Kitchen sink mats: Good clean fun

I have a thing for glassware. I have a pretty solid collection of tumblers, goblets, mugs and stemware. They're all different. Some are etched, frosted, clear, glossy white or black. Some are pricey and some not so much. But due to my clumsy nature each glass group is incomplete. They've fallen victim to the kitchen sink.

So rather than continuing on this destructive path I've decided that it's time to invest in a sink mat that will cushion the fall of my precious breakables (and protect my stainless-steel basin from shrapnel-related scratches, too). And lucky for me, and you, these mats are inexpensive and easy on the eye. Here are a few of my favs.

The Pebble mat (shown above) from Solutions is a fun and functional get what with its rock-like design and cushy gel-like texture. It's available in two sizes (regular: 10¼” x 12¼”; large: 12” x 15½”)—it can be trimmed down to fit sink sizes that fall somewhere between those dimensions—and in either clear or graphite. And thanks to the drainage holes between the "pebbles" you won't have to worry about water puddling up. Best yet, this rockin design only costs $7.95 for the regular size and $9.95 for the large. 

Cooking.com has another goody. Known as the Orbz mat, this circle-patterned option is made of durable plastic, is also available in two sizes (regular: 12 1/2" x 10 3/4"; large: 15 1/2" x 12 1/2") that can be cut to fit, and it comes in either graphite or amber. What's the cost? The regular size is $6.49 and the large is $8.49. Not bad! And since this is one of the more modern mats I've seen, I'm thinking this is the one for me. In graphite for sure. Next.

If you dig flowers, I've picked one for you. Thanks to Organize-It, you can jazz up your sink with this Floral-motif mat that's made of rubber for a non-slip grip. And like the others, it has gaps between its petal design to prevent water from pooling, and it comes in two sizes (small: 12" x 11"; large: 16" x 12 1/2"). But of course, this too can be snipped to fit the size of your bowl. I would even save the pruned petals and use them as a cushion for a sink-top soap dish, or to rest a sponge on. There's no need to be wasteful and toss the trimmings. Oh, if you're not afraid of color this mat comes in blue, too. I think I've even seen red and yellow out there as well. Shop around. But at $5.99 for the small and $7.99 for the large, this is a steal.

So even though sink mats are nothing new, they're one of those items that are often forgotten about. Well, until you find yourself crying over the spilled milk and shattered Armani Casa glass in your sink. Yeah, that was a sad moment for me the other night. But since I have a few more of those goblets left (and no funds at the moment to replace them) I'm gonna score myself a sink mat to make sure they stick around for a little while longer.

Cheers.