# In The Kitchen: Clean Up As You Cook, or Huge Mess When Your Done? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909 "2002-11-01T23:03:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leifsmama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a698b9/32.png) [@Leifsmama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leifsmama)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/21 "2002-11-02T19:51:18Z")
I clean as I go. My husband is in the cyclone catagory. We both cook professionally. At work Leifsdad is as tidy as anybody could desire, but at home…YIKES! My mother is a clean a couple of days after type person. ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/22 "2002-11-02T23:10:54Z")
I tend to be a ‘clean as you go’ type of cook. For starters we have a tiny kitchen with very little work surface so I have no choice really. Secondly, it drives me nuts to have a messy kitchen. I like to know where everything is, and have a place for everything. If there are any pots left to be washed - usually at least one by the time everything is served - I will at least put it in the sink to soak if it’s not greasy. My mom and my sister leave things until after the meal. Then the argument ensues as to who’s turn it is to clean up. BTW my sister (27) her kid and hubby have moved back in with my mom recently. But as we were growing up we had a family understanding that whoever cooked did not have to do the dishes. The cowbag would use every single bloody pot, pan, plate and utensil in the kitchen before she was done. I, the kind and considerate one, tried to make sure there was not much to be done. I thought that perhaps she would get the hint and be kind in return… She has yet to get _that_ hint. But again, IMHO a clean kitchen is a must so I clean as I cook. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/23 "2002-11-03T00:05:01Z")
A little from column A, a little from column B. Things that are quick to clean (or will be nasty if they sit) get done as I go. I only have so much drying rack space, so big things wait until after. I usually cook only for me, so there’s little chance of a humongous mess waiting for me. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/24 "2002-11-03T00:12:54Z")
The day my wife is returning. :o ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/25 "2002-11-03T02:01:49Z")
Nothing is ever cleaned until it is needed again. ---
**Author:** ![ghandi5569](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@ghandi5569](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghandi5569)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/26 "2002-11-03T03:24:32Z")
I clean as I cook. My kitchen has a real lack of cabinent and counter space (although it is huge otherwise). When I cook, I tend to have to reuse the same bowls and measuring cups and spoons, because my kitchen only holds so much. Sometimes I’ll borrow dishes from the neighbor, but when I do that, I usually have to wash them first (she’s not a big fan of washing dishes). Plus, in my kitchen, I cook for other people–many of the dishes are plates, bowls, silverware and tableservice for 12. I’d rather have to wash a pot twice during cooking then to not have enough plates for my guests to enjoy the food. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/27 "2002-11-03T06:14:40Z")
Big mess maker 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/28 "2002-11-03T06:43:05Z")
_Extraordinarily_ big mess maker. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/29 "2002-11-03T16:40:15Z")
I clean as I go. For me, it’s simply easier. Most people have bigger walk-in closet space than I do in my Van Nuys kitchen. ☹ Waiting 'til the end isn’t an option. But even when I lived in larger quarters, I still cleaned as I went. It’s easy, when everything is simmering along or baking to simply take the spare minute or three to clean up the bowls, pots pans, etc. When stuff is still wet or fresh, it comes off so much more easily than waiting 'til it’s hard and dry ☹ Definitely clean-as-you-go! ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/30 "2002-11-03T16:45:35Z")
I definitely clean as I go because I can’t stand sitting down to a nice dinner and then having to face a huge mess afterwards when I’d rather be relaxing. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/31 "2002-11-04T04:49:22Z")
I clean as I cook, and still leave the kitchen looking like the aftermath of a tornado. This is undoubtedly due to my rather chaotic approach to food preparation and kitchen organization. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/32 "2002-11-04T05:05:38Z")
I clean as I cook, and still leave the kitchen looking like the aftermath of a tornado. This is undoubtedly due to my rather chaotic approach to food preparation and kitchen organization. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/33 "2002-11-04T05:17:17Z")
And, apparently, posting. &@#^ network… ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/34 "2002-11-04T05:52:59Z")
I like to clean as I go but that is usually only practicle when baking/roasting. Nearly every other meal is plated up from the wok/grill/pots/pans at the moment that everything is ready and then it’s sit down to eat. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/35 "2002-11-04T13:23:32Z")
I worked as a chef while in hight school and then in college, and I was taught to clean as you go. The habit stuck with me. While things are cooking, I’m cleaning up. After dinner, I simply put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and I’m finished. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/36 "2002-11-04T13:59:37Z")
I sort of clean as I go - putting things in the sink to soak as I finish with them. But to me, getting everything ready and hot at the same time is more important than being tidy. If I’m not cooking for an immediate meal, I’m more inclined to clean as i go. In any case, I don’t leave messes overnight. Nothing worse than a gross, disgusting kitchen first thing when you wake up. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/37 "2002-11-04T14:08:34Z")
My wife cleans as she goes. I use every utensil in the house, create an enormous mess, and don’t clean up until after we’ve eaten, or even the next day. I claim that I cook in an “artistic” fashion, and that to interrupt the creative process would ruin the perfection of the meal. Is there a male/female schism here? ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/38 "2002-11-04T14:58:20Z")
I clean as I go. I am a whir of activity in the kitchen, working so fast to cook clean, and prepare the table that I make an _Iron Chef_ with 30 seconds until the gong of fate seem like a sloth on the verge of a valium overdose. When I am done I want to be _done_. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/39 "2002-11-04T15:02:01Z")
I wash dishes as soon as I’m done eating, so no work needs to be done later! ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909/40 "2002-11-04T16:36:22Z")
My hubby doesn’t quite understand that the counter and surface of the stove won’t clean itself so I usually clean the kitchen _before_ I start cooking. I try to keep counter surfaces clean and clear, too. If I’m cooking a tomato-based dish, for example, I wipe any tomato drips off the counter/stove top as I go. I rinse and reuse utensils and cutting boards, if necessary. If I’m working with a big bowl or pot, I will try to wash, dry and put it away so there’s more room in the sink. Fortunately, we have a dishwasher. If the meal I’m preparing uses a lot of utensils, bowls, appliances (e.g. blender, food processor, steamer, etc.), I’ll start a load prior to serving the meal so there’s less work to do after we’ve eaten. I can’t stand going to sleep with a dirty kitchen. If the amount of dishes we use is too much for one load in the dishwasher, I’ll hand wash what’s left and put it away. I must clean the counters and stove top, sweep the floor and make sure there are no bits of food in the sink strainer before leaving the kitchen for the night. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-kitchen-clean-up-as-you-cook-or-huge-mess-when-your-done/134909.md?page=1)