What do you do house yard kitchen to get ready

[AmyG]

So what to do you to your house before Thanksgiving
Whether house yard kitchen?

Do you decorate in or out at all?
Pumpkins outside, scarecrow, fall tablecloth and kitchen towels?

Like is it fall cleaning up in there with pantry reorg, go thru the fridge and polish the silver, oil the word furniture?

Oven cleaning and carpets shampooed?

Or like just the usual ordinary house weekly cleaning things done?

[skategirl128]

I do a whole house deep clean before thanksgiving in preparation for Christmas decorating.

I currently am decorated for thanksgiving- some turkeys, a fall tablecloth, some leaves and pumpkins out. Our bathroom kitchen towels are always themed.

So I’ll clean out the pantry (and make a list of what I need to stock for holiday baking and hosting), wipe down walls, wash curtains, declutter and other deep cleaning tasks. I treat this like I do a deep spring clean (so in my house this happens twice a year). My yard already got its fall clean up- we could have snow so that’s usually done in early October except for the leaves that we do as they fall.

I love a fresh house for the holidays. My house is small but we do a lot of hosting and our decor just makes it feel so cozy.

[roselab]

We don't host for Thanksgiving (or anything at all in Nov. actually, no family bdays or other occasions). So I decorate for 'fall' in Sept. Past years, I've swapped out some stuff for specific Halloween stuff in Oct., and then in Nov. I put that away, but this year I didn't do that at all so the fall stuff just stays.

We host several things in Dec. so then I do a deep clean either right before or after Thanksgiving before decorating for Christmas, and another deep clean before we host the big family gathering (during which I try to board my dogs, so it's honestly the cleanest my house is for the entire year). Last year the date happened to be the day after Christmas, and that was insane and I hated it, and I said we wouldn't be able to host again unless I had at least 2 days after Christmas to recover before hosting.

Since you posted though, I think a fridge/freezer/pantry clean out is in order, so I'm going to make that something I do now too.

[daisy]

I don’t do anything more than a regular cleaning. I have mums and some different pumpkins on my porch, which I leave up until Thanksgiving as long as they don’t get rotten. We usually don’t host Thanksgiving, which is really nice. So I don’t usually have to make a dinner! But this year, we are having my parents over. But also, this year, Thanksgiving is really late, and we might be out of town for part of Thanksgiving weekend. so I really just want to get my Christmas stuff up because that’s a huge job! So I think this year I’m going to put most of Christmas up the weekend before Thanksgiving, but leave my dining area with some fall/Thanksgiving stuff that I can change out after the actual Thanksgiving day. I just feel weird eating Thanksgiving dinner if my house is fully decorated for Christmas already! But timing wise, Christmas needs to get up early. It’s just too big of a job and we are too busy. the next weekend will probably be consumed with trying to get the trees and get them up.

[spicysalmonroll]

Nothing/ regular cleaning. My husband is an only child so we only host his parents. I am a clutter freak so I don't do seasonal decor (other than Christmas). I start setting aside tupperware like the deli meat containers to send his parents home with half the feast.

[angelashly]

We don’t host but I do pumpkins, fall candles, and some leaves type decor for fall leading up to thanksgiving

[angelashly]

I do a big clean right before though since we bring Christmas out and things get moved around so I take advantage of that

[sweptaway]

I tend to do more fall cleaning then spring cleaning, so I'm cleaning out closets and cabinets lately.
We decorate for Halloween, then fall, then Christmas goes up the weekend after thanksgiving. This weekend I'm swapping Halloween for fall.
We host Christmas Eve and my BIL and his wife stay with us overnight, but I don't do much extra to the house to prep. We have some big projects I was hoping to finish (repainting the upstairs hallway, replacing the gross drop ceiling in the bathroom) but it doesn't look like we'll get those all done in time.

