The Best Post-Thanksgiving Clean Up Advice
Post-Thanksgiving kitchen cleanup is almost always an ordeal. Our advice makes quick work of the job, so you can spend more time with the people who matter most: your family and friends.
Prepare for the Mess
Save yourself the mammoth task of cleaning after the big event. Whether you are cooking a turkey in the oven or on the grill, there are smart ways to ensure less work after your feast. Line your turkey roasting pans with heavy-duty aluminum foil, then pour drippings into a pot to make gravy. Throw away the liner, and you won’t have to scrub the pan!
Turkey roasting in the oven? Use a “cooking bag.” Cooking outside? Use an aluminum roasting pan. They’re available in large sizes that fit turkey and other large roasts.
Plan for Dirty Dishes
We’ve all been there – overindulged on turkey and dessert, cracked open a bottle of wine, and spent hours cleaning an entire kitchen. If you can’t (or don’t want to) use disposable dishware, be prepared to wash lots of dishes. A good soaking station can make all the difference in the clean up process after a big feast. Simply fill your station with soapy water and place the dirtied dishes there for a few minutes after the food has been served off them.
Fridge Tactic
Have your family fill an empty shelf with food from Thanksgiving. When your meal is done, have everyone put leftovers there. Not only will the leftovers be easy to find, it’ll be obvious what needs to be eaten before it goes bad. The next week, clean out the shelf and turn the leftovers into soup.
Managing Waste
One of the biggest waste management problems on Thanksgiving is that people throw things away without emptying their cans. If you’re hosting a big meal, it’s important to not run out of space in your trash can, so be sure to empty it often. If the family gathering is large, you may want to have extra trash cans and bags available.
The holiday season is great for spending time with family and loved ones, but that means a lot of messes to clean up. Preparation is the key to a successful Thanksgiving Day.
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