There is at least one on every house; the "junk drawer," that black hole horror that is the scourge of kitchen cabinetry everywhere. Make your junk drawer far less scary and much easier to navigate with these organizational tips.
Limit Yourself to One Junk Drawer
It may seem daunting, but try to limit your junk drawer to a single drawer. If you have multiple drawers in your house that have been deemed junk drawers, pool the contents of all of the drawers for the organizational process.
Get Rid of the Actual Junk
Last time I dumped the contents of my junk drawer onto the table for a good sorting, I was astonished at how much of the contents was just that - junk. Amongst the rubble I found the users manual for a blender I gave to Goodwill several years ago, three tubes of dried-up crazy glue, a power cord for a cell phone long since dead, and an assortment of enough bread bag twist ties to seal the world's largest loaf.
Sort through the complete content of your junk drawer. Make two piles; things you are keeping and things you are throwing away. Get rid of anything you don't need. If there are items in the drawer that you no longer have a use for but don't want to throw away, set these things aside for a yard sale or donation to charity.
Find Appropriate Homes for Junk Drawer Contents
Sort through the keep pile again using a critical eye. Is there another logical place to keep any of these items? Things like paper clips and rubber bands can be stored in a desk or office area if possible. Paperwork like owners manuals and warranty information should be kept in organized file folders with other important documents. Sort as much of your junk drawer contents into new, appropriate homes as possible, making things easier to find on the fly.
Dividers for Junk Drawers
The best way to keep the remaining contents of your junk drawer organized is with drawer dividers. Measure the depth, width, and interior height of your junk drawer and look for a divider or combination of dividers that will fit. Look for modular drawer dividers that let you purchase individual units for a quick and easy way to customize the interior of any drawer. Store the content of the drawer in these dividers, keeping like items together.
Clean Your Junk Drawer Frequently
Keep your freshly organized junk drawer from becoming a dumping ground by frequently revisiting these tips. Rather than letting excess junk build up until the drawer will no longer close is a far more daunting task to undertake than cleaning and reorganizing your junk drawer every few weeks or months.