Outside, we have to clean the gutters, cover the furniture, and put away the outside toys (balls, bikes, etc), and clean up my veggie garden and potted plants. We don't do much leaf clean up beyond a final lawn mowing- I leave the flower garden mostly as-is over the winter. It's been so warm here I haven't put away the toys and furniture yet- I usually wait until snow is predicted.

[tinyjoys]

We've hosted Thanksgiving since 2015. We did a deeper than normal, but not a DEEP clean over the weekend between hosting my sister's birthday dinner this past Sunday evening and putting my Christmas tree up on Tuesday (just lights, not ornaments yet). The weather is supposed to be nice over the weekend, so we'll do a deck clean up then, H will cut some wood for fire pits (we have a small one on the deck and a bigger one deep out in the yard) just to have on hand if needed. The weekend before Thanksgiving, we'll do the full on DEEP clean, and then I have prep things daily.

[spicysalmonroll]

Nov 7, 2024 8:59:04 GMT -6 sweptaway said:

I tend to do more fall cleaning then spring cleaning, so I'm cleaning out closets and cabinets lately.
We decorate for Halloween, then fall, then Christmas goes up the weekend after thanksgiving. This weekend I'm swapping Halloween for fall.
We host Christmas Eve and my BIL and his wife stay with us overnight, but I don't do much extra to the house to prep. We have some big projects I was hoping to finish (repainting the upstairs hallway, replacing the gross drop ceiling in the bathroom) but it doesn't look like we'll get those all done in time.

Outside, we have to clean the gutters, cover the furniture, and put away the outside toys (balls, bikes, etc), and clean up my veggie garden and potted plants. We don't do much leaf clean up beyond a final lawn mowing- I leave the flower garden mostly as-is over the winter. It's been so warm here I haven't put away the toys and furniture yet- I usually wait until snow is predicted.

speaking of veggie garden- this was my first year ever growing plants. I did a cherry tomato plant, basil, and strawberries directly in the ground. I was under the impression these would come back in the spring but now I'm reading it's likely that only the strawberry plant will come back. So like, am I supposed to do something with the dying tomato & basil plant? Do I just leave them, do I pull them out? Do I wait until spring and see what happens and then maybe replace them? I have no idea! 

[sweptaway]

Nov 7, 2024 14:39:44 GMT -6 spicysalmonroll said:

Nov 7, 2024 8:59:04 GMT -6 sweptaway said:

I tend to do more fall cleaning then spring cleaning, so I'm cleaning out closets and cabinets lately.
We decorate for Halloween, then fall, then Christmas goes up the weekend after thanksgiving. This weekend I'm swapping Halloween for fall.
We host Christmas Eve and my BIL and his wife stay with us overnight, but I don't do much extra to the house to prep. We have some big projects I was hoping to finish (repainting the upstairs hallway, replacing the gross drop ceiling in the bathroom) but it doesn't look like we'll get those all done in time.

Outside, we have to clean the gutters, cover the furniture, and put away the outside toys (balls, bikes, etc), and clean up my veggie garden and potted plants. We don't do much leaf clean up beyond a final lawn mowing- I leave the flower garden mostly as-is over the winter. It's been so warm here I haven't put away the toys and furniture yet- I usually wait until snow is predicted.

speaking of veggie garden- this was my first year ever growing plants. I did a cherry tomato plant, basil, and strawberries directly in the ground. I was under the impression these would come back in the spring but now I'm reading it's likely that only the strawberry plant will come back. So like, am I supposed to do something with the dying tomato & basil plant? Do I just leave them, do I pull them out? Do I wait until spring and see what happens and then maybe replace them? I have no idea! 

Where do you live?
If it gets cold the tomato won't come back. The basil and strawberry might. You could put the basil in a pot and bring it in, too.
If everything is healthy, when it's done producing cut the tomato back to the ground. I leave the roots to decompose in the soil put you could also pull the whole thing .
Put mulch or salt hay over the berries to keep them warm.
Harvest or pot the basil. If you want that to maybe come back, cover it too.

