We hate clutter and junk more than anyone. If you can get by with one oven mitt, why amass a collection of five? Sometimes, though, little things that seem silly are actually super helpful. Here are eight seemingly unnecessary things our staffers couldn't live without.

1. A spoon rest

Whether you get an actual spoon rest, or you just start using a small plate to hold your spoons between stirring sessions, you need something here. By using a spoon rest, you have a real place to put your dirty spoon besides your sink (which means you can't use it again) or your counter (which makes your counter dirty).

Read more: The One Thing I Started Doing That Immediately Made My Kitchen Neater

2. A lemon squeezer

Squeezing lemons by hand (for vinaigrettes, cocktails, and more) is a total pain — especially with all those pesky seeds. Get a lemon squeezer and you'll get all the juice without having to worry about seeds sneaking through.

Buy: Open Kitchen Lemon Press, $13 at Williams Sonoma

3. A pair of shears

That picture above reminded us: You need shears, too. We know what you're thinking, "I have a sharp knife, isn't that enough?" No. No, it is not. Shears can help you cut up a chicken, open packages, chop herbs, and more.

Buy: AmazonBasics Come-Apart Shears, $8

4. A ring dish

Rings really should go somewhere when you're washing dishes and cleaning produce. If you take them off and leave them on the counter all willy nilly, you risk losing them. Have a designated spot for them and you'll always know where they are.

One we love: White and Speckled Ring Dish + Gold, $22 at The Object Enthusiast

5. Dishwashing gloves

They may seem like a staple for housewives in the 1950s, but rubber gloves continue to earn their keep in the modern kitchen. They're a luxury that you're going to be happy to have. Promise.

Buy: Casabella Waterblock Gloves, $7