Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Al menos recogemos la basura después de cenar, ya que no hay lavavajillas. - At least we pick up the trash after dinner, since there is no dishwasher.

Al menos often sounds a bit more concessive, like salvaging something from a less-than-ideal situation.
Por lo menos is very common in speech and often used with numbers or minimum quantities. Either would be fine in Spain in this sentence.

Is recogemos la basura what people in Spain usually say after dinner?

It depends on what you mean:

If you mean clear the table, Spaniards usually say recoger la mesa.
If you mean take out the trash to the bins, they say sacar la basura or, in apartment buildings, bajar la basura.
Recoger la basura can mean pick up trash (e.g., that’s scattered) or what garbage collectors do. It’s not the most idiomatic for a routine like taking it out. So, more natural options: Al menos recogemos la mesa… or Al menos sacamos/bajamos la basura…

Why is it después de cenar and not después cenar?

Because después de must be followed by a noun or an infinitive. When you use a verb, you need de plus the infinitive: después de cenar. Without de, it’s ungrammatical.

What’s the difference between después de cenar and después de la cena?

Both are correct, but:

Después de cenar focuses on the activity (after dining).
Después de la cena focuses on the event or mealtime itself (after the dinner). In everyday speech, después de cenar is more common.

When should I use después de que instead of después de + infinitive?

Use después de que when you want a full clause with a conjugated verb, especially if you want to specify a different subject or be more explicit:

Recogemos la basura después de que todos cenan/cenen. With the infinitive (después de cenar), the subject is often the same as the main clause or is left generic. Both patterns are common; choose based on clarity and style.

Indicative or subjunctive after después de que?

Use the subjunctive for future or non-realized actions: Lo haré después de que cenemos.
Use the indicative for past or habitual actions: Lo hice después de que cenamos. / Siempre lo hago después de que cenamos.

Why is there a comma before ya que?

Ya que introduces an explanatory cause, and Spanish typically sets that off with a comma: …, ya que…. You’d also keep the comma if you front the clause: Ya que no hay lavavajillas, … It helps readability and mirrors English since/because clauses used as asides.

Could I use porque, como, or puesto que instead of ya que?

Yes, with small differences in tone and placement:

Porque is the neutral because: … porque no hay lavavajillas.
Ya que often implies a reason assumed to be known/obvious or adds an explanation; it’s a bit more formal/written.
Como means since/as and usually goes at the start: Como no hay lavavajillas, …
Puesto que is more formal: … puesto que no hay lavavajillas.

Can the ya que clause go first?

Yes: Ya que no hay lavavajillas, al menos recogemos la basura después de cenar. That’s very natural in Spanish. Keep the comma after the clause.

Why is it no hay lavavajillas without an article?

With hay (there is/are), Spanish typically omits the indefinite article for nonspecific singular count nouns: no hay lavavajillas = there isn’t a dishwasher. You can say no hay un lavavajillas to emphasize not even one or to specify a particular one, but the unmarked choice is without the article.

Could I say no tenemos lavavajillas instead of no hay lavavajillas?

Yes. No hay lavavajillas states non-existence/availability in that context/place; no tenemos lavavajillas states possession (we don’t have one). Both are fine; choose based on what you want to emphasize.

Is lavavajillas masculine or feminine? How do you form the plural? Any synonyms in Spain?

Lavavajillas is masculine: el lavavajillas.
The plural is invariable in form: los lavavajillas.
In Spain, lavavajillas is the most common term for the machine. You’ll also hear lavaplatos (more in Latin America). Colloquially, some say lavavajillas for the detergent too; context disambiguates.

Does al in al menos mean something literal here?

Al menos is a fixed expression meaning at least. Morphologically, al is the contraction of a + el, but in this idiom it doesn’t add a literal to the. Think of al menos as a set phrase.

Why drop the subject pronoun nosotros before recogemos?

Spanish is a pro-drop language: the ending -mos in recogemos already encodes we. Use nosotros only for emphasis or contrast: Nosotros recogemos la mesa, ellos friegan. Otherwise, omit it.

Why use the simple present recogemos? Would solemos be better for a habit?

The Spanish simple present commonly expresses habits: Recogemos la basura… is perfectly natural. If you want to highlight the habitual nature, Solemos recoger la basura… is also good, but not required.

Is there anything to watch for with the verb recoger (spelling/pronunciation)?

Yes:

G before e/i is pronounced like Spanish j: recoger, recogemos.
The 1st-person singular present changes to keep that sound: yo recojo (with j before o, because go would be a hard [g]).
Past participle: recogido. Imperfect: recogíamos. Preterite: recogimos.

Any nuance about basura as a noun?

La basura is typically uncountable for household trash. Plural las basuras appears in specific contexts (types of waste, municipal categories).
Common collocations in Spain: cubo de basura (bin), bolsa de basura (trash bag), sacar/bajar la basura (take it out), tirar la basura (throw it away), recoger la mesa (clear the table).