J is for Junk Drawer

image credit
Everyone has a junk drawer in their house (I have several), and it's usually a drawer filled with miscellaneous items - a bit of everything really. If it is left too long, it can become very untidy and an overwhelming task to organise, however it can still be done. When organising my junk drawers, I follow three simples steps:

1. Empty It
Put some newspaper on a bench or table, tip everything out of the junk drawer and spread it out. Remove rubbish, or anything you no longer need e.g pens that don't work, old receipts etc and give the drawer a quick clean.

2. Sort It
Go through the contents and return items to their rightful homes (bathroom, kids, garage, bedroom) and then sort the remainder into categories.

3. Organise It
The last step is to organise the drawer - find or make an organising tray to keep things in order. For smaller items, you can use ice trays or little containers (takeaway containers are great) to store things in.

It is important to keep on top of your junk drawer, by doing regular checks throughout the month, so that the junk doesn't start accumulating again. Good luck!

What items have you found in your junk drawer?
#AtoZChallenge

19 comments

  1. You are right! Those tips will ensure that the junk drawer doesn't become just junk :)
    Stopped over from the FB post A2Z thread for letter J! Glad to be here :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. It's a great feeling when the drawer doesn't resemble a 'junk' drawer.

      Delete
  2. I am probably one of the few that actually can say they don't have a junk drawer. If everything has its place then there is no need for one. At least that is my mantra. I get laughed at alot by my friends for this. But, it is true. no junk drawer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is an assumption that 'everyone' has a junk drawer isn't it. Some people may have an untidy drawer but it's not a 'junk' drawer. HIGH 5 to you Michelle I love your mantra - it's so true. You're an inspiration. High 5!

      Delete
  3. A junk drawer is a very good tip for organisation. I'm looking forward to your other posts!

    Stuart

    www.lloydofgamebooks.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I use a cutlery tray to organize my junk drawer. works for me, but man, why are there so many pens in there that are out of ink?
    Stopping by from A to Z. Nice to have found you here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great idea Mary-Anne! Cutlery trays are perfect for drawer organisation! It's crazy isn't and when you want a pen you can't find one...however, clean out the junk drawer (or handbag) and you have TEN! (9 of which don't work ha ha)

      Delete
  5. We call it a Pimlico drawer (from The Meaning of Liff by Douglas Adams, where he takes place names and assigns everyday meanings to them). :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't know that - thanks for sharing Kell.

      Delete
  6. That sounds like a fun Douglas Adams book! Doing a regular check or tune up seems to be pretty important to managing it. BTW, when you blog hop during A to Z, I encourage to share your link so others can find you to reciprocate comments.

    http://www.mauijungalow.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Courtney, Maui looks like a lovely place to live :) Thanks for stopping by - and yes regular checks is important :)

      Delete
  7. I have a junk room that is filled with junk drawers. And a junk closet. Does that count? LOL I love your blog! Visiting from the challenge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to have a junk ROOM too. I liked to call it 'organised clutter'!

      Delete
  8. We have 2 junk drawers in our kitchen (why are they always in the kitchen?) and I need to clean them one out (the other belongs to the man of the house and cleaning it is on him). I'll use your tips and tackle the drawer tomorrow. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck - let me know how you get on :)

      Delete
  9. I think you hit the spot with this post - who doesn't have a junk drawer? Having moved recently I obviously had a lot of clearing out and of course just couldn't believe some of the stuff that had collected in junk drawers (including a dead scorpion in a block of perspex, a "found" gold ear-ring and a plastic dog dirt!!) Lovely to meet another primary school teacher on the A to Z Challenge - I'm signing up to follow on Bloglovin' :) Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! Maybe it's a teacher thing?? I definitely had a junk drawer in my classroom! Popping over to your blog now :) Thanks for following.

      Delete
  10. I love junk drawers. Even though I am an organized fanatic. It helps keep things look cleaner. Yes, cleaning it out can be an adventure and you never really know what you will find.
    Thank you for sharing

    ReplyDelete

Back to Top