How to Keep Your Kitchen Running Smoothly This Thanksgiving
As hard as it might be to believe, the winter holidays are right around the corner! This time of year is all about food, family, and fun. But for your kitchen appliances, Thanksgiving can feel like a marathon. Between the turkey, all the casseroles, and the endless piles of dishes, your home’s hardest-working systems face more strain this time of year than any other.
Before you preheat the oven or start mixing the mashed potatoes, take a few minutes to make sure your kitchen is ready for the big day. UPKEEP Home Warranty and Maintenance’s simple maintenance steps will help you avoid last-minute breakdowns and keep your Thanksgiving stress-free.
1. Give Your Oven a Test Run
If you haven’t used your oven much lately, don’t wait until the morning of Thanksgiving to find out there’s a problem. A week or two before the holiday, do a quick test bake to make sure:
- The oven heats evenly.
- The temperature matches your setting.
- There are no odd smells or smoke from spills or buildup.
Avoid running the self-cleaning cycle right before Thanksgiving—it can cause the oven to overheat or trigger an error code just when you need it most. Instead, do a light wipe-down once it cools.
2. Show Your Stove Some Love
Clogged burners, faulty igniters, or uneven heating can throw off your entire cooking schedule. Remove burner grates and give them a good scrub, making sure the gas ports are clear of debris. For electric stoves, inspect coils for warping or damage.
If one burner isn’t working, don’t panic—check the connections first. If it still won’t heat up, it may be time to call a technician. With an UPKEEP home warranty, covered repairs and replacements on major kitchen appliances mean you won’t have to skip your favorite side dish.
3. Prevent a Garbage Disposal Disaster
Your garbage disposal will see a lot of action during the holidays, but not everything should go down the drain! Avoid putting these items in your disposal:
- Grease or oil
- Potato peels
- Bones or fruit pits
- Fibrous foods like celery or corn husks
Run cold water while using your disposal, and toss in a few ice cubes and lemon peels to freshen it up. This helps sharpen the blades and keeps your sink smelling clean.
4. Keep Your Dishwasher Ready for the Rush
After the feast comes the cleanup, and your dishwasher will be the real hero of the night. Before Thanksgiving, clean the filter (usually located at the bottom) and run an empty cycle with a cup of vinegar to remove grease and buildup.
Make sure you’re loading dishes correctly—plates and large items on the bottom rack, cups and glasses on top. Overloading can block the spray arms and prevent a full clean!
5. Check Your Refrigerator’s Performance
With all the extra groceries, leftovers, and drinks, your refrigerator will be packed to the brim. Make sure it’s working efficiently by:
- Vacuuming dust from the condenser coils (on the back or underneath).
- Checking the door seals for cracks or gaps.
- Setting the temperature to 37–40°F for the fridge and 0°F for the freezer.
If your fridge struggles to stay cool, it could be a sign of a failing compressor or thermostat—both of which can be covered by your UPKEEP home warranty.
6. Plan Ahead for Peace of Mind
Even with the best preparation, holiday appliance failures can still happen. And when they do, finding a reliable repair service during the holidays isn’t easy. That’s where UPKEEP has your back!
A home warranty plan helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing covered kitchen appliances so you can focus on family and food, not frustration. We make sure your home runs smoothly when it matters most.
Enjoy a Stress-Free Thanksgiving with UPKEEP
The holidays should be about connection and comfort, not appliance chaos. With a little prep and the protection of a UPKEEP home warranty, you can cook, host, and celebrate with total confidence.
Ready to protect your kitchen before the holidays hit full swing?
Contact UPKEEP today to learn more about our affordable home warranty plans for Saint Louis homeowners.