12 Unexpected Tools to Use for Thanksgiving Prep and Cleanup

Home Advice You Can Trust

Tips, tricks & ideas for a better home and yard, delivered to your inbox daily.

Email address Sign Up Thank you!

Terms of Service & Privacy Policy

Thanksgiving is a time for food, friends, and family, but when you need to keep track of the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and more, on top of socializing with guests, setting the table, serving the food, and cleaning up afterwards, it can leave you worn out by the time all is said and done. While you will likely never get rid of the more chaotic aspect of hosting Thanksgiving or any other holiday, you can make the process a bit more efficient and organized by having the right tools on hand to help cut down on needless difficulties. Check out this list of the 12 tools that will transform your Thanksgiving this season. 

Make quick work of cardboard boxes, easily open frozen food packages, and cut twine for trussing the turkey in an instant with this Milwaukee utility knife this Thanksgiving. You can even use the sharp, smooth blade to clean the opening of vacuum-sealed items while taking advantage of the ergonomic grip that is designed for enhanced user control and comfort.

What our tester says: “Those in the market for a high-quality utility knife that’s easy to open with just one hand need look no further than Milwaukee’s FASTBACK Compact Folding Utility Knife. We were impressed by the ease of use: Simply pressing the lock-release button and giving the knife a quick flick with the wrist snaps the blade out and locks it into a fully open position. The blade can also be opened slowly and safely by hand if desired.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Milwaukee FASTBACK Folding Utility Knife at The Home Depot for $9.47

Why struggle with a carving knife this Thanksgiving when you can use this Bosch cordless oscillating tool for clean cuts through turkey bones and joints, making it far easier to create portions that are easy to serve and store. Once you are done, switch out the cutting blade for a scraper attachment so that you can get rid of stuck-on food without needing to sweat and scrub during cleanup. 

What our tester says: “The Bosch oscillating tool comes with a case and 32 accessories, including sandpaper, several blades, and a separate box for holding accessories, and we tested each type. The device is exceptional: It fit well in hand, didn’t vibrate extensively even at low speeds, and the battery stayed charged throughout our 1-hour test period.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Bosch StarlockPlus Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit at Amazon for $108.67

Get the perfect finish to your turkey this Thanksgiving by using the DeWalt 20V MAX heat gun to crisp the turkey skin during the final minutes of cooking. This heat gun can also be used to torch the top of meringue or creme brûlée to create a crispy sugar coating that is sure to leave an impression on your guests. Alternatively, you can simply use the heat gun to quickly and easily remove labels from storage containers after the Thanksgiving leftovers have been eaten.

Get the DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Heat Gun Kit at Amazon for $169.99

No matter how well you plan or how organized the chaos, there will always be a moment when you need to clean up before, during, or after Thanksgiving. This wet/dry shop vac can handle anything from cleaning the house beforehand to sucking up broken glass and spills that may occur during the Thanksgiving meal. Even if dinner goes flawlessly, there is sure to be work to do after everyone has left to clean up the home, which is when this impressive shop vac can be put to work.

What our tester says: “If you make big messes (like we do), you need a powerful large-capacity shop-type vacuum. The Ridgid made quick work of sucking up both wet and dry messes in our tests. It comes with a 7-foot heavy-duty locking hose and a 15-foot cord, so we had plenty of reach between the outlet and the mess we were cleaning.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Ridgid 12-Gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum at The Home Depot for $99.98

A cordless drill isn’t just good for tightening up loose furniture or hanging pictures before the guests arrive; it can also be equipped with a food-grade paddle attachment to mix large batches of mashed potatoes or blend stuffing ingredients. Additionally, you can use a brush attachment with a cordless drill to help clean up the oven, stove, and any pans you were using to prepare the meal, making this an essential tool for Thanksgiving convenience. 

What our tester says: “Its lightweight build, comfortable grip, and smooth trigger action belie impressive power for a 12-volt drill. We really liked the compact size and weight-balanced design of this drill. It felt more like an extension of the hand instead of handling a tool.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Milwaukee Cordless Drill/Driver at The Home Depot for $129.00

Made with rust-resistant stainless steel, these all-purpose scissors are a kitchen essential during Thanksgiving. They feature micro serrated edges that are ideal for cutting through turkey fat, snipping herbs, or even slicing thin vegetables. You can also put these kitchen shears to work when opening stubborn packages, cutting twine for the turkey, or cutting strips of parchment paper during food prep. Don’t miss out on making your Thanksgiving meal easier to manage with these all-purpose kitchen shears. 

