The Most Efficient Way To Clear A Table After A Meal

From family suppers to dinner parties, cleaning up after meals can be a lot of work. There are dishes to wash, leftovers to put away, and messes to wipe up. While you may already know how to best clean your kitchen, where most of the cleanup usually takes place, another spot will need to be cleaned: the dining table. Although you may overlook this task when planning a meal, clearing the table quickly and thoroughly means everyone can enjoy a calmer and more inviting atmosphere and actually use the space after eating. So, instead of precariously stacking dishes or making way too many trips between the kitchen and dining table, you should learn the most efficient way to clear a table after a meal.

The best way to clear a table is to begin by removing dishes. Starting with the largest dishes, like serving plates, and moving to smaller items makes stacking easier. As you gather the items, stack plates, bowls, and cups with similar shapes, but make sure that everything is stable before you try to transport it to the kitchen. Alternatively, if you don't feel confident carrying stacks of assorted dishes, start with silverware and glassware for easy-to-grab items and reduce potential spills before you grab the rest. When everything is off the table, wipe it down to clear any crumbs and spills. Learning to bring shine back to your wood furniture with a kitchen essential can help your wood table look sparklingly clean. Finally, return any condiments and decor.

Now that you have the basic know-how to efficiently clear a table, you may also want to think about etiquette and safety. If you want to clear a table properly, implementing some restaurant etiquette guidelines, such as waiting until everyone has finished eating before clearing anything, can help you become a better host. When you do clear, be consistent about whether you gather the dishes from the left or right side of each person at the table. As for safety, try to pick up silverware by the handles and avoid touching parts of dishes with slimy or wet food, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after clearing the table — before wiping it down and resetting it.

Once you have an idea of the process, you can test and tailor it to work best for you, as it will vary based on your dishes, the number of guests, and your home's layout. Try clearing starting with the serving dishes one night, and the glassware and silverware the next, to see which is more efficient for you. Maybe you can stack a couple of glasses, but your bowls don't fit together easily. You will need to test it to find out. If you find that you aren't able to carry many dishes at once, consider buying a bin or cart to transport them back and forth, or enlisting some others at the table to help. Once everything is back in the kitchen, correctly store any leftover food and try out some cleaning strategies to make washing the dishes more efficient and less miserable, to make mealtimes, including the cleanup, more enjoyable.