Now I did dishes this past Sunday as well but somehow in this house dirty dishes are generated at an alarming rate. In fact upon my return from work Monday evening I found that the previously empty sink contained at least a dozen dirty glasses and assorted other cutlery. I believe this pile may have been caused by my roommate returning items that have been collecting in his room before departing on a 4 day ski trip in hopes that they would be cleaned before his return so he wouldn't have to deal with him. The whole thing was probably prompted by me asking him why I could only find one spoon after all dishes were done on Sunday.

This is what my kitchen looks like after 4 days use by 4 guys. It's not as bad as it has been in the past.

When cleaning the kitchen I like to work in stages breaking one daunting task into several small milestones. I started by clearing off what I like to call my breakfast nook but is really just a counter separating the kitchen from the living room.

First I moved all dirty dishes to the staging area (the counter next to the sink), then put away any food and put the garbage in the bin. After a wipe down it looks like this.

I then cleared off the dish receiving area by emptying the drying rack and by putting the dishes either in the cupboard or back on the pile of dirty dishes depending on who washed them. There was only one plate that needed rewashing today. Somehow a pile of recyclables also accumulated in this area and this I moved to the recycling bins outside.

I then washed the dishes in small batches moving them into the drying rack and then into the cupboard when the drying rack filled. This was done in several steps and afterward I cleared the counter off and give it a thorough wipe.

Finally I swept the floor and took out the trash.

The cleaned kitchen looks like this and is now ready to prepare dinner.