Do you have a messy junk drawer that is overflowing? If so, it’s time to give it some attention and turn it into a functional space! Let us show you how to organize your junk drawer to keep the clutter under control!
We are excited to kick off the Winter Home Organization Challenge by tackling the junk drawer in our kitchen!
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
Your days of digging through a disorganized drawer to find a pen and a sticky note are over!
The Junk Drawer Dilemma
Let’s be honest.
No one needs a drawer filled with junk in their house!
However, having a drawer filled with miscellaneous items you use regularly can be very handy!
So, today, we will share how to get rid of the junk, and organize your miscellaneous items once and for all!
Maybe we should rename it our miscellaneous drawer?
Whatever you want to call it, this is what our drawer looked like before we organized it!
I told you it was a mess!
This is what it looked like after we removed the trash and added organizer bins!
Can you believe the change?
Those pictures were taken about four months after we moved into the house!
Each year, in January, we clean out the drawer and make any needed changes to the drawer organizers!
Before we show you the steps to organize a junk drawer, let’s discuss what should and should not be stored in this important space!
What Should and Should Not Go in A Junk Drawer
Useful items to store in a junk drawer
Here are some common items you might find in a junk drawer:
- Batteries
- Clips
- Writing utensils
- Sticky notes
- Scissors
- Tape
- Lighter
- Small tools
Items you should not store in a junk drawer
Avoid storing these items in your junk drawer:
- Kitchen items- should be stored in other kitchen drawers
- Broken items- fix or discard them
- Paper- no bills, receipts, coupons, or pamphlets
- Medicine- exception is a pill organizer, here are tips to organize your medicine
- Small toys
Steps to Organize Your Junk Drawer
Use our 6/P Stragey to organize your junk drawer!
Six easy steps and you’re done!
1) PREP
Gather the following items:
- Trash bag
- Cardboard box
- Laundry hamper
2) PURGE
Remove all items from the drawer and place each in one of the following categories:
- Trash-Throw any broken or unwanted items in the trash bag
- Donate-place any items that you no longer use but are in great shape in the box to be donated
- Relocate-Place anything that doesn’t belong in the drawer in the laundry hamper
- Replace- Place any items that need to stay in the drawer on the counter or a table. Arrange items into categories.
3) POLISH
Take this opportunity to clean the drawer while it’s empty.
4) PERSONALIZE
It’s time to decide how you will organize the drawer.
Look at the categories of items that need to go back into the drawer and decide how you will contain them.
We highly recommend using drawer organizer bins to keep each category contained and separated from each other!
If you are going to purchase drawer organizer bins, you need to measure the drawer first to make sure they fit.
Allocate specific sections for all of the categories of items you have.
5) PLACE
Now it’s time to place everything in its new spot!
- Trash-discard in your garbage can
- Donate- Don’t procrastinate, take items to your local donation center right away!
- Relocate- take the laundry hamper and deliver items to the room they belong in.
- Replace-place every item in the spot you have found for it.
6) PUT BACK
Remember, if you don’t put each item back in its appropriate place after each use, you will end up with a cluttered mess again!!
Follow these maintenance tips:
- Encourage and teach household members to follow the system
- Reevaluate in one year and adjust the system as needs change
Maintaining the Junk Drawer
In a perfect world, the junk drawer would stay tidy year-round!
But, we aren’t perfect and don’t always put things back in the exact right spot, and sometimes extra items find their way to the drawer!
However, the drawer dividers help tremendously!
Now all we have to do is tweak the drawer each year!
This is what our drawer looks like after one year!
It’s not too bad!
It did not take long to remove the items that should not be there and clean the drawer!
And here is what it looks like now!
Nice and tidy again!!
In Conclusion
It feels great to have this space organized, and our first goal of the Winter Home Organization Challenge checked off the list!
We hope you are feeling inspired to tackle your junk drawer!
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Until next time, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!
Blessings, Donna and Rich
Pin It For Later
If you don’t have time to organize this space now, save this pin, so you can come back to it!
More Home Organization Inspiration
Here are more posts to help you organize your home!
- How to Organize & Store All the Pillows in Your Home
- Nightstand Organization Ideas
- 21 Best Closet Organization Ideas for Your Home
- Bathroom Organization Tips
- 9 Excellent Garage Storage Solutions
Get The Look
Here are items to help you organize any messy drawer in your house!
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
What a difference a little organization makes, Donna. This looks so good! We use the clear acrylic drawer containers in almost all of our drawers now and it not only helps us find things quickly it also makes putting things away easy peasy! Hugs, CoCo
Thanks! It feels so good to get the first organization goal of the year checked off! Good luck with your organizing projects! Hugs, Donna
Hi Donna – I love that you created a “6 P” process for organizing your junk drawer. You always inspire me to be more organized. Thanks for all the tips! Thank you also for linking up with the Home Imagined Link Party.
Hi Anna! It makes me so happy to hear that this information is helpful! I appreciate you letting me know! Thanks and have a wonderful week!
Hi Donna – Just wanted to pop by and let you know this post will be featured tomorrow during our Home Imagined Link Party. Thanks so much for sharing your post with us!
That’s great news Anna! Thanks so much! It’ always an honor to be featured at your party! See ya there!