I wash dishes as I go, so a huge pile never accumulates.
Also, rarely use measuring cups, whisks, food processors, etc. so that stuff never gets dirty to start with.
A little squirt of dish soap on a dish or pan, scrub it up clean under hot water and set it in the drainer, immediately after use.
Only use the dishwasher for all the plates, cups, bowls, silverware, etc after a big meal.
My wife and daughter drag out everything we own to prepare a meal, then leave it dirty piled beside and in the sink till done cooking. Then gripe about having to do dishes.
Some of the lazy folks at work tend to just throw dirty dishes in the sink, thinking it will magically go away.
Somebody put a funny note there a while back ..... CHECK IT OUT, SELF CLEANING DISHES, AWESOME !
That kind of stopped things for a while.