The word order evokes in our minds images of kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living rooms that are perfect, with pristine cleanliness and where nothing is out of place. In my experience, reality is imperfect, thank goodness, and I can now tolerate—and even enjoy—spaces that are simply clean and tidy, where life unfolds naturally.
To relativise the ideal of perfection doesn’t mean we can relax and lounge about. In the kitchen, to live in peace there, I share the advice of the expert in order and domestic habits Sara Domínguez, who focuses on a concrete, realistic measure: the habit of washing the dishes in good time. A daily gesture which, she explains, directly affects how we perceive our kitchen and, indeed, our home.
Once you have this habit well established, you can consider, for example, improving the cleanliness of the kitchen using natural degreasers or simply putting a little more order.
The sink as the barometer of order
Sara Domínguez explains in the YouTube podcast ‘Tengo sentido’ that the kitchen is one of the spaces that most influence the overall sense of order, because it’s a highly visible and heavily used space by the whole family. “A kitchen with a sink piled high with dishes doesn’t feel orderly,” she explains.
It doesn’t matter if the rest of the house is tidier or messier. If the worktop or the sink is full, the brain interprets that there are tasks pending, visual noise and disorder. Therefore, she insists that the aim is not a magazine-perfect kitchen, but a kitchen that conveys calm.
It’s not about spending the day scrubbing
One of the most common mistakes is thinking that this habit involves washing dishes continuously. Far from it. Sara does not speak of obsession or perfectionism, but of closing the cycle at least once a day.
‘Once a day, the kitchen dishes are cleared’ is the key idea. It can be in the evening, after dinner, or at another moment that fits with each person’s routine. The important thing is not when, but that it happens. That sense of closure is essential for the domestic calm.
Turning the gesture into a habit, not effort
Sara Domínguez insists that order cannot be sustained by improvisation and willpower. The habit of washing dishes works when it stops being a daily decision and becomes automatic.
To achieve this, she recommends linking it to a specific moment of the day. Don’t overthink it, don’t renegotiate it. One way to do this, for example, is to pair it with another habit you already have in your routine. Simply assume that after a certain moment, for example after dinner, the sink remains clear. When the brain understands that “this is what always happens”, it stops resisting.
The mistake of leaving it “for tomorrow”
One of the biggest enemies of this habit is the phrase “I’ll do it later.” According to Sara, leaving the dishes for the next day tends to have the opposite effect, we start the day with a sense of debt to our own home.
Moreover, piles of dishes tend to attract more mess. Things are stacked on top, workspace is lost and the kitchen becomes less functional. Therefore, she emphasises the importance of closing the day with a clean sink, whenever possible.
Tailoring the habit to each reality
This habit is not rigid or the same for everyone. Not all houses have dishwashers, nor do all families generate the same amount of dishes. The key is to adapt it without losing the aim. Some practical ideas that fit with this approach:
- Wash by hand, but only once a day.
- Use the dishwasher and empty it immediately so it’s always available.
- Avoid leaving dishes “soaking” for hours.
It’s not about making it perfect, but about making it sustainable.
A small habit with a big impact
The habit of dishes is simple, concrete and realistic. It doesn’t require major changes or long cleaning sessions; only consistency. And, as Sara Domínguez argues, it is one of the most effective gestures to make a home feel calm, even when it isn’t perfect.
Because sometimes tidying isn’t about doing everything, but about choosing well where to start. And the sink, almost always, is the best place.