Get the KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears at Amazon for $7.99

You don’t need a huge, 100-foot tape measure when you are taking quick measurements to check if the turkey will fit in the oven or to ensure the place settings are evenly spaced, which is why this pocket-size 16-foot tape measure is an ideal choice for Thanksgiving prep. You can also use the tape measure to determine if the table dimensions are suitable for the number of guests you will be having, or if you will need to add a leaf or two to extend the table. 

What our tester says: “In our tests, we were able to extend it nearly 6 feet (standout) before it bent, we found the numbers easy to read, and we were impressed by the dual blade-locking system. In addition to a standard blade lock, it also has a pressure-sensitive button on the bottom of the case. Pressing the button stops the blade from moving, and letting up on it a bit allows it to retract slowly.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Lexivon DuaLock Tape Measure at Amazon for $12.97

When everyone is stuffed from dinner and headed out the door, you can take comfort knowing that even the most stubborn, stuck-on fat and grease will come off the oven grills quickly with this heavy-duty stainless steel brush. It can also be used on the barbecue grill if you decide to cook the turkey outdoors or use the brush to scrub stubborn baking sheet residue after serving up a delicious pie to your guests. 

Get the MAXMAN Wire Brush at Amazon for $7.79

Spring clamps can be used for a variety of purposes in the garage and the workshop, but many people overlook how helpful they can be during a busy Thanksgiving get-together. By using a few quality spring clamps, you can hold turkey bags closed, help ensure plastic wrap doesn’t come undone while storing leftovers, or clip recipe cards to the kitchen cabinet so that they sit at eye level while you prepare the meal. If you eat outdoors or have a particularly slippery tablecloth, use a few spring clamps to ensure the tablecloth won’t shift or blow away while you eat. 

Get the WORKPRO 20-Piece Steel Spring Clamp Set at Amazon for $12.99

Dining room furniture and outdoor dining chairs can often loosen over time, so before you have a host of friends and family casually dropping down onto these loosened seats, grab a ratcheting screwdriver to tighten the fasteners to ensure that there aren’t any accidents this Thanksgiving. You can also use this handy tool to open the battery compartments on kitchen timers, remotes, and other devices that are essential for Thanksgiving cooking and football.

What our tester says: “The Wera ratcheting screwdriver feels solid in the hand, and one of the first things we noticed was its nonslip, ergonomic grip that’s contoured to help the user get a firm grasp. The bit storage base slid out easily with just a light push of the button on the bottom, making it easy to select the bits.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Wera Kraftform Kompakt Ratcheting Screwdriver at Amazon for $62.21

After the food is ready, served, and everyone has eaten, Thanksgiving cleanup begins. Stuck-on food, grease, and grime are always a problem, but if you use this small, 2-inch putty knife with a stainless steel blade, you can quickly scrape off stuck-on food from cookware or clean between the oven grates, rather than spending an hour trying to use disposable sponges to gradually get rid of grease and grime. This putty knife can also be used outdoors on the grill if you choose to cook your turkey over the open flame, making cleanup easier to manage. 

What our tester says: “Husky separates itself from the pack with the quality of the handle on this small putty knife. It’s beefier than most other putty knife handles and features a secure rubberized grip. Whereas other putty knives I tested felt too small for my hand, this Husky putty knife conformed perfectly to it. This putty knife also had a stiffer blade than other putty knives I tested, making it especially effective as a scraper.”—Tony Carrick, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Husky 2-Inch Putty Knife at The Home Depot for $9.98

When you are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, you may need to assemble a new table, chairs, or a variety of kitchen gadgets to help you with food prep, seating, and cleanup. While many products will come with incredibly basic Allen wrenches for assembly, these cheap tools are rarely easy to grip, control, or use, which is why picking up your own set of Allen wrenches is an efficient and highly recommended choice to help cut down on Thanksgiving difficulties and reduce holiday stress. 

What our tester says: “Each of the 18 Allen wrenches features a color-coded sleeve marked with the size, providing rapid identification and increased hand comfort, particularly on cold days. Should the print wear off, the size is also laser engraved on the wrench itself.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Wera Long Arm Allen Wrenches at Amazon for $79.60

 

Meet the 2025 Tools of the Year

After months of scouring the market and putting products through their paces, we’ve named the best of the best in new tools. There’s something for everyone, from veteran pros to average Joes.

SEE THE WINNERS