Control Junk Drawer Clutter in 5 Steps

Do junk drawer items threaten to take over entire cabinets? Has one catch-all drawer morphed into two or more junk drawers? Do last year's drawer divider inserts still sit in their original packaging? There's hope for clutter control.

1. Empty out the Drawer(s)

Junk drawers, by nature, are catch-all locations for odds and ends. Up-end them into a big box, close the box and put it away. If you can make it an entire month without opening the box, have a third party look through the items to make sure that there are no credit cards or coins -- then get rid of the items. If you do find that you must check the box, progress to step three.

2. Add Drawer Divider Inserts

Junk drawers benefit from having a kitchen drawer organizer installed. Pick something as simple as the cutlery trays sold at the big-box home goods store, or go for the more adaptable drawer divider inserts that snap together.

3. Spread out the Loot

You find that you keep rummaging through the box that holds the contents of your junk drawers. Find a cleared surface, such as the kitchen table or counter top, and empty out the goods. Expired coupons, old rubber bands and the discolored candy need to be discarded.

4. Sort the Goodies

Spare batteries, post-it notes, clear mailing tape and pens are probably just some of the junk drawer items hidden away in the clutter. Think back to the time of Sesame Street and find the "things that are not like the others." Sort everything into neat little piles.

Spare buttons? They go into the sewing kit! Nails, screwdrivers and the measuring tape? What better place than the in-home tool box! Erasers, pens, golf pencils and sticky notes? Off to the desk! Whatever is left over are the bona fide junk drawer items that actually belong there.

5. Organize the Junk Drawer

With the drawer divider inserts in place, it is now time to once again organize the junk drawer. Rubber bands, spare batteries, the extra set of house keys, twist-ties for the trash bags and similar items are perfect examples of junk drawer occupants. Set up the drawer to accommodate the individual items and prevent spill-over.

Tip: If you have two or more junk drawers, you have waited too long. Commit to only having one junk drawer at any time. Clean it out as often as needed to make more room.