There's nothing like a disastrously messy kitchen to really kill your buzz after actually making dinner—whether you fix it every night or just this once. Worse yet, such an undertaking—at bedtime, no less!—might deter you from ever making dinner again. But as the most kitchen-savvy know: Once equipped with a handful of mess-preventing and cleanup-speeding tools, your kitchen won't be nearly as annoying to clean after meal-making. Perhaps it's no surprise that our favorite of these gadgets also look really dang cute while getting the job done. Shop the lot of them, and then get cooking.

For fewer oil splatters everywhere...

Splatter Guard

One of the most annoying forms of kitchen mess? Oil splatters from sautéeing or frying just about anything: They'll cling mightily to any surface and have to be scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed again clean. Meaning the easiest way to fight them is to prevent them in the first place. Traditional metal splatter screens work fine, but new silicone versions are even easier to work with—just soak in sudsy water or dishwash to clean.

For floors (and rugs) that never stain...

Vinyl Floor Mats

We're all about having a warm, decorative rug underfoot in a kitchen—it so quickly takes a space from feeling sterile to cozy—except that with one splat of tomato sauce or a broken egg they're all but done for (and that's definitely going to happen). Try a vinyl floor mat instead, particularly if it looks as va-va-voom as these tile-inspired versions from Food52. Just wipe any spills clean with a damp cloth or all-purpose cleaner.

For a drain that's never clogged...

Sink Strainer

Whether you opt for a classic stainless-steel model or one of the newfangled silicone varities that you can simply pinch to remove, a drain strainer is a kitchen necessity. Unless you prefer digging out slimy food scraps with your fingers? Or calling a plumber to scrape the pipe clean? Didn't think so. Once it's full of gunk, lift free, clink it clean inside the garbage can, and then replace.

For a counter that's crumb- and flour-free...

Bench Scraper

Most likely found in the baking aisle, a bench scraper is a tool used to gather and divide doughs with ease—but it's also an incredibly effective cleaning tool. After any mess-making, move dirty supplies to the sink and scrape all the crumbs into a trash can or the sink using the blade of the bench scraper. A quick counter wipe-down after that is all you'll need.

For baking sheets you don't have to fight to get clean...

Baking Mats

When roasting or baking anything, cover your pan before you begin either with a silicone mat you can stick right in the dishwasher afterward or with parchment sheets that are silicone-coated. They'll prevent scorching and sticking, so more blistered tomatoes end up on your plate and less have to be scrubbed free with a scouring pad. Then simply lightly soap the baking sheet clean.

Homepage photo by Rocky Luten.