As far as the kitchen goes, I find it much, much easier to clean as I cook. I often have a few minutes between cooking tasks. So I rinse and clean a pot while the other is brought to a simmer. I have to be in the kitchen anyway. May as well get something done.
We are far from what some folks call clean, but also a lot cleaner than many. I’ve dealt with hoarders and know that when things get to such a state it is hard to overcome it.
Exactly what I do. When I’m ready to sit and actually eat, all that’s left to clean is my plate and utensils and like one pot. Seems to me the most efficient use of my time.
Just piling up stuff in the sink, you’re trading about 30 seconds of effort now for like an hour of work later.
I agree. I emptied the dishwasher last night during a commercial break during The Walking Dead, and put the cats’ dirty dishes in two seconds later.
But I have no patience with smelly, food-covered dishes in the sink. gags
It’s also a more effective use of my time to clean as I cook, so when I’m done eating, I don’t have all of the prep utensils and dishes to clean up. I have serving dishes and eating dishes. (Getting my mom to understand this – and that food just dropped in the sink grosses me out – is an uphill battle, so I put away the regular dishes and clean the crystal and silver at the holidays. We have a deal.)