I thought you might like a recap of the kitchen portion of The Reasonably Clean House series.
Of course, you can always go to the categories to see what's been posted. I'm not done quite yet, but we've covered a lot already, haven't we?
- Rules for the kids.
Even a small child can clear his place.
- Flow.
You need the big picture of how you are handling food and clean and dirty dishes in your kitchen.
- Horizontal Surface Management.
A secret for the clutter bug.
- Make things pretty over the kitchen sink.
When you make it pretty, you like it better!
- The things you clean with should be cleaner than the things you clean!
Choose the right level of clean for the cleaning that you are doing.
- Pause for cleanup.
For the “clean-as-you-go”-impaired, another way to think about it.
This weekend I was inspired by Amanda Soule's post on a dish mat she made, to do the same. That is just the kind of crafting I love — a true hack. Take what you have on hand and make something you need! She's right — it's a very satisfying feeling!
Clearly a bath towel is going to make a better soaker for clean dishes than a thinner dish towel, and I like the idea of another layer. When I put the dishes away, the mat hangs on the oven door to dry. I made three so I can always have a fresh, clean one.
The bath towels I used were actually in good condition and wonderfully absorbent, but had that syndrome — you know the one I mean — where the binding shrunk and left the whole thing looking a sorry mess. Why do “they” make them that way?
These linen towels are cute — well, that calendar one is sort of beyond cute and into um…you should probably throw that away…but — BUT!! I know my MIL gave it to me because it's the year of our wedding, and it does have that old linen absorbancy…how could I throw it away? I ask you?
The others, which my mother gave me, were practically new, but I tend not to put linen towels in my rotation, for the most part, because cotton towels make better covers for rising dough. Do you find that? Dough sticks to linen something terrible.
I just went around the edges of the two towels with a stitch that binds the ends. Easy-peasy. |
So when I'm grabbing a towel from the pile, I want it to be a cotton one. But here is the perfect application for these beautiful towels. There was a third, but I wrecked it trying another craft that didn't pan out. That happens sometimes — things just don't work because of some unforeseen factor. You can move on if it's just stuff you've pulled from your stash…
Someone's craft space is a leetle out of control… |
So, back to that list of posts — is there anything you've found has helped your kitchen cleanup to go more smoothly? I'd love to hear from you!
sarah says
Thanks for the great dishmat idea. I've got several old towels and spare dish cloths in the linens closet, and dishes that keep dripping all over the counter. Dishmat sewing session coming up this week!
womanofthehouse says
Here's something I do that makes washing up infinitely easier: Just before I sit down to eat, I put a little dishwashing liquid in any skillets, etc. I used, put some water in and set them back on the burners I was cooking with. They soak while I eat, then when it's time to wash dishes, they hardly require any elbow grease at all. The remaining heat helps the process along a little. It's a quick and relatively painless way to wash pots and pans.
Tiff says
You know what helped me today>? Seeing your craft area! Seriously, thank you for being real, I feel about 10x Less inadequate now 🙂 I read Amanda's blog too, but sometimes the perfect sugary sweetness of it all gets to me. OOh, that sounded really catty, sorry, but it's true.
_Leila says
Really? I always find her photos very real and humble. Just because she's not as sarcastic as Auntie Leila… 😉
Tiff says
I knew that was going to sound bad, maybe it's just me and they way I read it.
priest's wife says
I do confess to being verrrrry jealous of soulmama's new farm house- it is so beautiful- and perfect- but she is always writing about the boxes that are on the other side of the camera and the plumbing…so I think she is grounded
Tiff says
Sometimes you just want to eat your words. I really should not say anything negative about someone I don't even know, I was just saying how it makes me feel sometimes. Wish I could delete the whole thing. Sorry.
_Leila says
Tiff, not a biggie. I know what you meant! It's hard to put things out there and not think that people are going to either think you are trying to be perfect or indirectly critiquing someone else. For the record I put here the kinds of things I'd like to see on a blog myself, and they are not meant to detract from anyone else's work. I get really inspired by even the most “perfect” posts, but sometimes I do have to turn away, lest I just end up feeling inadequate! Without meaning to, I probably do that to others.
margo says
I used to feel like such a mean mother when I read Amanda Soule's posts, but then one time, she wrote about how her blog is her “happy place” and she focuses on the postive. That gave me a different perspective.
I think I focus on the positive on my blog too. I'm not sure this is bad. It's nice to look back on the good things and forget the bad, right?
But a photo of your messy crafting area is also documentary, Leila. I think in later years you can look back and remember details of your life and habits that you would have forgotten otherwise. I love how you always show the real, ordinary house you live in with all your pretty things that you use.
