Do You Clean Up the Dishes Right Away After Each Meal?

I try hard, because it would irritate me not to, but sometimes life gets in the way. For instance I just finished all my computer "work" 4 pm today and ran to the kitchen to start making dinner when 1/2 way through hubby discovered we needed to run to the hardware store. So I put the partly-cooked dinner in the fridge and dumped the utensils in the sink and went with him. On the way out we ran some errands, grabbed a burger at McDonalds, went to the hardware store, ran more errands, and then hubby decided since we were out we should do some grocery shopping. Five hours later, after putting the groceries away, we both just wanted to sit down and rest a bit together...so I am watching his favorite TV show with him, while tackling my new e-mails, and I'll deal with the dishes in an hour or so. Sometimes that sort of thing happens. Sometimes I'm efficient. Sometimes I feel like a ping-pong ball!

How i wish my children will clean the dishes right away after meal!!i prefer that way ..i mean clean/wash it immediately..your mom is lucky to have you then...

Hi wondericequeen, I usually clean up the dishes right away after each meal as it is rather easy to clean when they are still wet. Sometimes we will chat for a while and wash them later. I then will put the plates stand vertically on the dish rack and let them air dry.

When you live in Fl. the land of the bugs you clean everything immediately and keep every counter spotless. I wipe down every cabinet, counter, the stovetop, refridgerator, and sink with a product called Awesome after every use. That way my residence stays bug free. I cannot stand the little critters although I know a lot of people down here just give up and put up with them.. I will not! Not to mention, like you I do not like a messy looking kitchen. Shalom~Adoniah

i'd rather clean it up right away than to wait till it is piled up and you can't stand looking at that mess.

I would usually clean up the dishes twice a day after lunch and dinner. If I did not feel like cleaning it straight away I would rinse them and stack them neatly next to the sink. As I cannot handle looking at dirty dishes.

I do sometimes, but other times, like tonight, I just clean half of it and leave the rest for later. Sometimes right after eating I feel like relaxing for a few hours and I do the dishes eventually. If they aren't too dirty, I might even leave them til the next day. Other times I feel like you and i just want them clean NOW! It just depends on my mood I guess :)

I am blessed with dishwasher so I rinse my dishes and pit them in the dishwasher. When it is full, I run the dishwasher.I wouldn't like dirty dishes piled up either.

i don't like the sight of piled up dishes too so i wash the dishes immediately after eating. i always get pissed whenever i see piled up dishes because of the lazy family members. i always tell them do clean their mess immediately because i hate doing other's chores. it annoys me so much. they really can't blame me if i spit fire on them everytime i see their mess. .

I don't like washing the dishes. It is the most bothering housework for me. However, I don't like to pile them up and wash them later. Usually I will just wash them right away after the meal. Otherwise I don't think I will have a motivation to wash them later.

hello.. Like you i hate the sight of dirty dishes piled high on the sink after a meal. the more i procrastinate, the more terrifying the sight would be. so i normally clean up the dishes immediatly after each meal, so that i can enter the kitchen without cringing each time..

i used to wash the dishes immediately after dinner but not any longer these days i just want to sit down and watch my favourite soapie or i just sit down for another 2hours and wash when am about to retire to bed or the next morning

I usually give it a few minutes after eating THEN clean them. I'd like to see some responses from the men regarding this topic! :D

It all depends on if there are a lot of dishes cause its a waste of water to just wash one dish so if its like 1 dish i wait for them to pile up but most of the time i wash it right after a meal.

I like to do the dishes right away so that they won't dry and harden. I have one caveat though, I won't wash my stepson's dishes. He is almost 21 and is perfectly capable of washing his own dishes and he doesn't do anything else to be helpful. It is not too much to expect him to clean up after his lazy slug self.

i use to work for pizza hut and we were taught tho clean as you go and up until it now i am doing it. it is good practice to tidy up and it is good practice to do things now than later because it will save you time and energy.

It depends. If there is just a few items I will let them sit in the sink until more accumulate. If there are a lot of items I will do them after the meal. I can't see running an entire sink of water for one or two items. For instance, at breakfast there might only be one frying pan and two plates/forks.I will leave those until after dinner. (lunch is usually not eaten at home as hubby and I work out of the home)

Hello wondericequeen, I always clean up the dishes after every meal. I don't like to see the dirty dishes in the kitchen. I will get my headache *laughs* My husband feels írritated' sometimes with my éfficiency'. It doesn't matter... as long as the house is clean and tidy *laughs*

i am a clean freak. i always clean up after myself. i do for two reasons. one: i dont like dirty areas. two: i dont think its fair to leave a mess for someone else to clean.

I agree with you, and yes after each meal my dishes get washed,and my hubby is the same way.