The cleaning hack I swear by

I will die on this hill. ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ [Healthline]( [Wellness Wire]( Presented by [Labcorp OnDemand]( In a Nutshell An efficient life is a happy life — at least for me. Time is of the essence, people! We only have so many hours in a day to do the things we want to accomplish — including resting. That’s why I tell everyone to clean while you cook. If you’re not already doing this, let’s chat about why I think you could benefit from this productivity tip that I love so much. But first, here are some other stories you might want to read: • [Different types of neck pain — and what they mean]( • [How to prevent heart disease]( • [The effects of lung cancer on your body]( Happy Friday! Kenny Thapoung Managing Newsletter Editor, Healthline Written by Kenny Thapoung March 15, 2024 • 5 min read [Do you clean *while* you cook? Or, do you wait until you’re done eating?]( what’s got us buzzing [Do you clean *while* you cook? Or, do you wait until you’re done eating?]( I have a small kitchen — no dishwasher, only a drying rack. This means that I have to be strategic with my space, particularly when I’m cooking a more elaborate dinner that requires several steps and utensils. If I wait until I’m done cooking to [clean all of my dishes]( — including spoons for stirring, the cutting board, knives, mise-en-place bowls, pots, and pans — I won’t have enough room to let everything dry. I could use a towel to hand-dry freshly washed plates and cutlery, but that’s extra laundry for my hamper. And I’m not trying to go to the laundromat any more often than I already do! Remember: I want to *save* time and energy here. If I clean as I cook, I can allow dishes to get relatively dry while I’m still making my way through a recipe. When I’m done, I can transfer whatever’s been drying to their respective storage spots — even if there are still a few drops of water lingering — to make room for new dishes. You might think, “Kenny, why are you so passionate about this?! It’s just dishes.” If I’m being honest with you, the real reason I prefer to clean as I go is because I get very [anxious]( when I’m sitting down to eat and see a pile of dirty dishes stacked in the sink. But if I know that there will only be a small handful of dishes to clean, I’m much less stressed by the not-too-distant future. For me, eating dinner marks the “end” of my day. The act of cooking is still considered “work” in my brain. So while I’m still in “work” mode, I try to do anything I can to cut down on that time. After my plate is empty, all I want to do is clean up quickly so that I can spend the rest of my evening actually chilling out. Cleaning as I cook lets me do exactly that. If you relate at all, maybe this strategy can help you, too. I understand this kind of [“productivity hack”]( isn’t for everyone, so I want to hear your point of view: Do you clean dishes while you cook or after? Which method makes your soul feel at ease? Let me know at wellnesswire@healthline.com because I know people have *thoughts*! [How to Feel More Productive]( Great finds Scrub-a-dub-dub [Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap]( [Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap]( Soap as a product recommendation? I know, it’s not the sexiest product I could talk about, but Dawn dish soap is the only brand I use to wash every bowl, plate, and food storage container I have in my house. Now I can’t confirm how effective Dawn is at scrubbing oil off of a duckling, but it’s great at removing caked-on grease from dinnerware and my stove — not to mention random gunk on my white sneakers! [SHOP NOW]( Every product we recommend has gone through either [Healthline's]( or Optum Store’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. [Get the Wellness Wire Wishlist!]( Want health and wellness products that actually work? We vet and review hundreds of brands, services, and products to help you live better. Sign up for the Wishlist to get our recommendations and exclusive deals. 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[SHOP HORMONE TESTS]( Sponsored [Stop Wondering, Start Testing]( Get a Labcorp OnDemand hormone test to better understand your health. Use HEALTHLINE20 for 20% off select tests. [SHOP NOW [→]]( [Stop Wondering, Start Testing]( health stories you need What we’re reading next [] ☀️ [How to reduce your chance of melanoma skin cancer.]( Yes, it’s preventable with the right precautions. 👀 [Is this experimental drug the next big weight loss treatment?]( Maaaaaaybe. 🍓 [11 natural remedies for menopause relief.]( Symptoms can last for years, so it’s good to find what works for you sooner rather than later. 😷 [The CDC has new COVID isolation guidelines.]( See the latest — and why they suggested these changes. Thanks for joining me this week! Morgan will be back in your inboxes on Monday! Until next time, [healthline]( Take care of yourself, and we’ll see you again soon! [Telegram] This edition was powered by an empty sink. 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