Clean kitchen is a must. When I cook I clean as I go. When finished the only thing dirty (dishes) is what is being used to eat off of. Now my wife, she is a good cook, but every dish in the kitchen is dirty and piled in the sink when she is finished. I try to help but she says I get in the way. She does wash the dishes after the meal. And the kitchen is clean. We do have a dish washer but I have never used it. CF
I absolutely can not cook in a dirty kitchen. My kitchen is so tiny if there are any dishes in the sink it blocks my access to the water. When they request big meals I have to constantly stop cooking to wash up dishes before I can continue because they are in my way. Especially the rotisserie chickens. You have to clean that monster of a rotisserie machine when they are done and put it away and clear up the counter. Same thing with the bread machine. I don't have much counter space at all.
It's best to clean as you go - it's give you a chance to rest aftgerwards instead of slaving in the kitchen and cleaning longer.