What is your kitchen "closing" routine

[Anonymous]

I sometimes leave the pots in the kitchen sink because my kids are responsible for washing those so if they didn’t get them done after dinner, they are there for them in the morning or after school. Kids are responsible for loading dinner dishes into dishwasher and I will start it if it looks full or leave it for breakfast if not.

We compost so while I only take out the trash once a week, I try to take out the compost bin nightly. I mostly just wipe down all the counters and appliances and, if I’m not exhausted, will also wash out the sinks. I don’t use wipes or spray or anything unless there is something grody. My mom was a total clean freak and we had to scrub out the sink nightly with disinfectant. My dad always said we were more likely to be poisoned by the disinfectant than by anything in the sink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anything about “close”, but the dishes go into the dishwasher, whatever needs to be hand washed is washed, then wipe the sink and counter and set the coffee maker for the next morning.

If needed, clean the stove top and sweep the floor. If there is stuff that you took out to make dinner - any appliances or special dishes - put that away.

This is what I do too. I don’t like anything extra sitting out. So whatever I hand wash, like pots and pans get dried and put away before I go to bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Load and start the dishwasher, handwashing pots and pans and set them out to dry (usually right on top of the stove, spray and wipe island , wipe kitchen table with a damp paper towel, and "spot sweep" any crumbs (as opposed to doing the whole kitchen floor.

If a pot boiled over or something, I admit I don't necessarily clean the stove the same night.

This is pretty much my routine. I fully sweep the kitchen & dining room (not much more effort than targeting visible debris), take all the recycling thay has accumulated over the day out to the bins, and also set up the coffee pot for the morning.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! This is all good advice. I think I can likely manage wiping down counters / table / possibly stick vac the floor. My husband primarily does the dishes and I wouldn’t say necessarily the sink is empty at the end of the night but I’m probably not going to take that job over from him. I don’t see many people say they disinfect the sink every night… do people do that? I never feel like I can “use” the kitchen sink in ways that you’d need it to be germ free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anything about “close”, but the dishes go into the dishwasher, whatever needs to be hand washed is washed, then wipe the sink and counter and set the coffee maker for the next morning.

If needed, clean the stove top and sweep the floor. If there is stuff that you took out to make dinner - any appliances or special dishes - put that away.

This is what we do too except for the coffee part. You’re setting yourself up for a pedestrian cup of coffee. Beans should be taken out of sealed storage and then ground immediately before brewing coffee. So let it be written.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anything about “close”, but the dishes go into the dishwasher, whatever needs to be hand washed is washed, then wipe the sink and counter and set the coffee maker for the next morning.

If needed, clean the stove top and sweep the floor. If there is stuff that you took out to make dinner - any appliances or special dishes - put that away.

Basically this. I also set out the plates / cups for next day’s breakfast to gain an extra moment of sleep.

Oh and take the trash out.

every day?

It keeps smells down in the kitchen and also helps prevent roaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know anything about “close”, but the dishes go into the dishwasher, whatever needs to be hand washed is washed, then wipe the sink and counter and set the coffee maker for the next morning.

If needed, clean the stove top and sweep the floor. If there is stuff that you took out to make dinner - any appliances or special dishes - put that away.

This is what we do too except for the coffee part. You’re setting yourself up for a pedestrian cup of coffee. Beans should be taken out of sealed storage and then ground immediately before brewing coffee. So let it be written.

You mean you don't roast the beans fresh each morning?

You're drinking swill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you feel like helping a moron out, who didn't grow in a "clean" household - what do you do to "clean" "close" reset every night after dinner? If anything ??? Is there like a routine that normal people do Thanks!

You’re not a moron!

My kitchen is cleaned (closed) after dinner. I wash the dishes - dishwasher and hand wash. Put everything away. Spray the counters. Sweep.

It is glorious waking up to a clean kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dishes and pans that fit go in dishwasher set to start in 4 hours. Hand-wash anything that's not fitting or has to be. Use cleaner wipes on stove, counters, island. Shake crumbs off placemats or put in wash.
DH takes trash out.

I Dyson the floor in the morning.

Why to start in four hours?

Probably so they don't have to listen to the noise of the dishwasher while they're awake and on the same floor it's on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! This is all good advice. I think I can likely manage wiping down counters / table / possibly stick vac the floor. My husband primarily does the dishes and I wouldn’t say necessarily the sink is empty at the end of the night but I’m probably not going to take that job over from him. I don’t see many people say they disinfect the sink every night… do people do that? I never feel like I can “use” the kitchen sink in ways that you’d need it to be germ free.

I’ve never in my life disinfected my sink. Never.

[Anonymous]

The personal chef and house keeper take care of it. I like to retire to my bedroom and start my before-bed spa routine (husband and I have separate bathrooms off the primary suite).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! This is all good advice. I think I can likely manage wiping down counters / table / possibly stick vac the floor. My husband primarily does the dishes and I wouldn’t say necessarily the sink is empty at the end of the night but I’m probably not going to take that job over from him. I don’t see many people say they disinfect the sink every night… do people do that? I never feel like I can “use” the kitchen sink in ways that you’d need it to be germ free.

As the pots and pans drip dry, I clean the sink, usually with a spray, especially if I've cooked meat or fish -- the idea of those germs hanging out in the sink is nasty. I also remove and clean the rubber trap as it will really stink if you let gunk collect in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the absolute most important thing you do to close your kitchen is making sure the stove and oven are off. Everything else is preference.

This.

I’m tired at night I clean in the am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes leave the pots in the kitchen sink because my kids are responsible for washing those so if they didn’t get them done after dinner, they are there for them in the morning or after school. Kids are responsible for loading dinner dishes into dishwasher and I will start it if it looks full or leave it for breakfast if not.

We compost so while I only take out the trash once a week, I try to take out the compost bin nightly. I mostly just wipe down all the counters and appliances and, if I’m not exhausted, will also wash out the sinks. I don’t use wipes or spray or anything unless there is something grody. My mom was a total clean freak and we had to scrub out the sink nightly with disinfectant. My dad always said we were more likely to be poisoned by the disinfectant than by anything in the sink.

My niece keeps her compost in the freezer. She has a little disposable bag and like a tiny trashcan. Btw if you don’t want to do that nightly.

[Anonymous]

Dishes in the dishwasher, pots and pans washed, counters wiped, floor clean if it got dirty. I don't run the dishwasher every night, just when it is full. Same with the trash unless there is something smelly in it like the wrapping for fish. I might leave a pan to soak overnight but that is rare.