I'm so happy you stopped by today! I going to share...
THE VERY BEST THANKSGIVING TIPS YOU WILL EVER GET!
Seriously!!!!
Let's get right to it...
Oh wait! Before I reveal my best tip I just want to let you know that I am part of
The Better Late Than Never Thanksgiving Party
A group of creative and talented bloggers put their heads together to come up with last minute ideas that will help you have a picture perfect, less stressed Thanksgiving!
A big hug and thanks to Laura from TOP THIS TOP THAT who so wonderfully put this great party together! You are the best, Laura!
A big hug and thanks to Laura from TOP THIS TOP THAT who so wonderfully put this great party together! You are the best, Laura!
Make sure you check out the list of blogs at the end of this post.
Now for that BEST tip....
I can give you tips on setting a stunning Thanksgiving table... and tips on how to get candle wax out of your grandmother's vintage tablecloth. I can show you how to make darling Thanksgiving placecards and give you the directions for witty table games that will keep everyone at your table enthralled!
But I have a tip at surpasses all of that!
Drum Roll please...
Ta-Da...
DISHPANS!
Yes, that's it!
DISHPANS!
And not just any dishpans... but dollar store dishpans! Cheap, cheap, cheap dishpans!
What were you expecting? I know they are not pretty or chic... but they are magical!
What were you expecting? I know they are not pretty or chic... but they are magical!
This best tip revelation came about several years ago when I was hosting a particularly large and diverse group of family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner.
We all know how work intense Thanksgiving dinner is and how much preparation and clean-up goes into it. Lots of dishes... tons and tons!
I can't tell you how many times my guest's asked if they could help and I was so just too busy to tell them. At that point it was almost easier to do what needed to be done myself.
Then I had a lightbulb moment!
It occurred to me to write down all the chores I had to do, one at a time, on an index card.
And if the chore involved cleaning up, to drop the index card into an empty dishpan. I stacked the index cards and the dishpans on my island.
When someone asked, I handed them a card or a dishpan and a card!
I didn't have to explain... it was on the card! I didn't have to direct... it was on the card!
This worked so well that I do it every year.
EVERYONE pitches in! And everyone really gets into it.
Especially at clean up time. Guests just grab a dishpan and do what the card in the bottom of the dishpan says!
All dishpans are taken to the laundry room where a utility table is set up, covered with towels.
If you don't have a convenient laundry room, even a garage would work great!
My helpers fill the dishpans with a squirt of dish soap and hot water and everything start to clean itself. The linen's are collected in a separate dishpan and an enzyme detergent is added so the linens soak!
The best part is that my kitchen does not look like a bomb filled with all sorts of dirty dishes and napkins blew up in it!
The best part is that my kitchen does not look like a bomb filled with all sorts of dirty dishes and napkins blew up in it!
I have cards labeled in dishpans saying...
*pick up stemware
*pick up non-stemware glasses
*pick up salad plates
*pick up salt and pepper, butter and rolls
* pick up napkins and begin to soak
*pick up dinner plates
* put cream and sugar on the table
* set the table with dessert plates, forks and napkins (they also go in a dishpan)
*etc
Bobby is the chief dishwasher.
The dishpans come out from the laundry room one at a time and the content is washed. We don't use a dishwasher on Thanksgiving... too many dishes!
We talk and joke and love being together in the kitchen! No one (except Pop-Pop Jim) sleeps on the sofa.
When the dishes are dried they go back into a dishpans and back into the laundry room. I then can put them away at my leisure... and that usually means in a day or two later. But they are washed and dried and NEATLY organized in dishpans and ready for me when I can get to them!
While everyone is cleaning up my mom, sister and I usually pack leaftovers into containers to be taken home by everyone. All the leftovers except the one's the girls eat for breakfast on Friday morning, that is!
You can read about that and our other Thanksgiving Traditions HERE.
The pots and pans and bowls and roaster etc get the same dishpan treatment!
The pots and pans and bowls and roaster etc get the same dishpan treatment!
Because our family does not eat dessert right after Thanksgiving dinner, we have time to have fun while cleaning up.