Robin says
Auntie Leila,
I've been trying to implement your clean-as-you-go technique, which is brilliant!
What I've tried to do is make more meals that get simmered and served, rather than fussed at until the very end. That way, I do my pre-clean-up (loading the dishwasher, throw away peelings, etc.) while that last simmering is happening. I'm going to try to work my way up to cleaning as I go while making a fussing at the end meal.
Thank you!
_Leila says
Robin, that is a good strategy. No wonder our foremothers liked to serve up stews and soups!
margo says
now, a comment about the sticky bread dough: I much prefer linen towels in my kitchen because they don't get everything else fuzzy and linty in the laundry or in the kitchen. My linen towels don't stick to my bread, but I'm not sure why. I do oil my yeast dough before it rises and I do usually make the linen towel wet.
I have been thinking about a dish mat, too, and thinking it would look nicer than my slightly nasty plastic drainboard!
_Leila says
I don't know why, but my dough always sticks terribly to the linen towels, even though I wet them the same way as the cotton! And of course, oil or butter the outside of the dough…
Robin says
Here's my anti-house cleaning comment (as in, when I am a really bad housekeeper):
I tried putting a dry (yes, dry, I'm stupid) cloth over some bread dough to let rise. I had intended to take it off before the bread came up to the top. Well, I, of course, forgot about it, and it was beautifully risen and beautifully stuck. I tried to pull it off gently, to ease it off, and that didn't work. So, in a momentary flash of brilliance (not) I tried ripping it off fast, ala Bandaid. What I succeeded in doing was transferring a whole chunk of the dough onto my ceiling! And what is worse is that I didn't notice (not thinking to look up). I smoothed the dough and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. Later, my husband came in and asked *what* that chunk of goo was doing on the ceiling! And it had dried! Ack! With no way to chip it off without making it worse. My husband's solution? He sprayed it with white spray paint and it sort of blends in. I hope I never have to explain it to a real estate agent or anything.
Yeah, I've got a lot to learn.
_Leila says
Robin, you are too funny!
Christina A says
I ditched the towel cover awhile back. My mixer bowl came with a cover (the Electrolux Assistent, which I lovelovelove). When I max out the bowl with dough and need extra space for rising, I divide the dough in half and put part in a huge stockpot with a lid. Then when I form my loaves, I turn the dough out onto a huge Silpat silicone baking mat, then use it to cover my loaves. I might wet down a couple tea towels and put them over the Silpat if I’m making buns in a shallow pan, but the Silpat alone works great for covering loaf pans. Loving this kitchen series, by the way; thanks!
Betsy M says
You always have such timely posts for me Leila. We had a big snowstorm here the last few days and so I have been reading Laura Ingall's “These Happy Golden Years” to my kids again while they are all cooped up inside. Reading about Laura's dreadful time at Mrs. Brewsters house with the “plates and knives carelessly askew on a smudged white cloth: the cloth crooked on the table.” just makes me desperate to get my own house in order. I asked the 7yr old if she thought that our place was like that? It was nice to hear that she felt our place was just like Laura's folks, thank goodness! Still, it has me cleaning.
Horizontal surface management has been my goal in the house recently with very little results. I need to find homes for all of the papers and phones and such before I make much headway. I had best get at that today (you give such good inspiration.)
Betsy M says
Sorry to go on so long but I just had to add that your towels are lovely. I had seen on Sew Mamma Sew's blog where someone had made similar ones but had quilted a pattern on the top towel down one side. I bookmarked it at the time for my to-do pile. However your style will be that which I end up making – less work. I had just checked Amanda's new book out from the library and thought that it was great. I just love how she re-purposes her fabrics.
_Leila says
Betsy, I did quilt two lines vertically on the calendar one, because it was more wonky than the other two, probably b/c it's a way older (and droopier) towel.
Dyan says
I don't think your craft area looks messy at all! I think it looks organized with the wire shelves and all…We're rearranging our dining room (which used to be the craft room) and now I'm without a table to sew on. Some projects are just going to have to wait. I like the idea of dedicated towels to catch the drips.
Thanks for the ideas.
