It's a weird quirk of the brain how easy it is to wait until the food hardens onto the cooking utensils before cleaning it (sometimes needing a hammer and chisel to remove it) rather than just rinsing it off immediately with water. Yet, despite knowing this, picking the former route every damn time anyways.

If you're like this, try putting on some small bluetooth headphones. Now cleaning the dishes just becomes a way to keep yourself busy while listening to an interesting podcast.

It's weird... I'm a real lazy person. I do the dishes immediately because of this reason, it's faster and easier. I absolutely hate doing crusty dishes. So, I'm just confused in general why people wait. Its straight up less effort to do it sooner than later.

Do you have kids? I always had the same opinion until I had my daughter, and then all of a sudden there is a 2 year old who needs supervision and it becomes easier to clean up after bed time.

Procrastinating and having your attention pulled in multiple places are two different problems. You acknowledge it's easier and want to do the dishes immediately. But when you realize your two year old is painting the walls with poop or filled the toilet with all the toilet paper and tried flushing, resulting in a flood... Everyone can agree, that takes slightly more precedence than dishes.

> So, I'm just confused in general why people wait.

Really, though?

It's simple procrastination which is always illogical.

Present-self buys temporary comfort at the expense of future-self.

I fill the washing up bowl (or just the sink for the Americans) with hot water while my food is cooking. This has quite a few advantages:

1. It breaks the psychological barrier of actually starting the task of washing up, and because I'm doing other things, I don't feel like I'm waiting around for the water.

2. Dishes created during the cooking process can be cleaned quickly as they're used, without interrupting my flow. That means there's no daunting pile of dishes at the end of the meal.

3. When you finish eating, the water is already there ready for use. It's a simple dunk and wipe which is almost as quick as dumping the plates on the side.

Every time I clean right after I cook I'm stunned by how quick, easy and painless it is.

You know, the two times a year I actually do it.

The difficulty for me is that a lot of food is best right off the stove. Then I have to clean it quickly afterward while happy and full, which is difficult.

And I feel glad I still have my mom and am calling her regularly.

Call your moms!

Pff. My mother's a modern woman. We text and email.

(I feel bad I don't phone more often)

You're not alone. It's a really satisfying practice, and for me it's almost part of the recipe. I've learned not to 'chip in' too much when others are cooking a meal though.

(I've just realized that's basically what I'd say about TDD too)

Me too. In fact I dont usually eat without having cleaned up. I like to finish my day after dinner without having to worry about things I have to do. Post dinner is just for things I want to do.

You are not alone! In that list cleaning the kitchen is perhaps the only thing I do sufficiently diligently:(

me too! you know, that "flow" thing they talk about, nothing puts me quicker in the flow zone than washing the dishes. must have something to do with the sound of running water maybe...

You’re not alone. Cleaning while you cook is the only way

I do it too. But incrementally.

I guess you own a house then!