How to Organize a Silverware Drawer

Use a tray in the drawer to organize silverware.

If you reach into your silverware drawer for a spoon, only to stab your fingertips on a fork, it's time to organize that drawer. While simply tossing your silverware and other everyday kitchen utensils into the drawer may seem to be an easy solution, you're most likely going to end up with a stuffed-full drawer that makes it difficult to find the utensil you actually need.

Things You'll Need

• Wet sponge or dishrag
• Measuring tape
• Shelf liner
• Scissors
• Drawer organizer
• Knife block (optional)

Instructions

1. Take all of the silverware and any other objects out of the drawer. You may be surprised at what you find in there. Separate items that don't belong in the silverware drawer, such as condiment packets, paper napkins or large kitchen utensils that are better suited to a different drawer.

2. Wipe the bottom of the drawer with the sponge or rag to remove any dust or crumbs.

3. Measure the inside dimensions of the drawer. Cut a piece of shelf liner to match the dimensions and place inside the drawer.

4. Sort the silverware by type. Put butter knives in one pile, steak knives in another, dessert forks in a third and so on. If any silverware is damaged beyond easy repair, such as missing fork tines, discard it.

5. Use a drawer organizer designed for silverware. Get one that has space for all the different types of silverware you have. It needs to fit in the drawer, but it doesn't have to be the exact size. You can have a bit of room in the drawer for other utensils that don't go in the organizer, such as a can opener or cork screw.

6. Arrange the silverware in the organizer by type. Put forks together and lay dessert forks next to dinner forks. Teaspoons can lie next to soup spoons. If the idea of laying sharp steak knives in the organizer doesn't agree with you, invest in a small knife block and store those knives on your counter. Place any other utensils in the drawer, next to the organizer.

References

• The Kitchn; Kitchen Organization: Where Do you Keep Your Silverware?; Emma Christenson; 2009
• The Kitchn; Look! Oil Cloth Liner in the Silverware Drawer; Elizabeth Passerella; 2009
• Real Simple; Jodi's Favorite Drawer Organizers; Jodi Watson
• "How to Organize Just About Everything"; Peter Walsh; 2004