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Family dinners can be an opportunity to enjoy each other, but the clean up time after can be a huge waste of time. Between work, school, activities and more, time spent cleaning in the kitchen after dinner is time away from more important activities. Here are some ways to make your mealtime clean up as easily as possible.
Plan Meals With Cleanup In Mind
Avoiding recipes that call for an army of pots, pans, and serving dishes is another good way to do that. Many people are looking to use one pan for their family for their meal, or to cook on the stove top rather than using the oven, microwave, or crock pot. Getting your ingredients prepped ahead of time is another smart way to limit the amount of dishes you need to do.
While you’re planning your meals for the day, think of ways that you can avoid having to do dishes. Like by serving the food you cooked in the pan it was cooked in so you won’t have to do another dish, and by saving your cutting board, measuring cups and spoons, and utensils from the dishwasher by using them twice.
Clean As You Cook
While cooking food, you can clean individual utensils or other small objects. Rather than leaving all of the cooking mess until later, you can clean them while the food is being cooked. You can do this by putting the small objects in the sink or dishwasher where they can be cleaned while the food is simmering on the stove or in the oven. Alternatively, you could wipe a counter clean after using it to stop the food being on it from hardening and making it harder to wipe clean.
If you are in between cooking tasks or steps, rather than stopping to clean everything immediately, you could use your spare time to wipe or rinse a few things. This way, by the time the food is ready to eat, most of the cleaning up will already be done. If you clean up as you go rather than waiting until the end, it will not take nearly as long.
Give Everyone A Cleanup Role
After helping your children clean up after a family dinner you shouldn’t always do the work for them. You can choose what to have them do based on their age and ability. For example you could put one child in charge of clearing the table, another in charge of loading the dishwasher, and a third in charge of wiping down the counters and table. They should be able to bring things to the kitchen if they are old enough and if it is not too dangerous.
Helping your children clean up will show them that in order to eat they will have to help clean up. It will also make them aware that everyone needs to pitch in order to make the clean up process run smoother. Having certain kids do certain jobs every time will keep fights over what people should do down. Kids might be more willing to help clean up if they know what they have to do instead of them being surprised every night.
Make Dishwasher Loading Efficient
Using a dishwasher can save a lot of time, but it is important to make sure everything is organized correctly in order to get clean dishes in return. Plates, bowls, and silverware should all be put in their designated spot so that they are able to clean correctly. Any large chunks of food should be thrown away or put in the compost rather than being put into the dishwasher. This will prevent any clogs and food particles from getting on other dishes.
Keeping cleaning supplies in an organized manner as well as putting them back where they belong after using them can keep your kitchen clutter free. Anyone will be able to find them easily when it is cleaning time. Same goes for dishwasher pods or tablets, if one has to do extra cleaning work.
Keep Countertops And Sinks Clear
After the major clean up, you can always handle the little spills. You could wipe your counter tops and sink down, then put away anything you used to prepare food so that everything is in its place. That should not take long, it’s just the little things that seem to stay on the counter until they are swept away.
Having a clean sink can make mornings a lot easier as well. If you leave the dirty dishes in the sink overnight it can create more of a mess leaving you with less time to prepare a good breakfast for your family as you rush them out the door to school and work.
That’s why if you have even a few minutes to spare before you head off to bed then you should definitely spend it cleaning the kitchen so that when the next morning rolls around your family doesn’t have to find another mess to clean up along with their own spill or something they dropped. Everyone will be grateful for the extra time and the less things to worry about they will be able to enjoy their morning.
Establish A Consistent Routine
A routine that everyone can follow will help make cleanups after dinner as simple as possible. The whole family can follow the same basic cleanup steps each night so that everyone knows what to do. It should be simple, quick, and effective, while still leaving the kitchen in a decent state.
The routine should also be realistic based on each family’s schedule. Some nights will involve fewer dishes and less mess than others, but things should generally be taken care of before bedtime each night. Making a habit out of these steps can make family dinner cleanups a normal part of an otherwise busy weeknight.