blot with a clean cloth and cold water. Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
• Say yes when guests offer to help. Give someone the drying towel.

The weekend after

• Wash the tablecloth and napkins, and make sure stains are out before you store them
• Put the serving dishes and roasting pan away clean
• Wipe the fridge shelves once the leftovers are gone
• Vacuum and mop the floors that saw the most traffic
• Strip and wash the guest bed

Christmas is about four weeks after Thanksgiving. A home that gets put back together this weekend is a lot easier to get ready again in December.

Doing it yourself vs getting help

Everything on this list is doable on your own. Print it, follow the plan, and enjoy the day.

If hosting is a lot this year, I can help. I offer one time house cleaning in New Lenox and nine nearby towns. Book it for the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, so the house is fresh and you still have time to cook. Holiday weeks fill up fast, so call or text me early for a free walkthrough.

If it has been a while since the last good clean, a deep clean earlier in November is the better choice. And if you want the house to stay that way through winter, ask me about weekly and biweekly cleaning.

Have not done your fall cleaning yet? Start with my fall cleaning checklist, then come back to this one.