Cleaning Series #1 - Dishes

You might think, dishes?  Really?  She feels the need to blog about dishes?  Well, yes I do.... Here's why.  There are some people who can cook, eat dinner (or whatever meal) and then just sit and either watch TV or go on doing whatever it is they were doing and before they know it the sink is full and things are all around the kitchen counters and then they feel overwhelmed and don't want to do anything at all with the kitchen.  Well, I'm not one of those.  I cannot sit and relax if there is something left un-done (don't judge the spelling, I sometimes make words up).  So here is what I do... IF (I say IF, because it is very rare that I do this) I cook, I typically clean whatever I am using as soon as I am finished with it.  If it's a pot or a pan (apparently those are different items) I will at least put it in the sink with hot soapy water until after dinner.  Either way, I try to make sure anything not being used to serve dinner (or whatever meal) it is in the sink soaking for the clean up.  As soon as I have completed my meal, I immediately get up from my seat and begin cleaning the kitchen.  I make sure all dishes are cleaned off and placed in the dishwasher and I typically wash all pots and pans by hand as well as any wine glasses.
Of course, there is a specific  way I like to load the dishwasher, but a great little tip my amazing husband taught me when we were dating was to put all silverware together (i.e. all spoons together, all forks together, etc.).  BTW, I love that tip!  His reason for doing it was to make it easier to grab and put away once they are clean, but I like that little tip, because then everything is in order.
Once you have loaded the dishwasher and washed all the pots and pans make sure you wipe down all the counters and if you had anything that splashed (like grease, yuck) wipe down those as well (i.e. microwave, stove, etc.).    The last thing I like to do is dry the sink of all water before I turn out the light and leave the kitchen.
Once all this is done I guarantee you will feel better and I know your kitchen will look better!
Happy cleaning....

My favorite granite cleaner (and it smells good)

You will get addicted to a clean dry sink (btw, to clean your stainless steel sink I suggest Bartender's Keeper)

Ahhhhh.... nice clean counter top!