How to Organize Your Junk Drawer

Let's admit it--we all have at least one! Junk drawer, that is. Following this article, I hope to give you options that may keep you from having the traditional "junk drawer."

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Small baskets or sectional baskets or trays
• A desire to break out of the pack rat mode

Organization

1. We all typically have one in the kitchen--a drawer holding plastic ware, miscellaneous kitchen "tools," birthday candles, matches, perhaps a deck of cards, clean towels, decorative paper napkins, chip clips and anything else you can think of including coupons, rubber bands and twist ties. I have found a solution that works for me: I purchased on sale small "Easter" baskets in which I could place all of my odds and ends. (They were only cents each--so I purchased the whole stack! I knew I could use them for organizing!)
2. Photo of Junk Drawer #1 Organized By Using a Small Basket to Capture All of My Smaller Odds & Ends I placed in the basket birthday candles, matches (I like to light candles in my kitchen to rid it of undesirable cooing odors), a toothpick holder with decorative and ordinary toothpicks, twist ties, rubber bands and a variety of other things (please see photo).
3. This, alone, has made my life much simpler and more efficient. The more efficient your home is, the less time you spend looking for things and the more time you have to do what you want to do! And I venture to say that is not looking for a rubber band!
4. Junk Drawer #2 Organized by Utilizing an Old Easter Tin for Plastic Ware and a Small Basket I actually had 2 "junk drawers" in my kitchen. The second one, I used an old Easter tin that I had also purchased at the sale as well as one of the small baskets. I pack my lunch to take with me to work everyday and I save my plastic ware. The tin was just the right size to hold all of my pieces. In the basket, I placed corn-on-the-cob holders, a deck of cards and other items. The remainder of the drawer holds items I use less frequently (because it is a difficult drawer to open) and chip clips that I have tried to condense and place in an orderly fashion by clipping one to another. (Please see photo.)
5. These small shortcuts can simplify your life and save you some time when it comes to locating small items when you need them!

Tips & Warnings

• Certainly use these ideas, however come up with a system that works for you. You may find that clear containers or dividers work best for you.
• Be careful when it comes to purchasing organizational items--they are enticing--but many just complicate things and break the bank.