[AmyG]

Nov 7, 2024 17:00:51 GMT -6 sweptaway said:

Nov 7, 2024 14:39:44 GMT -6 spicysalmonroll said:

speaking of veggie garden- this was my first year ever growing plants. I did a cherry tomato plant, basil, and strawberries directly in the ground. I was under the impression these would come back in the spring but now I'm reading it's likely that only the strawberry plant will come back. So like, am I supposed to do something with the dying tomato & basil plant? Do I just leave them, do I pull them out? Do I wait until spring and see what happens and then maybe replace them? I have no idea! 

Where do you live?
If it gets cold the tomato won't come back. The basil and strawberry might. You could put the basil in a pot and bring it in, too.
If everything is healthy, when it's done producing cut the tomato back to the ground. I leave the roots to decompose in the soil put you could also pull the whole thing .
Put mulch or salt hay over the berries to keep them warm.
Harvest or pot the basil. If you want that to maybe come back, cover it too.

Yeah like if you live near me you may be able to overwinter the tomato. Ive done that by leavjng it in the ground and covering it any night that freezes. Then in spring when theres new growth i cut off anything that doesnt look right. Thats how id get early tomatoes.
but unlikely the basil even in Phoenix. You could put it in a pot on the house maybe. The strawberry well I can't grown strawberries at all. I know people cover them in straw or pine needles and they come back from roots in spring

[AmyG]

I'm reading everyone's lists which is helping me a little.
Mostly cause if you are cleaning so much then maybe I won't have to. But that's not how this all works

[AmyG]

I used to but have adjusted my lists based on what I can probably physically do without being in too much pain.

There's been years with lots of fall super cleaning, touch up paint, clean windows and curtains then carpet clean everywhere.
Cabinets and pantry reorg. Buy a new tablecloth or dish towels. Freshen up the guest bathroom and entry. Trim all the roses and things out front.

This year.... I'm working on trimming roses cause they need it. Dh will weedeat and put down some kind of mulch for their winterizing. Grass is still growing so still mowing. Planting winterish flowers around the mailbox.

Hose off front of walk and house which ends up as minimal window cleaning outside. Maybe wash dining room curtains and window.

The boys wanna eat outside if the weather is nice so we will hose off the porch and put up random yard tools and toys. Fresh dollar tree tday tablecloths for the outside tables.

Quick dust wipe polish some wood clean the mirrors. Regular bath cleaning.

Hardest is figuring out a better mattress for the let out couch for youngest son. His girlfriend says the thin mattress sucks lol.

I'll wash up some wine glasses and decide if we used the brown glass mil dishes or the dollar tree tday set dil found in an unopened box at her apt dumpster lol

I think we are using Precooked meal from food city again

[leahcar]

AmyG, if you have the storage space, I'd just buy a mattress topper for your pull out couch. Would definitely keep the price down as long as you have a way to store it. I was amazed at the difference a good topper made on my DD's crappy dorm room bed.

[spicysalmonroll]

Nov 7, 2024 17:00:51 GMT -6 sweptaway said:

Nov 7, 2024 14:39:44 GMT -6 spicysalmonroll said:

speaking of veggie garden- this was my first year ever growing plants. I did a cherry tomato plant, basil, and strawberries directly in the ground. I was under the impression these would come back in the spring but now I'm reading it's likely that only the strawberry plant will come back. So like, am I supposed to do something with the dying tomato & basil plant? Do I just leave them, do I pull them out? Do I wait until spring and see what happens and then maybe replace them? I have no idea! 

Where do you live?
If it gets cold the tomato won't come back. The basil and strawberry might. You could put the basil in a pot and bring it in, too.
If everything is healthy, when it's done producing cut the tomato back to the ground. I leave the roots to decompose in the soil put you could also pull the whole thing .
Put mulch or salt hay over the berries to keep them warm.
Harvest or pot the basil. If you want that to maybe come back, cover it too.

ok thanks. I'm in MA so there will be 3 feet of snow. I think the basil is already dead it's completely black. The tomato still has a few growing so I guess I'll cut it down once it's completely done. 