MamaHen says
Leila, I have been wanting to write you for quite awhile. I want to thank you. I have been a homemaker for 16 years and I feel for the first time I have been given “permission” to be the homemaker I long to be. I am not sure if permission is the right word, but reading your blog has given me a confidence that I didn't have before. The reasonably clean house-so what I needed to hear. I have four children of all ages at home with me all day. I love having them here with me, I would never change that, but my house always seemed messy and out of control. Somehow, and I don't know how, but your post on dishclothes in the kitchen really spoke to me. I guess I had thought that things like dishclothes didn't matter-but they do! My husband can't do his job without the proper tools and it just hit me that I can't either. I did not go out and buy super-cute expensive dishclothes, but I cut up some old towels and now I have more than enough. I do not have to wait until the laundry is done to have a clean dishcloth and therefore the counters dont' have to be dirty just a little longer. And the cycle went on and on. After reading that post I gave myself permission to do my homemaking my way. We now take Monday off from school and do a big housecleaning. All the children work, well the four year old is learning, and we just get it done. I clean the fridge, adjust my pantry, mop, vaccuum-the big stuff. I just made a list of what needed to be done, the kids pick something off the list and get to work. We are pleasantly surprised because it doesn't take nearly as long as we think it will. They are rewarded for their hard work by a library trip in the late afternoon. The rest of the week I can concentrate on school and cooking. And just being a mom. If something really needs doing, like a mopping after the toilet overflows, of course that gets done. And the basics are done everyday, sweeping, cleaning the kitchen, wiping the bathrooms, etc… But knowing that shower IS going to get cleaned on Monday takes the pressure off. I don't know if this makes sense, but THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I would love to get to meet you in person one day to thank you then.
_Leila says
Well, thank you! 🙂
freckled hen says
I love those dish drying towels and just scouted through a basket of old towels. I have learned something from each of your cleaning posts and find it hard to add anything as you are supreme when it comes to helpful advice…often I wash the pans while they are still pretty warm, and sometimes still hot. They are much easier to clean, especially when you've made something like fudge that has a sugary syrup that hardens quickly. I've had pretty much the same pans for 18 years and they are no more worse for wear.
And yes in answer to your comment…we are headed to Hanscom this summer. It's like a really good dream!
_Leila says
I am wicked excited about this. You have to learn to say “wicked excited.”
Maria says
How very “New England” of you ; )
Becka says
I love reading your blog–it's like visiting in the kitchen of an old friend. One thing that has made my house cleaning lots more fun recently is the discovery of Mrs. Meyer's all purpose cleaner–lavender scent. The delightful smell makes me want to clean the bathroom!
Glenda Childers says
This is such a practical idea and still loving that yellow bowl.
Leila, check out my blog on Wednesday, I am sending you a blog award. And after reading the above comments, I think I made a good choice in telling 7 things about myself. I decided to tell my weaknesses and quirks rather than my strengths. I had fun doing it, too.
Fondly,
Glenda
Mamabear says
I don't use a dish rack anymore because I realized I never put up the miscellany, so I made myself some similar mats out of a vintage strawberry print tablecloth….makes me so happy! Except that I backed with flannel and a towel would have been a more logical choice. This is the only blog I read where I read all of the comments.
Recently my mother in law watched in disbelief as I cut new dishcloths into fourths and then finished the edges….I had to get them just right!
Judy@Learning says
Something that I find handy is a dish scrubber with handle–you know, the kind that has bristles. I keep it hanging on the inside of the door below the sink, and it's always there to give a quick scrub to a pot that can be immediately returned to service (I don't have many pots), or to clean the sink with a little scrub. It's always in use in our house and makes cleaning up an easier task.
Betsy says
I've been so helped by one simple tip – have a tub full of hot, soapy water available, even during dinner prep, but especially for the dirty dishes afterwards. What a brilliant idea! One of those, “Why didn't I figure that out years ago?” ideas.
Sue says
I gleaned something from every post, but the “Managing Horizontal Surfaces” one speaks to the depths of my soul. Maybe it's the so-much-younger-than-my-siblings-as-to-be-practically-an-only-child side of me that always feels like we must have very similar personalities. I am always nodding about everything you say about yourself and thinking, yep, me too! :o) I, however, am much more scatter brained, which must be the “baby” in me!
My daughter and I were looking at your kitchen photos together, and she said that she loves looking at the photos of your house, because they always look so sunny and homey. I concur. I love your blue and yellow kitchen. Love. it.
Sarah says
I have those mixing bowls in blue. Have a happy day!!
Mary says
A bit off topic but can you tell me if the “Little Britches” books that you recommend are by Ralph Moody?
Thanks,
Mary
_Leila says
Yes, they are!
Emily says
I just made a dish drying mat and it totally changed my kitchen! Instead of a grungy piece of plastic, propped up with a piece of cardboard so it drained…now I have a lovely cream and floral mat! I'm working on two more so that I can switch them out while one is drying. Thank you for the link and the idea!
Donna Marie says
I use bar mop towels for any messy kitchen clean ups and for the counter top. The drying towels for the dishes are a completely different type. That way the kids didn’t put food messes back on the clean dishes. it is hard to out-think the “help” some days. LOL