What I’m about to tell you is so simple, I’m expecting eye rolls.  Even so, it’s the #1 cause for losing your cooking groove. 

There’s nothing more demotivating than a messed up kitchen, or the knowledge that it’s going to get messed up if you cook in it.

I’m the WORST at this.  With 8 people in our family, I run 4 loads of dishes daily through the dishwashers (I have 2 dishwashers–and I’m still a mess.)  Those of you washing by hand have my respect. The days I work online or have home projects going, I let the kitchen slide.  The mess can be completely overwhelming.  When every surface is covered and the sink is full of dishes, cooking is the last thing I want to do.

On a good day I take momentum from disgust and go all Millie from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  On a bad day, I leave the family to scrounge for themselves making a bigger mess.

The #1 thing you can do to get your cooking groove back is to clean up the kitchen and have a simple process so it will never get destroyed again. Here are some guidelines that can help:

1.  Do not allow dirty dishes in the sink.  Use a dish tub instead and keep it under the sink if you have room, or as a sink liner so you can lift the whole thing out when necessary.  When the tub is full, deal with it right then. Have you ever had so many dirty dishes in your sink that you couldn’t rinse them even if you wanted to?  One meal can completely fill my sink–so frustrating.  This ends now!

2. Before you start cooking, fill the non disposal side of your sink (if you have a double sink) with soapy water.    If you have single sink, fill a dish tub with soapy water.  And get a clean rag.  This way you can wipe up spills on the counter before they dry, and wash or rinse your cooking things as you go.

3.  Before you start cooking, know the state of your dishwasher.  If it’s clean, empty it so you can load your cooking dishes right away.  If it’s dirty, run it and use your soapy water to stay clean as you go.  If you have children, delegate!  Making the kitchen a cheerful place by  smiling and sharing conversation, letting helpers lick the bowl (except if you’re making meatloaf), and giving lots of appreciation will encourage the kids to be there.

4.  After the meal, no one can leave until the kitchen is cleaned up.  I’m not above bribing my gang to keep them motivated.  I often have coconut oil chocolates in the fridge or Starbursts in the closet.  Everyone who cheerfully helps, gets a sweet treat.

Here is a list of jobs to delegate:

1. Put food away
2. Rinse and load dishes in the dishwasher.
3. Take dirty linens to the laundry.
4. Wipe counters and the table.
5. Sweep or vacuum floor.
6. Spot clean floor spills or mop if it’s really bad.

The hardest part of this process are evening activities that rush or eliminate our clean up time.  How do you handle that at your house?