My Friend’s “Empty Sink” Trick Rescued My Kitchen (and My Mindset)

I used to dread being in my kitchen. Not because of cooking — that I actually liked — but because of the inevitable dish cleanup. One pot left to soak would somehow invite a whole crew of dirty dishes, and before I knew it the sink looked like a disaster zone. It became a cycle: I’d see the mess, feel overwhelmed, and order takeout just to avoid dealing with it. It was stressful, and my kitchen started to feel uninviting.

Then one day while visiting a close friend, I couldn’t help but notice how clean her kitchen looked. Her counters were clear and her sink was completely empty. It looked like she never cooked, which I knew wasn’t true because she’s an excellent cook and often hosts dinners for our friend group. I asked her how she kept it so clean, and that’s when she shared a simple yet game-changing tip: the “empty sink” trick.

The rule is straightforward — every dish, even if it’s just a water glass, gets rinsed and either placed in the dishwasher or hand-washed before you leave the kitchen. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I gave it a try. 

At first, I had to make a conscious effort to rinse and put things away right after using them. It felt silly to open the dishwasher just to put in a single plate or coffee mug — but I was committed. I’d finish a sandwich, then rinse the plate and knife and load them right away. For pots or pans, it took a few extra minutes, but still far less than dealing with an entire sink full of dishes later.

The payoff was immediate. Coming back to a clear sink felt amazing — no clutter, no bad smells, no mental weight of an undone chore. I even started spending more time in the kitchen and cooking more. No matter how tired I was, I’d wash the dishes right after cooking, and it gave me a surprising sense of accomplishment. 

Once I saw the benefits, it became easier to stick with the habit. After a few months, it started to feel natural. I even started wiping down counters more regularly and keeping the whole space neater. Even better? My husband noticed too. At first, I was doing all the rinsing and cleaning, including his dishes. But once he saw how nice the sink looked, he started following suit. Now it’s just how we operate. And it works.

This small habit — which usually takes less than a minute — keeps the sink from spiraling into chaos, creates a ripple effect of cleanliness across the kitchen, and significantly reduces my daily stress.