How I learned to Love Doing the Dishes: The Simple Habits That Transformed My Kitchen

Do you hate doing the dishes? I did, before I changed my routines and mindset about what doing the dishes actually does for my home. I’d like to share with you the simple habits that transformed my kitchen and how I learned to love doing the dishes.

If you had told me years ago that doing the dishes would become one of my favorite homemaking rhythms, I would’ve laughed. As a kid, I dreaded them. As a young wife, I tolerated them. They felt endless, repetitive, and honestly… annoying.

But somewhere along the way – slowly, gently – that changed.
And I didn’t even notice it at first.

What used to feel like a chore I “had to get through” has become a moment of peace in my day. A reset. A small act of care that blesses our whole home. And I wanted to share that with you, because if you still dislike this chore, I promise… it doesn’t have to stay that way.

The Little Joy Hidden in Ordinary Work

There’s a quote I love by St. Teresa of Calcutta:

“Wash the plate, not because it’s dirty, nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.”

The first time I read that, it softened something in me.

It reframed the whole task.
Not as drudgery.
Not as an obligation.
But as an act of love.

Every plate, every glass, every spoon, they serve the people in my home. And washing them is one small way I get to serve, too.

There’s a quiet beauty in that.

Why a Clean Workspace Became a Clear Headspace

Some of my love for doing the dishes came from realizing how much the kitchen affects the rest of the home. When the sink is piled high, the whole space feels heavier. More chaotic. It’s hard to start dinner when lunch is still sitting there staring at you. You know?

But when the dishes are done?
Everything feels lighter. Brighter. More manageable.

A clean kitchen gives me a clear head.
It’s like my entire home takes a deep breath.

Serving My Family Through the Simple Things

For years, I thought “productivity” meant checking off big tasks or making big progress, but homemaking taught me something different.

Sometimes productivity is quiet.
Sometimes it happens in the background.
Sometimes it’s as simple as making sure tomorrow starts smoother because of what I chose to do today.

Doing the dishes is one of those small acts that supports all the larger rhythms in our home.

It creates margin and warmth without anyone really noticing, but feeling the difference all the same.

It helps meals flow more easily. It means my husband walks into a kitchen that feels calm instead of chaotic.
It means we’re caring for the space God has entrusted to us.

And that matters to me.

The Habit That Changed Everything: Closing My Kitchen Each Night

One of the biggest reasons I learned to love doing the dishes is because of a habit I’ve kept for over ten years now:

I never go to bed with a dirty kitchen.

Every night, after dinner, I “close my kitchen.”

It’s not a deep clean. It’s not perfection. It’s just a gentle reset:

• the last of the dishes washed or loaded
• counters wiped
• the sink rinsed
• coffee prepped for the morning
• the lights turned off on a fresh, ready-for-tomorrow space

This routine has truly transformed my evenings.
It signals that the day is finished.
It gives my brain permission to rest.
And it gives my future self the gift of walking into a peaceful kitchen the next morning.

There is nothing like the feeling of making coffee in a kitchen that’s already clean. It sets the tone for the whole day.

Because when I walk into a clean, quiet kitchen the next day… it’s like the day is already starting on my side.

There’s no overwhelm waiting for me.
No piles.
No yesterday’s chaos sitting there demanding attention before I even make coffee.

Instead, my kitchen feels ready to serve our family again.
And honestly… I feel more ready, too.

“Closing the kitchen” at night is kind of like telling myself,
“You’ve done enough today. Your home is cared for. You can rest now.”

And this little ritual – this simple closing of the kitchen – played a huge role in helping me grow from disliking dishes to actually loving them.

How I Learned to Love Doing the Dishes (and How You Can Too)

As I began to reflect on my own shift, I realized there were a few things that made all the difference.

If dishes still feel like a chore you dread, here are a few things that helped me soften into the routine.

1. Make it an Experience You Enjoy

Soft music, warm water, a peaceful atmosphere, let it be slow and calming, not rushed.

• Listen to worship music, soft jazz, your favorite dance tunes, or a podcast
• Light a candle
• Use yummy-smelling soap and a cute new dish brush
• Use this as a dedicated prayer time

I love the feel of the warm water on my hands, the simple rhythm of soap and rinse, the way each piece goes from messy to clean.
It’s almost meditative… a moment to be fully present in something simple.

2. Think of Dishes as a Reset, Not a Task

Peaceful mornings. Better meals. Less stress. A home that feels loved.

This was my biggest shift.
Instead of “Ugh, I have to do the dishes,” I started telling myself,
“This is my reset. This is how I give tomorrow or later today a gentler start.”

The kitchen is the heart of the home. When it feels open and peaceful, the whole day feels lighter.

You don’t have to scrub and deep clean; just keeping up with the dishes creates that visual and mental breathing room.

So next time you walk into a messy sink, think of it like turning a page. A fresh start.

3. Wash Throughout the Day, Not All at Once

An opportunity to serve your people. Your home. For your future self.

This is the practical tip that saved me.
Instead of waiting until after dinner when the sink is Mount Everest, I started washing as I went:

• A few breakfast dishes
  
• The cutting board from lunch
  
• A mug or two in the afternoon
  
• And then after dinner, a tiny pile instead of a disaster zone
  

Little bits throughout the day keep the kitchen feeling light and manageable.
And it keeps that overwhelm from building.

Instead of feeling behind, you feel caught up, and that feels so good.

Joy Is Often Found in the Smallest Rhythms

Homemaking is full of invisible work – work no one sees, but everyone benefits from. And dishes are one of the simplest, clearest examples of that.

I didn’t set out to love doing the dishes… but love grew there anyway.
In the warm water.
In the quiet of the evening.
In the simple faithfulness of tending to my home.

And maybe, just maybe, it can grow for you too.

If you’re on the journey to love homemaking, you’re in the right place.

See more of my homemaking content below + check out the SHOP for homeschool printables and FREEBIES like this gorgeous Homeschool Planner for Christian Moms.

Keep finding joy in the little things,