Turn Your Junk Drawer Into a Utility Drawer

I have a drawer that we use to hold miscellaneous items.  But it is not really a junk drawer.  It is a utility or handy drawer.  You can easily do this, too.

First clear out your junk drawer.

Before you can make a handy drawer, you will need to clean out all of the junk. This will probably be the most intimidating drawer in your kitchen. Let’s get it over with. This would be a great place to use the shoe organizer and zipper baggies.  Here is what you need to do step by step.

1. Take everything out of the drawer.  Make sure you have room to move things around and make lots of piles or that you are working near a door holding the show organizer.
2. Pull out all of the trash and disposables you see.  Fast food condiments and fork packets, dry-rotted rubber bands, faded out receipts, and other obvious tidbits.  Is the top permanently stuck to the superglue?  Don’t hesitate. Toss all of them.
3. Pull out any slips of paper to be transferred to your calendar or address book.
4. Pull out any appliance manuals. You can easily recycle the ones for appliances you no longer have. Most companies now have manuals available to read directly on their web sites, do you really need to keep any of these? Are you keeping warranty papers for appliances that are no longer under warranty?  Any that you do choose to keep should be kept elsewhere in a long term file. Put these aside for now and add any other to be filed items to this pile.
5. Everything left will probably be smaller various items. Sort these into like items as much as possible and make smaller separate piles. Make a pile for office supplies.  For hardware such as nails and screws. For batteries.  You get the idea.  Take each pile one at a time and look for items that can be discarded or donated. Do you have spare keys for cars or houses you no longer own? If you have a lot, let the kids make a wind chime or add them to the scrap metal box if you started one. Are there items you have not needed since you first moved in and first put them in the drawer? Have you needed it in the last two years? Pull these items out and toss them.
6. Look for items that should be kept elsewhere. Maybe the hardware can be taken to the tool shed if it can’t be tossed. Maybe the scotch tape would be just as convenient with the gift wrap. If it can be moved elsewhere, put it aside in a basket to be put away when you are done.
7. The remaining piles can be individually put into zipper bags to keep them somewhat organized or left in the shoe organizer. You may want to think about getting another organizer later. You can use one like the ones used in desk drawers, a silverware tray, or individual trays or small disposable food containers. Make a note in your wish notebook. Dust out the drawer, clean it with a soapy dishrag, and then put the baggies back into the drawer.

Now make the drawer useful.

My family members were always asking if I knew where such and such miscellaneous item was located (as if these were mystical items that I pulled out of thin air that were invisible to them until I magically handed it over).  Those were the items that I started putting in this drawer.  I added gum, lip balms, fingernail clippers, and batteries.

There were other items I wanted to keep in a central convenient location.  I added spiral notepads with pens.  Then a multi-tip screwdriver, a small hammer and a single pack of finishing nails. I also added a long handled lighter for candles and grilling season.

The drawer is now full of all the things we wanted handy frequently.  I use a simply expandable silverware tray to keep all of it neat and tidy.  I also make a point to check the drawer each time I open it for things that do not belong.  It is much easier to deal with one small handful than go through the whole process again.

Now tell us about your drawer.

What it the oddest or coolest thing you found in your junk drawer while cleaning it out?  What types of items will you be adding to turn it into a handy drawer for you? Did you find a clever container or another creative way of keeping everything separated?

When we get conversations going in the comments we all learn from each other and can encourage one another. So, please, share your stories in the comments.

photo credit: painty