Organized Junk Drawer
Here is great article I found about coming to terms with your junk drawer. The solution is to re-purpose your junk drawer as this author called it “the handy drawer.”
I really like this idea as usually your junk drawer is in a prime place in your home. A prime place is a storage area you can easily reach. Secondary places are ones that take some getting to. In other words, a secondary storage place is a place you may have to get on a step stool to get to or get up from your desk and move to another part of the room to get to that space.
So here is how you do it -
Dump the drawer – Rather than pulling out items, one at a time, Dump the contents on the counter top (on a towel to contain the mess) to see what you have.
Make Three piles – One to toss, one to keep, one to reassign. Reassigned items are those that should be stored somewhere else. For instance, you may have screwdrivers or other tools from the garage that needs to go back to the garage. If you are unsure whether to keep an item or not, put it in a nearby basket. After a month or so if no one has used it, pitch it.
Assess what stays – After you determine which items will stay in the Handy Drawer, sort the items in piles of like uses. E.g. tacks, staples and nails; rubber bands and twist ties; flashlights and batteries. Then measure the width, length and depth of the drawer to determine the size of the organizer you will need for your drawer.
Find a system - The author of the article had a lot of small items and was looking for one that would hold boxes with lids to keep pieces from spilling when little hands started digging through the drawer. There are or all sorts of drawer organizers available on line, at the discount stores and at The Container Store and most are inexpensive.
Reload the drawer – With a clean, organized Handy Drawer, now you will spend less time searching for (and at times repurchasing) everyday items you need to keep your household running smoothly
A junk drawer is good way to build your confidence for bigger organizing projects. Here are some online options and one cheap option if you don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Modular Drawer Options
OXO: Durabilty and snap together customization makes this a top pick for drawer organizing. Get it at oxo.com
Linus: Shallow or deep drawer options, buy online(Linus-drawer organizer.com or at The Container Store
Axis International: For a custom look without the prices, these durable wooden, expandable organizers do the trick. Available at Amazon.com
AMAC boxes: Made of sturdy, crystal clear plastic, Mac Boxes simple design and indisputable functionality are ideal for visible, affordable, functional storage. Buy online or The Container Store.
Cheap option – I had upgraded my kitchen drawer silverware organizer and wanted to find a way to recycle the old silverware organizers. I discovered these were great in my bathroom and vanity drawers for organizing such things as scrunchies, make up and small toiletries. They were would work fine for a “handy drawer” also.