I can't tell you how this tip has kept my sanity! I hate a kitchen piled high with unorganized dirty dishes spread out on every counter top and everyone waiting for "what's next" while I get more stressed by the second!
I don't have to ask for help or direct and oversee the clean-up... it just works all by itself!
DISHPAN MAGIC!
And when we have a dessert buffet that evening, everything looks clean and tidy and you would never know that several hours before we were eating a huge Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings!
To clean up the dessert buffet is a breeze. We just use the same dishpan process!
I hope my Best Thanksgiving Tip Ever helps you have a very
happy, organized, less stressed and fun day!
You don't want to miss other
Better Late Than Never Thanksgiving Party Bloggers
Better Late Than Never Thanksgiving Party Bloggers
Between Naps on The Porch
Adventures In Decorating
Our Southern Home
Stone Gable
Top This Top That
And today is the last day for
Thankful for Home Tours
Lots of beautiful home and fabulous Thanksgiving ideas!
Adventures In Decorating
Our Southern Home
Stone Gable
Top This Top That
And today is the last day for
Thankful for Home Tours
Lots of beautiful home and fabulous Thanksgiving ideas!
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Remember to
What a brilliant idea, I love it and want to use it now.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Yvonne! Glad to partying with you!
ReplyDeleteYou are soooo smart...totally using this from here on out! xoxo Jessica
ReplyDeleteVery great tip! I agree, it's impossible to take time that certain things don't go in the dishwasher or please leave the chargers on the table etc., sometimes it's just easier to do it yourself later~My nieces husband is fabulous, he sneaks into the kitchen, scrapes and rinses all the plates and puts them in a neat stack~never asks, just quietly does! He is always welcome! This year he is getting a dishpan for the flatware too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips Yvonne,
Jenna
It's a very good tip indeed. And can be used for Christmas dinner, Easter and so on..Hugs, Cristina
ReplyDeleteI LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea!!! Thank you for sharing with the rest of us!
ReplyDeleteOK, the lightbulb finally came on when you said you washed everything in the dishpans you collected them in. I'll be heading to the dollar store before our next family dinner!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, thanks so much for sharing it with us today. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea, Yvonne! You never disappoint us when it comes to home decorating! I love your centerpiece and china- so inviting for Fall!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this idea! Every other year I host my husband's family...all 30+! I will definitely be using ths idea next time. Thanks so much for sharing. Your blog is one of my absolute favorites!
ReplyDeleteTerrific idea!!!
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
Great idea Yvonne!
ReplyDeleteOK…I am off the to the Dollar Store to get tons of dishpans…with 50 plus people at my sister's house, this is such a great idea to organize the clean up!!…You are the queen of tips, organizing, and making an event run smoothly and graciously!….Have a wonderful weekend Yvonne!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. I have had knives thrown away because so many people were helping and got distracted.
ReplyDeleteYou're right! This is by far the best tip ever!!
ReplyDeleteYou are a clever gal. This is an idea I might need to take advantage of this time around as we are going to have a house full for Thanksgiving dinner.
ReplyDeleteOh. my. gosh. WHAT A FABULOUS idea! Our "table of 22" will be so much better this year...and those of us on "dish patrol" will have an easier time of it! YOU, my dear friend, are BRILLIANT! Happy Thanksgiving! xo
ReplyDeleteThat's the MOST wonderful Tip for Dish Clean-up and Kitchen Help I've ever heard. Too bad I didn't have it when I was cooking for 26 every holiday...and not getting a stitch of help, because I felt it was just easier for me to do everything...just like you! :) Now, I cook for hubby and I...and of course our 3 Pups.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! I'm heading to the dollar store to stock up! Thank you!!~~Angela
ReplyDeleteThat is a brilliant idea! And especially because we're so busy that it's hard to stop, take time to think about how they can help, and instruct them. Perfect! :-)
ReplyDelete~Yvonne~
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely the best holiday tip of day !!
Have blessed day,
Paula
In.
