Let’s Laugh: The Great Thanksgiving Debacle

The holiday season is approaching, and with it comes the pressure to create a picture-perfect home for our loved ones. We often find ourselves frantically scrubbing, organizing, and decluttering—striving for a level of cleanliness that may feel unattainable.

After seven years of holiday seasons at Hocus Pocus Cleaning Service, we’ve noticed a significant uptick in one-time cleans during this time of year. We hear of the best intentions, but often there is simply no time to execute all the cleaning tasks on our to-do lists. That's why we hire extra hands and even open up some weekend shifts to accommodate as many clients as possible during the holiday rush.

We understand that money is tight for many families, and we’re all still feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. During these times, it’s essential to remind ourselves that the true spirit of the season lies in the joy, connection, and togetherness we share—not in achieving a picture-perfect Instagram shot of our homes. If you aren’t currently looking for professional cleaning services, here are some tidbits to help you create your version of a perfect holiday home amidst the chaos.

Gather around the glow of your smartphone—here's a tale of Thanksgiving horror, brought to you by a friend (no names mentioned!).

It was 2019, back when 'pandemic' was just a board game. Our friend was living in a charmingly dilapidated downtown apartment—complete with a farm of dust bunnies and a collection of fuzzy dishes in the sink.

Our friend and their partner had a simple cleaning rule: if it’s not moving, it’s clean. This rule worked well enough until Thanksgiving rolled around. Their version of Thanksgiving was ordering pizza and binge-watching 'Friends' reruns—certainly not the kind of holiday that required cooking or cleaning.

Then, the unthinkable happened. The partner’s parents decided to surprise them with a good old-fashioned holiday visit—SURPRISE! FUTURE IN-LAWS ON THANKSGIVING! (The horror was real.)

With less than two hours to transform their apartment from a disaster zone into a respectable living space, they got to work like a pair of Cinderellas. Except, instead of a fairy godmother, they had a bottle of Fabuloso and a regretful, crackling vacuum cleaner.

They scrubbed, swept, vacuumed, and stuffed dirty laundry into closets. Unwashed dishes found a temporary home in the oven. They even unearthed a tablecloth from somewhere and threw it over the coffee table, hoping it would pass as a dining area.

The doorbell rang, and they held their breath as the in-laws stepped in. Their eyes scanned the “clean” apartment, and after a tense moment, mom smiled and said, “Oh, what a lovely, cozy place you have here!”

They nearly fainted with relief.

But it wasn’t quite a happy ending. The family dog, who had come along for the visit, started sniffing around the coffee table. Before anyone could stop him, he pulled the tablecloth off, revealing the mountain of pizza boxes and empty beer cans hidden underneath.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Let this be a lesson. No matter how tempting it is to let dust bunnies multiply, trash accumulate, and dishes pile up, remember this tale of Thanksgiving horror (and consider hiring Hocus Pocus Cleaning Service). You never know when surprise in-laws might show up to share some holiday cheer.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Let’s all be thankful for this terrifying tale. May your homes be clean, and your in-laws be understanding.