I don't have a dishwasher, and I tend to procrastinate. Thankfully I've gotten into the habit of washing yesterday's dishes in the morning when I make my coffee. As a single person, it's usually just a few dishes and silverware, sometimes a pot or pan and a cutting board. Getting into the routine of doing it every day (like wiping out your sink!) has made my life so much better. It takes 10 minutes.
Last week I let myself slide and let things pile up, but as soon as I smelled something weird that had matured on a plate after a few days, I was back washing them every morning!

I don't have a dishwasher either, I think it's way easier to just wash the dishes everyday. That way there are only a few and they never get gross. This plan backfires when I forget or procrastinate. Then the dishes always get super gross before I finally wash them.

I tend to clean the sink (and the dish tub!) before washing dishes. And sometimes after, too. I also use rinse water and a little dish soap to scrub down counters and the stovetop.

Now if only I could motivate myself (and/or my boyfriend) to wash dishes every night...

I've got to try that microwave disinfecting thing. I hate using bleach.

After years of putting dishes in the sink "for later," my husband and I started always (always) washing them right after the meal. It took a while (the better part of a year) before we had the habit down, but now we can't do it any other way. The sink is always clean, things are always ready to cook again, it's a pleasure to enter the kitchen in the morning, and no worries if unexpected guests drop in.

I clean my kitchen everynight, from sweeping, to wiping down all the appliances, to polishing the granite. If an item does not go in the dishwaher, or if the dishwasher is in use - then I wash that dish immediatly.
If only I can keep this cleaning pattern when it comes to other area's of the home such as my closet...

applebomb, you sound like me. I have kitchen cleaner's procrastination syndrome too.

But seriously, the question I always have is what's the best way to clean a garbage disposal? Sometimes I'm just gagging to dump a bunch of caustic down it, but unfortunately that's not a recommended course of action....

@nottonyharrison - 2 things work really good for me.

1- Crush up some ice in the disposal occasionally. First time I did that, I was so disgusted with all the nastiness that came out of it.

2- I keep lemon/lime halves in my freezer. Every few days (or sooner if I need to), I defrost one in some water while I'm doing the dishes. Than I put the disposal on. It takes a few different times to get the peel all the way gone, but it doesn't go bad if it's in there for a day.

Wow, applebomb, and I thought I was the only nut around. I clean the dishes, the floor, the counters, the sink every night before sleeping. I simply love the feeling of beginning a new day in a clean kitchen!

A little salt and baking soda with the ice will clean and freshen a disposal. Caustic cleaners are hard on drain lines. I also keep baking soda by the sink in a sugar shaker to use for cleaning. Here is an extra fun tip. When I'm all done cleaning I use a little hand soap and a sprinkle of baking soda to wash my hands. Your hands will be as soft as a baby's bottom! Feels so nice!!