Franchisors Share Thanksgiving Tips

Thanksgiving can be a hectic week between traveling, family visiting and preparing the biggest meal of the year. We asked Mr. Rooter and Meineke Car Care Centers to share their advice for taking some of the stress out of Thanksgiving. According to AAA, about 43 million Americans will be traveling at least 50 miles this Thanksgiving. Due to the economy, most of those people will be driving to their destinations. If you’re planning on making a road trip, Melissa Scalzo of Meineke Car Care Centers recommends you check the following before leaving home: 1. Make sure all fluids are properly filled. Not having enough fluids such as oil, coolant, transmission and brake fluid can all leave you stranded by the side of the road. 2. Check your tires' tread wear and air pressure. For suggested air pressure amount, refer to your owner’s manual or the inside of the driver’s door jam. During the winter months, you want your tire pressure to be a little less than the suggested number. 3. Make sure you have good wiper blades to help with visibility during rain or snow fall. Check your wiper blade fluid tank to ensure it is filled with solvent should you need to clean your windshield for better visibility. Have a windshield scraper handy to help scrape frost or snow off. 4. If your brakes are squealing, it may be time to get them replaced. Also, if your brake pedal is softer than normal, it could be a sign of abnormal deterioration. Have a professional mechanic inspect. 5. Check your battery. If it takes you longer than normal to start your car, you may need to get it replaced. If there is any corrosion (gunk) on the battery, you can clean it using baking soda, water and a wire brush, and then wipe it off. Make sure before you do this, you disconnect the battery cables from the battery terminals. A lot of corrosion can cause a bad connection to your alternator (your alternator helps charge your battery). If you’re planning to stay at home this Thanksgiving, you’ll have a whole different host of concerns to worry about. No one wants to have their sink back up after spending all day slaving away in the kitchen, but it’s a common problem after heavy cooking. “Garbage disposals weren’t designed to replace the trash can,” says Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation. “On top of that, they usually get overworked during the holidays.” Here are her five tips to keep your kitchen running smoothly after a turkey feast: 1. Don’t put turkey bones, skin and potato and onion peels down garbage disposal. 2. Throw leftovers in the trash or compost pile. 3. Feed waste gradually to prevent overloading the garbage disposal. 4. Avoid pouring grease down the drain; wipe off greasy pans before washing. 5. Don’t operate dishwasher if you suspect a problem. It discharges into the disposal.