Thank you foe sharing such a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tip!!! I will have to use it!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea Yvonne! Absolutely brilliant. I always try to do everything myself, too, but what a quick, easy, kind and lovely way to get others involved. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteYou are Amazing!!! Probably the best tip I've ever heard...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful table; great "dishpan" idea. Where did you get those fabulous deer plates?
ReplyDeleteYvonne, I just saw that you have 4000 FOUR THOUSAND followers !!
ReplyDeleteThis is just so wonderful. A big congratulations to you.
And, yes, this is the best Thanksgiving tip I've ever heard. I have room, I'm doing it.
much love, my friend....
Brilliant!!! . xo P.S. I invite you to share at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop ( you can link up until Saturday)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Got to try it this Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant!!! Buying dishpans tomorrow! :D I don't host Thanksgiving but host other holidays so I will be using them to put dishes in and stash them away out of sight. Thank you!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI think you idea is revolutionary! Thanks so much for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably just a little slow here, but is there a specific size that you have found works for you? Are there different sizes of dishpans?
Hi Carol, not really. I just use what I have. I'm thrilled you have found this helpful!
DeleteThis is a brilliant idea! I'll be doing this from now on, thank you, thank you, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat is the best tip ever, not just for Thanksgiving, but any time I serve a meal to a large crowd of people in my home! Thanks so much for sharing that tip. I have been using it since you shared it several years ago and am forever grateful!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely brilliant, seriously - truly is the best tip EVER.
ReplyDeleteWell done, lady, you deserve a blogger award for that to be sure. WOW.
I wish I would have known this 30 years ago, lol - truly a "better late than never" tip!
Just a heads up that I tried to come over here via Top This Top That but kept getting an error message. So I googled you instead. And this is a BRILLIANT idea that I am going to use - thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned this several years ago but didn't go into details. THANK YOU for explaining how you do this, I am sending this to Tracy so we can do this too!!!!!! It IS brilliant, really!!! I miss you so much and we HAVE to get together. Did Fran talk to you Thurs.?? Hope to see you soon. XOXO
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea, and it would work for any large celebration!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Love the centerpiece with the antlers. Had to pin that! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteOMGosh this is a fantastic idea. I do make a list of possible chores for helpful guest (MY MOM) but I love the idea of clean up and being able to do one pan at a time. LOVE, LOVE this idea!! I am going to take the ball and run with this one for sure!!
ReplyDeleteGENIUS YVONNE, I applaud you!!
Kathysue
What a GREAT IDEA! We have mostly males in the family and I always feel a tad resentful when I'm doing all the work and they are all having fun in the other room. I'm off to the Dollar Store for plastic dish pans and index cards! Thanks Yvonne.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea yvonne but how do you handle all the football lovin gents sneaking a seat next to pop pop jim?
ReplyDeleteThat is super, super CLEVER! I'm taking a break from hostessing this year, but will employ this tactic at future gatherings! Thank you so much for this useful tip!
ReplyDeleteYvonne, love this idea! Is there one that says, "Give the cook a neck massage!" If not, I'm suggesting that one for this year! :)
ReplyDeleteFab idea, Susan!
DeleteSuch a genius idea, Yvonne … I'm not surprised one single bit that your "efficient-self" came up with it! I'll certainly remember this for the next time we host!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who stresses over the messes! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI was taught guest as guest and after they leave you clean up. This puts a whole new spin on things. I think I'm going to try this and see how it goes :)
ReplyDeleteDee, when we have guest that rule usually applies. But at Thanksgiving, everyone is family!
DeleteThanks for the great idea!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Yvonne!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely the BEST tip i have ever received! Why didn't I think of this 30 years ago! Our Thanksgiving will be a lot more organized and therefore more enjoyable this year thanks to you! Thank you so much! By the way, I believe our home is not too terribly far from yours...we live right off Old Philadelphia Pike in Lancaster! Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteSusan you are very close to StoneGable!
DeleteThis is a great tip, Yvonne...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding me. This is The Very
ReplyDeleteBest Thanksgiving Tip You Will Ever Get? Spare me
This is a light bulb moment for me too. What a fabulous idea Yvonne. The best tip ever!
