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Don't be ashamed, we've all got one. Photo: AOL
1. A pair of scissors. Scissors in the junk drawer are a must! I have often resorted to using my kitchen shears for cutting things open, and that's just not what they're for. So, grab a cheap pair and stow them away because I bet you'll need them soon enough.
2. Paper clips and safety pins. When things need organizing or fastening, there's nothing worse than running into your office to dig up a paper clip or sifting through your sewing supplies for a safety pin. Having a handful right there in the good old junk drawer makes things come together a lot faster. You can even get a little canister for each one so that you're not rummaging through the bottom of the drawer searching for a lone clip.
3. Pens and pencils. This is probably a given, but I'm stating it anyway. Everyone always searches for an extra pen in the kitchen because there really isn't a proper place for writing utensils among the other utensils. Therefore, it seems as though all those promotional pens end up in the junk drawer.
4. Bandages. Just in case you cut yourself while chopping veggies or the little one runs into the kitchen with a boo-boo, you've got an instant first aid kit right there.
5. Gum. It's always a nice surprise to open your junk drawer to spot a piece of gum or candy.
6. Rubber bands. I've started making a rubber band ball in my junk drawer to keep them a bit organized. Rubber bands running amok can cause quite a mess in your junk drawer. While they're essential, try to keep them wrangled.
7. Bag clips. If you don't have the bag clips that have magnets on the back, keep your chip bag clips and other clips stashed in your junk drawer. Every time you finish a bag of chips, toss the clip in the drawer.
8. Batteries. Many people keep batteries in their refrigerator, but it has been debated whether or not doing so actually extends battery life. Therefore, I stash mine in the junk drawer. I usually have AAs and AAAs available because they're the most commonly used in my household. Tip: If you live in a humid climate, this is not recommended because batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place.
9. Mini screw drivers and hex key. Keep these mini tools handy for quick fixes.
10. Emery boards. I crack, split or break a nail almost once a week, so it's nice to have an emery board handy to fix up my nail before I bite it!
Tip: Try out a drawer organizer in the beginning to see if it works for you -- it might just stick. If not, don't feel defeated! Like we said, everyone has a junk drawer so no need to be ashamed of your tiny hidden mess!
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More tips:
- 5 things you can do today to organize your bedroom
- Clean up your bathroom in 5 easy steps
- Junk Drawer groups on Flickr
Reader comments (Page 1 of 2)
Soem Duct Tape would come in handy for a quick fix for lots of things.
ReplyWe keep duct tape in a couple places.. One in the shoe box container labeled tape, glue, mini hot glue and puddys in the walk in pantry and another in the box labeled house repair supplies, again, in the pantry, , while another in the celler on the workbench.
Ok..maybe there is where I go wrong... NO junk draw. I have many draws, but each filled
Replywith what they are supposed to be filled with. What do I do with acumulating stuff... Have
a basket I keep on the table, and when it gets too overfilled I take time out to empty it making
the rounds of the house putting everything from that basket where it really belongs..including
the loose paper clip, tack, safety pin, pens, sissors, etc.
I keep the pens and sissors...many sissors, in various places... One place is in the kitchen where
it can be seen on a counter... the sissors, also in a jar in the bathroom, and one in the bedroom...another in the medicine cabenet.
I have a pantry with shoe size plastic see through boxes..many of them, and labels on the front of each... I keep everything from sewing supplies, repair supplies, and so forth in them and in order.
If I Need something a quick scan of the shelves brings me to the shoe box I need in a second.
I keep a standing medicine cabinet, and devote each shelf and section to a different catagory of medicine and emergency supplies including first aide guides and medical help books. Have my safety pins in there and also in a few other places including the sewing section of pantry.
Still, my house gets cluttered... maybe because of that system of everyone dropping their stuff everywhere... me gathering them up and putting them in that basket..and then when I have time
me alone sorting and putting back in their proper places..
But, a junk draw... I guess I have a junk basket...unfortunately out in the open where everyone can see it... good and bad there...bad because everyone sees it..good because it encourages me to
empty it when it overfills.
You are so organized. My hat goes off to you.
To: March Shamb
First of all, we are talking about a junk DRAWER. Are you from Boston? My family always had a junk drawer with all of the things mentioned above. I was born in 1942. Unintentionally, I have carried on the tradition. After reading your comment, I had to ask, do you have a drawer for nothing but scissors? Nothing but paper clips? If not, how do you organize them and what else is in those drawers? I admire anyone who can be organized but you seem more like someone who wants to brag about it or throw it in our faces.
To Merrily: What does the comment "are you from Boston" signify? I'm from Boston and have always had a substantial "junk" drawer!!!
