The bike engine gets highest priority (me).

My bike cleaning routine is pretty quick. I am a fair weather rider and stick to paved surfaces other than a few hardpack trails that connect paved routes. I am also careful about riding over anything on the road.
I'll pull the computers and saddlebag off.
I lean the bike up against the car on the driveway, set up an old/folding chair next to it, and get the garden hose ready.
I'll sit on the chair to keep knees and back happy.
Then squirt Simple Green over the cassette, derailleurs, crank, pedals, around the brakes and any gritty areas.
Then I squirt blue foamy Dawn concentrate on the same areas plus some of the frame.
Scrub the drivetrain with a nylon bristle brush making sure I get the entire length of the chain.
I'll hose off the bike (but not the handlebars nor saddle), then detail with a blue paper shop towel. The chain and cranks get wiped.
I don't clean the brakepads. They don't seem to get dirty.
The bike dries while I roll up the hose and move the cleaning supplies and chair to the doorstep.
Then I'll spin the cranks and bounce the bike to get the rest of the water off the bike.
I'll also use this time to inspect the frame for scratches/damage, tires for wear or damage, and spin the rear wheel/ping the spokes to see if any spokes sound dull. I'll check chain stretch inside the house with a Park tool.

The bartape is black with a slick finish and stays clean. The saddle stays clean on top (the bike shorts polish it while I ride). The saddlebag keeps the bottom of the saddle clean.
I also tend to run my chain a little on the dry side. It is incredibly cleaner and I've not seen a noticeable reduction in chain/cassette lifespan. Cassette and cranks have 19,000 miles on them.
The bike goes to the shop for repairs other than tire issues. I make sure it's clean first. Bike mechanics appreciate that.

Clean bikes are happy bikes.