ReplyDeleteSam
Forget that last comment! "Anonymous" is just upset THEY didn't think of it! I have spent countless Thanksgivings stressed with dishes everywhere. It's nice to have a method for the madness. And "Anonymous" should learn to say, "Good job!"
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! I'm sure there is going to be a run on dishpans at the dollar store.
ReplyDeleteI loooooooove the deer plates omg! Yvonne, you always post the best stuf!
ReplyDeleteWonderful ideas. Great way to delegate and make everyone comfortable with helping out without being in the way.
ReplyDeleteMay be helpful in clearing the table but I like to wash in HOT water and there is no way the water in plastic dishpan could stay hot enough to clean dishes and kill germs. A small dishpan and my fine Haviland china, Waterford crystal and Grorham silver, I don't think so I enjoy all of the Thanksgiving dinner aspect even the cleanup, and rejoice that each year the number of guest increase and feel very blessed that I get to serve my family because I know that someday the number will decease.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that great tip, Yvonne! That idea is good for anytime a gathering is coming. Sometimes when I have a big group, I am too frazzled to even think so the idea of making cards ahead of time is genius!
ReplyDeletebrilliant! thnx for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! You are one smart lady! This tip should be copyrighted! That tablescape is amazing by the way! So happy to be on this tour with you! ~Christy
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMost brilliant tip EVER!!! Thanks so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Have you talked about where you found your fabulous china? I would love to know if it is still available. :-)
xo-Lisa
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea Yvonne! My Thanksgivings have been very quiet the past few years but I still find myself in the kitchen doing dishes! Thank you for sharing...Ann
So simple and so amazing! What a great way to welcome others to help while allowing yourself the space to do what you need to for hosting! I'm loving how this concept can spill over to so many other things (and other events). Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCan you give information on the deer plates? I absolutely love them and would like to purchase somewhere if possible. TY!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Idea! I LOVE your dishes!!! Would you mind telling me about them (the deer ones) who makes them and what is the name of the pattern? They are Awesome! I just love following you, so many great ideas and beatuiful things! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely doing this! My guests all try to be helpful but create chaos clearing the table of dishes and food all at once. The beauty of it is the organization and containment! And it frees me to get leftovers bagged and chilled promptly! Thanks for sharing this great idea! Barbara
ReplyDeleteI Love this idea! I also fell in love with your dishes PLEASE let us in on the name and maker they are so awesome! I love everything you take the time to share with us, I look forward to what you have to show us next! PS please share those gorgeous deer dishes!!
ReplyDeleteSo simple - my family and friends help but the bids would be an amazing addition to the process! Your Stag plates are too die for! Where did you find them? ~ Lesa
ReplyDeleteGenius, pure flippen genius. I am the type of person that cleans as I go. Usually, the kitchen is fairly in order. Until...That final half hour. My husband always carves the turkey. No matter how hard you try, it makes a mess. then the rolls come out of the oven and the little last minute things. Before you know it that fairly clean kitchen looks like a bomb went off. After we all sit down and give thanks, I start to think about clean up. I can't help it. I have OCD of the worst kind. This, however, will be so helpful. I. Love. It. Thanks for the idea. I will be going to the dollar store first thing tomorrow. Bring on the guest!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving.
I wash thinking of doing this as I have small home and a caterer I used years ago did this. I will put a long table in my back mudroom off the kitchen to hold the dishpans. I hadn't thought of the index card instructions which will be very useful as I get rattled easily. I will put the cards in plastic sheaves of laminate them to use at another time. Thanks you .
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone! I've gotten so many inquires about the dishes in this post. I'll be posting about it next week.
ReplyDeleteI can relate! I'm keeping this idea in a safe place!! Thanks for sharing! What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteThis has been a wonderful tip, Yvonne. I've used the dishpans on several occasions since I read your post, and I'm always amazed at how much easier and more organized they make clean-up. Thank you, thank you!
ReplyDelete