The “Romantic” Nightly Ritual That Keeps My Kitchen Sparkling Clean

I started dating my husband when I was 15 years old. We’re almost 40 now, which means we have exchanged decades of romantic gestures, from letters in our lockers to weekend cabin retreats (but never flowers). Surprisingly, or maybe not, my favorite of all these tokens of affection is the most ordinary: Every night when kitchen closing duties are almost over, my husband makes drinks for us. 

On weekends this might be a tasty mocktail (dry February, anyone?), a delectable cocktail, or a glass of wine. On weekdays, it’s always a cup of tea. Not only is this a fun reward at the end of a cleaning sesh, but it’s also a sweet way to connect and wind down at the end of every day.

Perhaps this ritual doesn’t strike everyone as “romantic,” but I stand by my view that there is nothing more attractive than a partner who cleans unprompted, and makes the last moment of your day feel special, every single day. 

You probably already own everything you need to make this happen (especially the weekday version!), but if you’re looking to upgrade the experience, here are a few buys to make your sips extra special.

• The kettle: Our kettle is simple, but I’ve dropped a few hints about this stunning editor favorite.
• The tea: We’re not snobby about our tea, and we frequently pick up Good Earth Sweet & Spicy or a box of Trader Joe’s Peppermint Tea. That said, I did splurge on The Chai Box for my husband, and he loved it. I’m also a huge fan of Harney & Sons — especially their Paris and Victorian London Fog teas. 
• The froth: If you’re in the market for a sweet Valentine’s Day gift, my husband loves his Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, and I love when he adds steamed milk to my mug of tea. Before that upgrade, he used a Capresso Milk Frother, and before that, this $7 Amazon frother got the job done. 
• The mugs: My son (with his dad’s help) bought a mug with a beautiful floral design for me from Ceramica Botanica on Etsy, and it’s in our regular rotation. If you like to linger over your tea, the Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug is absolutely worth the investment (of course, unless you’re my mother).  
• The bar: If you’re starting your bar cart from scratch, here’s a list of everything your bar cart needs. Amazon also sells affordable sets that are perfect for beginner mixologists. Once you have supplies in hand, find cocktail recipes here.  
• The wine glasses: My favorite way to drink wine is in a lilac Ramona Wine Glass from Anthropologie, and I’ve got my eye on these colorful Kitchn-approved beauties, too. If new stemware isn’t in the budget, a Mason jar works just fine. 

At the end of the day, it doesn’t have to be romantic. I’m convinced this habit stack is the key to having a sparkling kitchen on the regular, but you don’t need a partner or even a roommate to make this happen. After you clean the dishes, sweep the floor, and wipe the counters, make yourself a little something to sip. If all goes to plan, you’ll actually look forward to closing the kitchen, because it means it’s almost time to relax and enjoy your favorite beverage. It truly is the little things!