Kitchen cleanup can be done faster than you think, even in 15 minutes. I know because it used to take me from 6:00-10:00 pm.No more! 15 minutes & it’s done with these 5 steps! I even included a chart so you can print and post it to keep yourself on track after each meal.
1) Clear the table and leave only the centerpiece. Load the dishwasher, collect hand-wash items, and put the leftovers away ASAP. Get the whole family involved to speed up the process. (Time: five minutes)
2) Set up a rotating family schedule for dish washing. Wash the remaining pots and pans right after the meal before they get crusty and take twice as long to get done. (Time: four minutes)
3) Wash hand items and dry the dishes. Put the drying rack away as soon as possible. A kitchen always looks messy if dishes are continually drying on the counter. (Time: three minutes)
4) Empty the garbage and clean the floor as needed. (Time: two minutes)
5) Wipe off the table and the kitchen counters. (Time: one minute)
Total time spent in cleanup: fifteen minutes. Now you’re finished for the evening and can do something else you enjoy!
Excerpt from Simplify Your Life: Get Organized and Stay That Way! by Marcia Ramsland
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I like to have ALL my dishes done and the pots, pans and casserole dishes done after a meal and the kitchen clean as a whip. But here is a helpful tip that I learned from my mother (even though I still prefer to do ALL dishes right after a meal). If you have a particularly crusty pan or casserole dish, or even a crock pot ceramic, you can add about a Tablespoon (or less) of powdered dishwasher soap (Cascade or Finish) and let it soak with hot water in it. You will be amazed at how easy it is to clean after it has soaked. The left on food comes off very easily.
Mary Kay, this is a great tip. It’s always good to soak in hot water and a dish soap right away. Your mother taught you well!