Have you ever gone to bed with your kitchen looking like this?
Since everyone seems to be in the spring cleaning mode, one great habit to start this spring is doing all your dishes before you go to bed. For that matter, spending 10 minutes walking around the living areas and doing a quick pick-up before bed isn’t a bad idea either.
Over the years I have developed a habit of doing the dishes right after dinner. Since we have kids, they are assigned jobs to help get the kitchen cleaned up. Some clear the table, some put the food away, one wipes the table, and one sweeps or vacuums. I do the dishes. Even on our messiest days, dinner clean up takes less than 30 minutes.
The benefit is that we wake up to a clean kitchen. We can start our days without having to play catch up from the night before. Instead of our school time in the morning being delayed by a massive clean up effort, we can start school early. My kids aren’t hanging around waiting for me to finish cleaning in order for us to have our bible time.
Nightly clean up works for us, what works for you?
Lisa says
I heartly agree! If I miss one day, its more than double the problem. I love the quote. I will have to copy it! That could be a quote of my Father’s Life!
Britni says
I hate doing the dishes and often leave my sink like this. But I always feel better when I wake up to a clean kitchen so I’m gonna try and be better.
Leah says
ah, a reminder. i really need to go do my dishes now. *sigh* 🙂
Stephanie Bowman says
I agree with you. I love waking up to a clean kitchen. I sometimes don’t wash the dishes after dinner b/c i want to spend time with the family. But what is 30 mins? Once it’s done it’s done!!!! I am still growing in this area! Thanks for the great reminder
Nicole says
Nightly clean ups are a must in our house. I have to wake up to some sort of order or I get stressed easily.
Beki says
I too have found it much easier to clean up at night. I can’t accomplish anything the next day with a messy house, and hate playing “catch up”. I spend a little time each evening doing dishes and a quick tidy up of the house. My mornings go much smoother!
xboxwife says
I agree. Going to bed with a shiny sink sure makes for a shinier morning! Great tip! Love the artwork from your friend!
xboxwife says
http://xboxwife.blogspot.com/
THE Mimi says
Are you in my house spying on me? Last week I went to bed without doing my dishes and I felt QUILTY!! Boy, I’ll never do that again! But I do feel better now that I’ve told everyone.
My grandmother had a very small house and she raised 3 children and my Mother says Mamu’s house was always spotless. She had a task assigned for each day and did it. Her kitchen was always spotless even though she always cooked big meals and baked from scratch. Oh and her kitchen sink!!!… you could use the faucet as a mirror!
She was some lady and didn’t have all the fancy sweepers, and appliances like we have today. Oh course her children didn’t have all the toys kids have today.
She died a few days shy of 99 and when she was in her 90’s she was still sewing on her old pedal “Singer”.
Anyway…. DON”T EVER GO TO BED WITH A DIRTY KITCHEN and always remember to tell your husband you love him before you go to sleep. Good night….