The Unclutterer's Top Four Tips (and Product Picks) for a Steamlined Thanksgiving

By Felicity Loughrey
November 24, 2010

Erin Rooney Doland once had a very messy life. "We never had a Thanksgiving meal at our place during my cluttered years," she said. "There simply wasn't any room for a table and I was too embarrassed to invite anyone into our home for a social event."

Everything changed when Erin Rooney Doland moved into a one-bedroom, 850-square-foot apartment in Washington D.C. and her husband asked if she could live with fewer possessions. Doland agreed and got rid of her clutter, including her third-grade math assignments and every note she'd ever passed in high school. Last year, her organizational book Unclutter Your Life in One Week was published. She's editor-in-chief of personal organization blog, Unclutterer and a columnist for Real Simple.

"The year I started my uncluttering efforts, we had Thanksgiving at our place and it probably would have made Martha Stewart cry, it was so disorganized. Over the years, I've improved." This year, Erin Rooney Doland has a small dinner planned with close friends and family. "I'm a little obsessed with smoking meats right now (I got a big smoker for my birthday in August). I've never smoked a turkey before so I'm excited about taking on the task."

(While the Unclutterer blog is generally all-business when it comes to streamlining your life, it retains a sense of humor with funny features on closet-clogging gadgets, like this electric gravy boat warming plate. It's exactly what you don't need this Thanksgiving)

Here are Erin Rooney Doland's tips how to get organized this Thanksgiving:

Can it!
"I'm a huge supporter of the trash can being the most accessible spot in the room, yet I'm always finding kitchens where the trash can is hidden under a counter and behind a door. The last thing you want to do is touch a knob when you have raw meat or full hands. Before getting started on any cooking project, pull your trash can into the middle of the room so that you can get to it."

Plan ahead
"At least a week in advance, decide on the menu and create a shopping list. Go grocery shopping at least five days before the big event so you can be sure the store will have all the items you need. You'll also need a few days to thaw your turkey in the refrigerator. Also create a chart outlining food preparation and cooking schedules. Some things—like pies and cranberry sauce— can be made a day in advance, while other items will need to be cooked on the day of the event."

Organize your kitchen one drawer at a time
"I wouldn't try to organize the kitchen before Thanksgiving. It's such a stressful time—wait until the weekend after. Start small with a drawer or a single shelf or cupboard. Tackle one drawer or shelf a day and your kitchen should be in great shape by the new year."

Give thanks
“Keep your focus on the people who are coming to the meal, figure out your meal plan early and try to enjoy your time with your guests. Even if the turkey is burned or the stuffing tastes like clay, you'll still get to share time with friends—which is the most important thing.”

Get organized with Erin Rooney Doland’s eBay picks for a stress-free Thanksgiving:

Set of 20 Magnetic Spice Tins

(buy it now price, $24.95)

“Fresh spices hanging on the inside of a cabinet door save you shelf space and make your spices easy to identify.”
Large Aluminium Carabiner Snap Ring

(buy it now price, $1.29)

"Large carabiners are great for keeping matching napkin rings stored together."
Sock and Tie Organizer

(buy it now price, $2.96))

"Sock and tie drawer organizers are perfect for organizing odds and ends in a kitchen catch-all drawer."
Hallmark Recipe Organizer Folder

(buy it now price, $9.99)

"Organize recipes you print from your favorite website, tear out of a magazine, or have scratched on a piece of paper with a recipe binder."
Ikea Stainless Steel Organizer Rack

(buy it now price, $16.95)

"Keep pan lids, Tupperware lids, trivets, heating plates for your George Foreman Grill, or heating plates for your waffle iron in an upright position with an expanding rack."
White Tension Curtain Rod

(buy it now price, $5.99)

"Store cookie sheets, cutting boards, and large serving platters on their sides by installing pairs of curtain tension rods vertically on the inside of your lower kitchen cupboard shelves."
Dymo Label Maker

(buy it now price, $29.99)

"Make it simple for others to quickly find items in your kitchen by labeling shelves with a label maker."
Reusable Dry Erase Board Wallpaper

(buy it now price, $21.99)

"Create your Thanksgiving preparation plan on Dry Erase Board Wallpaper in your kitchen."
4-Tier Slack Hanger

(buy it now price, $5.95)

"Store your seasonal table cloths on tiered slacks hangers."
Kitchen Aid Mixer Cover

(buy it now price, $20.95)

"The Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer is a common wedding gift, yet in many homes they just sit on the counter and collect dust. If you actually use yours, I recommend getting an appliance cover for it that conveniently holds the blades and keeps dust, grime, and bugs from collecting at the bottom of your mixing bowl."