Preparing garlic

[pennycarbonara]

I don't like garlic crushers because they waste a lot of it and they are a massive faff to clean. (the tin opener shaped ones with the little holes.)
Chopping it doesn't release as much flavour as crushing it.
An Italian friend has a knack of how to crush it with the flat of a knife but I can't quite do this without it sliding about and/or not squashing well. I use a table knife so as not to cut myself and then chop the slightly squashed garlic with a vegetable knife.
Should have really worked out a better way years ago. are there any other methods people use?

I swear by garlic powder now, but before that would just flatten with the heel of my hand, skin off and grate with my tiny grater.

Get a load of garlic, peel and whizz in a food processor.
Pop into a sterilised jar, cover with cider vinegar and keep it in the fridge.

A microplane style find grater is the easiest way I find. They are a bit pricey but they last forever and make easy work of garlic/ginger/Parmesan/lemo zest etc.