[sweptaway]

Nov 8, 2024 6:58:41 GMT -6 spicysalmonroll said:

Nov 7, 2024 17:00:51 GMT -6 sweptaway said:

Where do you live?
If it gets cold the tomato won't come back. The basil and strawberry might. You could put the basil in a pot and bring it in, too.
If everything is healthy, when it's done producing cut the tomato back to the ground. I leave the roots to decompose in the soil put you could also pull the whole thing .
Put mulch or salt hay over the berries to keep them warm.
Harvest or pot the basil. If you want that to maybe come back, cover it too.

ok thanks. I'm in MA so there will be 3 feet of snow. I think the basil is already dead it's completely black. The tomato still has a few growing so I guess I'll cut it down once it's completely done. 

Yeah that stuff won't overwinter. I would cut back the berries and cover them up for the winter . This was actually my first year trying strawberries so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. 

[daisy]

Basil and tomato won’t overwinter. But your strawberries should. And even if you had potted up the basil, it probably wouldn’t do all that great even in a sunny window. If any of the tomatoes have color at all, and if they haven’t frozen yet, you can pick the tomatoes and bring them in and they will ripen inside. But if they are totally green, they won’t ripen.

I’m in Wisconsin, and usually I pull out the dead plants in the fall after a frost. You can leave them in the ground if you want, but then you’ll just pull them up in the spring. They won’t come back. If enough tomatoes fell on the ground during the summer, you might get a few volunteer tomato plants coming back next spring on their own. But it’s best just to buy a new plant and start fresh again and not count as on that happening.

[Sweetjane]

Nov 8, 2024 6:56:12 GMT -6 leahcar said:

AmyG, if you have the storage space, I'd just buy a mattress topper for your pull out couch. Would definitely keep the price down as long as you have a way to store it. I was amazed at the difference a good topper made on my DD's crappy dorm room bed.

I agree about the mattress topper, but if it doesn't happen that's ok too. Sleeping on a crappy pullout sofa mattress is kind of a rite of passage when going to the in laws 😅
We've all done it.

[STP]

My Christmas decorations are already up.

Fuck the turkey.

[angelashly]

Nov 8, 2024 12:03:07 GMT -6 STP said:

My Christmas decorations are already up.

Fuck the turkey.

I told h this morning that he is lucky I love him as much as I do because I want to put Christmas up so bad ( he dreads the Christmas holiday season due to work but loves the decorations and family stuff) he laughed and said you can put it up we need cozy right now

[AmyG]

Nov 8, 2024 6:56:12 GMT -6 leahcar said:

AmyG , if you have the storage space, I'd just buy a mattress topper for your pull out couch. Would definitely keep the price down as long as you have a way to store it. I was amazed at the difference a good topper made on my DD's crappy dorm room bed.

I have a 4 inch topper but the couch is very hard.

It's one like the ikea couches you pull out the long way.

I'm thinking of a blow up mattress cause the topper we have already takes up so much room folded up.

[AmyG]

Nov 8, 2024 10:40:22 GMT -6 Sweetjane said:

Nov 8, 2024 6:56:12 GMT -6 leahcar said:

AmyG , if you have the storage space, I'd just buy a mattress topper for your pull out couch. Would definitely keep the price down as long as you have a way to store it. I was amazed at the difference a good topper made on my DD's crappy dorm room bed.

I agree about the mattress topper, but if it doesn't happen that's ok too. Sleeping on a crappy pullout sofa mattress is kind of a rite of passage when going to the in laws 😅
We've all done it.

He has no problem with it, he sleeps on it for a month or more at christmas.
But last time she slept one night and then complained
and then She just keeps dragging him over to her house.
This year she's on opposite/night shift so he wants it to be closer to half and half time at each house.
so he's not just watching her sleep all day lol. 
So I'm just half ass looking for cheap improvement.