My kitchen is always deemed "spotless" by guests, but I think they really mean it is tidy. If you look closely, it is not always spotlessly clean but it is definitely organized and looks neat.

Mostly what that means is:

1. Sink is always empty. Dishes into dishwasher immediately after meals. I don't air things out to dry on a dish rack for long periods of time. I put the pot/pans on the rack to drip dry while finishing up cleaning, then finish drying them with a dishcloth and put them away.
2. Mail is sorted in garage and junk mail is put into paper recycling bin before coming into the house. Actual mail that needs to be addressed is put into the office.
3. Nothing on kitchen table. Nothing on island countertop. Regular stuff on countertops (mixer, blender, cookbooks, etc.) but no non-kitchen stuff.
4. Keys are on a peg rack in the hallway, along with husband's wallet, ID badge, spare change, etc.

I'm also someone who grew up in a home that was run exactly like this, so this is how I am used to things in the kitchen!

Ours is relatively spotless. Dishes go in the dishwasher as they are used (although to be fair, I often am the one to put them in, kids and DH are not so good about putting stuff in the dishwasher despite years of training). DH makes dinner and I clean up afterwards. Plays to each of our strengths. There is little I hate more than coming down to a messy kitchen in the AM so I clean it fully each evening. It really doesn't take long - maybe 15 mins.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what really did the trick for me to get motivated to keep my kitchen spotless? The roaches in our new apartment. I used to be a bit more lackadaisical about scrubbing the stove after every cooking session. No longer! Everything gets scrubbed within an inch of its life each evening. Nothing motivates like creepy crawly disgusting bugs.

you should just move and take nothing with you.

The thought has occurred to me, believe me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you use to wipe down your counters, stove, etc? I feel guilty about the amount of paper towel I'm using, but I never know what to do with wet sponges, rags, etc.

I'm the same way. I have microfiber cloths but don't like the idea of putting a damp rag anywhere for any length of time because I hate the smell. Then again, I don't want to run a load of laundry for 2 rags.... So I continue to use paper towels.

Put a rod over your sink, after using rag handwah well in sink and hang to dry. Probably good for a week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question about time:

This morning it took me 45 min to:

1) empty dishwasher
- we have cramped kitchen so putting away requires perilous stacking. We have ditched all mismatched Tupperware and such, just small home for 5 people who cook all meals from scrap arch
2) wash dishes by hand and dry in dishwasher
- dishwasher is crummy so wash by hand and dry there
- we used metal and glass cookware, so significant scrubbing can be required even after soaking overnight. Nonstick not an option
3) wipe down counters, stove, and sweep

DW thinks 45 min is excessive but curious how fast other folks manage their kitchen daily clean?

Depends on how large your kitchen is and how many dirty dishes you had. I've never looked at the time, but in my kitchen it would probably take 20-25 mins or so, unless the stove needed a really thorough scrub.

Kitchen isn't large but is cramped with stools for island, big table for 5 in probably too small a space, and like 15 dishes, 8 cups, pile of flatware, frying pan, pot, and baking sheet with baked on eggs or pasta.

Any times in how you cut so much time off?

Anonymous wrote:What do you use to wipe down your counters, stove, etc? I feel guilty about the amount of paper towel I'm using, but I never know what to do with wet sponges, rags, etc.

I'm the same way. I have microfiber cloths but don't like the idea of putting a damp rag anywhere for any length of time because I hate the smell. Then again, I don't want to run a load of laundry for 2 rags.... So I continue to use paper towels.

Dh travels 2-3dats each week, and the kitchen is cleaner. Kids know to rinse dish before placing in sink,because I'm a little Ocd about the loading dishwasher. We only run it 2-3 times a week so really rinse dishes before loading.I pretty much clean while cooking or right after meal and do a 15 min wipe down at night and unload dishwasher right afterso it looks clean and tidy all day.

It's when Dh is home. He cooks breakfast for the kids and leaves pot on stove or scraps in sink. He tries to load dishwasher and doesn't rinse well or just stuffs things inside. He unloads and puts things anywhere! But I don't want to point these things out because he is "helping".

So today kitchen is tidy but this weekend I will be annoyed.

We both work and 3 kids are in Elem and HS

Anonymous wrote:What do you use to wipe down your counters, stove, etc? I feel guilty about the amount of paper towel I'm using, but I never know what to do with wet sponges, rags, etc.

I have a ton of rags made from old clothes, wash cloths, and loner socks (those are great because you can put your hands in them). If you don't already have rags, you can buy a big box at the hardware store for pretty cheap.

I have a small pretty open trash can-like container I throw them in under a counter, but not closed up (to avoid mold). I generally wring them out well and drape them over the side so they can dry better. If it's just dusty, i just throw it in. I used to use nice microfiber and the trader joes kitchen cloths, but I actually prefer to have a ton of cloths so that I don't need to worry about rinsing them well.

Every other day or so I do a load of laundry, so I just do the rags in the prewash first and then they run through the cycle with whatever I'm washing. My washing machine senses load size, so I don't think I'm wasting too much water.