COOKING IS ONE of life’s greatest pleasures, and there are few things more inviting than the aroma of your favourite meal filling the house as you get ready to sit down for dinner.

Cleaning up afterwards, however, is another matter entirely.

Still, it has to be done, and the quicker you do it, the sooner it will be over and you’ll be free to enjoy the rest of your evening.

This week, we’re looking at some tips for how you can make cleaning after cooking a much easier job.

Clean first, cook second

Shutterstock Shutterstock

Yes, we’re talking about cleaning up after you cook. But you will find this task significantly easier if you start from a position of cleanliness. Dishes will be easier to clean if there aren’t already piles of them from the night before, the counter will be easier to wipe down if it’s not covered in stuff. 

By cleaning before you cook, you’re making it much easier for yourself later on. You’re also getting into the habit of making sure your kitchen is a clean space, rather than permanently in a state of waiting to be cleaned.

Clean as you go

Some cleaning can even be taken care of as you go. For example, fill your pots and pans with hot water before you sit down to eat, so that they’re ready to be quickly cleaned off when you’re done. If you’re waiting for something to boil, or have some time on your hands, use that as an opportunity to clean and put away anything you’re not using anymore.

Most importantly, if something spills, take care of it there and then rather than leaving yourself a big job for the end of the day.

Divide the tasks evenly

Shutterstock Shutterstock

Whether everyone chooses their own tasks or you use a chore wheel or a name-out-of-the-hat system to divvy up tasks at random, a task shared is a burden halved. If you’ve been eating as a family, depending on how many are in your family, you can make short work of cleaning up by making sure everyone has a job to do.

One person should be in charge of clearing the table and putting away things like salt, pepper and kitchen roll, wipe the dining table, and put away the placemats while someone else takes care of washing the dishes. 

If you’ve got a dishwasher, make sure someone is assigned to loading the dishwasher while someone else takes care of the pots, pans and whatever else you’ve been using. 

Watch the floor

When cleaning the kitchen, most of us tend to focus on what’s at eye-level — such as the counter. However, if you’ve been doing some chopping and dealing with fresh ingredients, you want to make sure nothing has fallen onto the floor. 

Usually, going over the floor once with a sweeping brush should be enough to avoid the buildup of any debris.