Το βράδυ βάζω τα πιάτα στην πιατοθήκη και μετά καθαρίζω τον νιπτήρα με ζεστό νερό.

In Greek, το βράδυ is a very common time expression, literally the evening, but it often functions adverbially and means in the evening / at night / every evening, depending on context.

So:

• Το βράδυ διαβάζω. = I study in the evening.
• Το βράδυ βάζω τα πιάτα... = In the evening, I put the dishes...

Greek uses the definite article in many time expressions where English may or may not use one.

The Greek present tense can describe:

• something happening right now
• a habit or routine
• a general action

In this sentence, it most naturally sounds like a routine:

• Το βράδυ βάζω... και μετά καθαρίζω...
• In the evening I put... and then I clean...

So the present tense here works like the English simple present for habitual actions.

Βάζω is a very common verb meaning put, place, set, or sometimes put in / put on / put away, depending on context.

Here, because the object is τα πιάτα and the destination is στην πιατοθήκη, it means something like:

• I put the dishes in the dish rack / cupboard
• or more naturally in English, I put the dishes away

So the basic idea is still put, but the full phrase gives it the more natural household meaning.

Τα πιάτα is the dishes / the plates. Greek uses the definite article much more often than English does.

Here, τα πιάτα refers to a specific, understood set of dishes, probably the ones from the meal. In English, we might say simply I put away dishes in some contexts, but Greek normally prefers the article here.

Grammar:

• τα = neuter plural accusative article
• πιάτα = neuter plural noun

Because βάζω takes a direct object, the noun is in the accusative. For neuter plural, nominative and accusative look the same, so πιάτα does not change form.

Στην is the contracted form of σε την.

• σε = in / to / at
• την = feminine singular accusative article

So:

• στην πιατοθήκη = in the dish rack / cupboard

This is very common in Greek:

• σε + την = στην
• σε + το = στο
• σε + τον = στον

Also, after σε, Greek uses the accusative case, which is why the noun appears with the accusative article την.

Πιατοθήκη is a compound noun:

• πιάτο = plate, dish
• θήκη = holder, case, container, place for storing something

So πιατοθήκη literally means something like plate-holder. Depending on context, it can be understood as:

• dish rack
• dish cupboard
• plate cupboard
• plate rack

The exact English translation depends on the kitchen setup.

Μετά means after, afterwards, or then, depending on context.

Here it means then or after that:

• ...και μετά καθαρίζω... = ...and then I clean...

It links the two actions in sequence:

1. put the dishes away
2. then clean the sink

Its position is very natural in Greek. It often comes before the verb it relates to:

• Μετά φεύγω. = Then I leave.
• Και μετά καθαρίζω. = And then I clean.

Because τον νιπτήρα is the direct object of καθαρίζω.

The dictionary form is:

• ο νιπτήρας = the sink / washbasin

But as a direct object, it becomes accusative:

• τον νιπτήρα

So:

• καθαρίζω τον νιπτήρα = I clean the sink

This is a standard masculine noun pattern:

• nominative: ο νιπτήρας
• accusative: τον νιπτήρα

Με ζεστό νερό means with warm water.

• με = with
• ζεστό = warm
• νερό = water

Grammatically:

• με takes the accusative
• νερό is a neuter noun
• ζεστό agrees with νερό in gender, number, and case

So the phrase tells you the means or instrument used for cleaning:

• I clean the sink with warm water

Because the adjective has to agree with the noun it describes.

Here, the noun is:

• νερό = neuter singular

So the adjective must also be neuter singular:

• ζεστό νερό = warm water

Compare:

• ζεστό νερό = warm water (neuter)
• ζεστή σούπα = warm soup (feminine)
• ζεστός καφές = hot/warm coffee (masculine)

Greek word order is more flexible than English word order because case endings and articles help show grammatical roles.

This sentence is very natural as written:

• Το βράδυ βάζω τα πιάτα στην πιατοθήκη και μετά καθαρίζω τον νιπτήρα με ζεστό νερό.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Βάζω τα πιάτα στην πιατοθήκη το βράδυ...
• Μετά καθαρίζω τον νιπτήρα...

Still, the original version is a normal, smooth way to present a sequence of evening actions:

• time first
• first action
• then second action

By itself, it can technically be understood either way, because the Greek present tense allows both.

But without extra context, it most naturally sounds like a habitual routine, especially because of:

• Το βράδυ = in the evening
• και μετά = and then

Together, they make the sentence feel like a description of what someone usually does as part of their evening routine.

If Greek wanted to make it very clearly about right now, context would usually help, or the speaker might say something like τώρα (now).