Wow you are truly organized! I thought I was doing good by tacking a few old diet meal trays to the bottom of my junk drawer to hold the tiny onbjects like thumb tacks and little batteries! I would love to have those shoe box sized bins for things, that is a great idea but in my house are 4 other people who do not share my theory of a place for everything and everything in it's place so even if I had enough space for storage bins, I can imagine I would go nuts ( and hoarse ) reminding these people what goes into what bins! But you have a system that works and that is great-don't pay attention to anyone who mentions your basket overflowing; it's none of their business and if they are rude enough to say anything-don't invite them back into your home!
What about a hammer? Can easily be one of the most commonly used item with anyone.
To Merrily: Ever stop to consider Marcy Shamb intention might simply be sharing some wise advice? Besides the name is spelled Marcy not March LOL.
Interesting, the trouble with my house is that the junk drawer somehow spilled into my room and the garage and......!! LOL!!!!
ReplyA side effect of a society of plenty. With all our closets, bureaus, cabinets, bookcases, we still manage to assume a house full of stuff.. I am reminded that just a couple generations ago folks
got by with a bed, bedstand, two outfits, and that was just about it for personal items... Add to that
a couch, two chairs, some side tables and piano... kitchen table, sideboard, sink, ice box and wood stove and you had the combined contents of most homes.... LOL.... many of which didn't even have closets.
Marcy
Hmmmm yea, let's leave some scissors in the drawer, so when we cut ourselves we can use the band aids we threw in there to stop the bleeding. While I'm placing the band aid on my cut, I notice that my nail is a little jagged. Thankfully, I have a emery board to smooth it out. Once I'm done fixing myself up, I'm pleasently surprised to find a piece ot gum in the drawer.
ReplyThese are some essentials for our junk drawers for sure.
Sissors are often needed in the bathroom for cutting nails, hair, etc, kitchen for opening all sorts of bags, etc, string, etc, and where one does bills, opens mail, etc. I keep several pairs of sissors
tipd own in cups...in the bathroom with other bathroom tools, in kitchen and mail area with pencils and pens. Never in a draw loose where I could cut myself fishing.
Same with knives... keep knives in special draw in containers in view inside the draws... am also careful when washing so as not to reach into sudsy water and cut myself. Would never keep a knive or a pair of sissors in a draw that needed fishing through..
As for small stuff.. as in tacks, pins, needles, safety pins... I keep them in he pantry in appropriate shoe boxes labeled, but within the shoe boxes each catagory is in recycled clear medicine prescription containers...where they can be easily and safely found/located. I do same, with the recycled medicine containers, for buttons, etc in the sewing container. Works great too for little nails, picture and cutrain supplies and fasteners, etc in the house repair box.
Marcy
You CAN'T cut yourself if you keep the scissors CLOSED!!! ...-_-
I also keep a flashlight, batteries, candles and matches in the drawer for when the power goes out. Where I live we have trees that fall on wires. Also tape, glue and twist ties.
ReplyFor emergencys we have a generator outside. Inside We keep one of those hand powered(just shake it back and forth) flashlights by the bed, battery operated light over the stove, and in the pantry we have an emergency shelf with batteries, flashlights, candles, radios, etc. We get a lot of power outages here, often related to weather/storms and downed power lines too.
We also keep a stock of food in the pantry. And have the medicine cabinet.
Marcy
My first thought on seeing this headline was a flashlight, but nope. I keep one in every room.
I keep candles and matches in our junk drawer too! And I keep scissors everwhere because they always disappear--I am always reminding everyone NOT to use the kitchen shears (great for cutting bacon, triming asparagus etc) for paper and NOt to touch my sewing pinking shears for that task either.
We have a small butler's desk in the entry and that is where I keep pens, pencils, paper, tape of various kinds and mailing supplies.
I also keep baskets in the family room and bedroom to hold stuff that ends up there but doesn't belong until I get around to sorting.
Ewww... Gum in a junk drawer would not be that nice of a surprise. I have accidently left sticks of gum in the junk drawer, and finding them in there a year later when they are all hard, dirty and gross is not a welcoming surpise. Keep the candy in a candy dish on the counter, and put more useful junk in the junk drawer (I have batteries, pens, a small note pad, and random screws and nails, tape, etc. in mine.)
ReplyUnfortunately for me, my wife believes that the junk drawer is whatever object or objects closest to her when she comes in the door. In her mind everything has a place, from her coat to her socks, to her purse and anything in her pockets, however that place for her is the floor. I run behind her like a death dealing roomba swinging my fists in the air like a crazy person and pleading with her to put it all in what she considers to be the mythical land I like to call away. I being a neat-freak, and her being an I'll clean it up on Sunday person, she's always one step away from her demise, and has no idea. Thankfully I love her, and have built a room sized junk drawer where I can sweep it all (her included).
ReplyJQ your comment was hillarious LMAO. Its funny but true. My boys are the same way. LMFAO.