Let’s talk about that one spot in the house that’s always a little chaotic, no matter how much we clean.
You know the one I’m talking about – the junk drawer. Or if you’re like me… junk drawers (plural).
Anyway, you’ve probably opened that drawer looking for a pen, a paperclip, a rubber band, or maybe even a spare battery, and instead found a broken toy, expired candies, and other little things that you can’t even remember what for.
I get it. I really do!
As a homemaker and mom of two little boys, I’ve learned that the junk drawer is like a magnet for all the things we don’t know what to do with in the moment.
But here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to take all afternoon to declutter your junk drawer.
In fact, I often declutter mine in just 15-minute chunks, spread over a couple of days. It takes days when I declutter because there are really lots of stuff inside my junk drawer.
And I want to show you how you can do it too, without stress and without guilt.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
Step 1: The brave first step – just open it.
Okay, I know this sounds super basic, but trust me, it’s the hardest part of the process because a part of you will not want to open that drawer.
Why?
Probably because… you feel somewhat scared of what you’ll find there. You know it’s chaotic, and you don’t want to face it.
But since you’re here… reading this… it means… you have all the intention in the world to clean that drawer.
So now, just open it. Just look inside and take a breath.
You’ve already taken the first step by deciding you want to tackle it, and that counts for something.
So, yes, let’s do this! Open it and take a look.
Step 2 – Remove the trash and those that don’t belong.
Get a trash bag and a small container (like a cereal bowl, a small bin or basket). Then get your timer and set it to 15 minutes.
Pull out the obvious trash that you see in your junk drawer – crumpled receipts, broken pens, old wrappers, and the likes. Put these in the trash bag.
Then also pull out those that are out of place. These are the things that don’t belong in that junk drawer, like toys, silverware, hair accessories, soap… whatever that you know belongs somewhere else in your home. Put these in the small container.
Step 3 – Sort.
Now that the junk drawer is a bit less crowded, you can sort what’s left.
Take out the rest of the drawer contents.
Yes, the whole thing this time. You can do it, promise!
Spread it out on a towel on the counter or floor. If your kids are around, they might want to help “match things” or stack paperclips. Just call it “treasure hunting.”
Create three simple piles:
Keep – Stuff you actually use regularly and want to stay in the drawer.
Toss – Trash, broken things, expired coupons, stuff that no longer serves a purpose. (Put these in your trash bag)
Relocate – Things that belong somewhere else in the house. (Put these in your small container.)
Step 4 – Trash and return.
Now clean up your piles.
Toss the trash. Then return those items that don’t belong in the junk drawer to their proper places.
Finally, give the drawer a quick wipe down.
Step 5 – Organize your junk drawer.
Now that you’ve got your “Keep” pile, it’s time to give everything a designated spot.
Grab a few small boxes, containers, or even silicone muffin cups – whatever you have on hand. No need to buy anything fancy.
Then give each item a little space of its own. This will prevent things from turning into a jumbled mess again.
Label the sections if you’re not the only one using the drawer. This will help your household know where each thing should go, thereby preventing another jumbled mess in the future.
Celebrate!
That’s it! You did it! It’s done!
Now give yourself time to admire your hard work and celebrate with your favorite treat. Whether that’s chocolate, a latte, or 10 peaceful minutes on the porch, do something nice for yourself.
You earned it.
Now how do you declutter if you have more than one junk drawer?
Ahh, I feel you. I have several junk drawers too.
Anyway, don’t try to do them all at once. Pick one drawer per week and apply the same 15-minute method.
Or space them out every other week if that’s all you can manage right now. Progress is still progress.
The junk drawer is never perfect.
This is what I always tell myself. Now I’m telling you.
Life happens. Stuff creeps in.
Your junk drawer will never be perfect.
But this time, you already have a system. And you’ll be amazed how this small change ripples into the rest of your home.
You’ve got this. And I’m cheering for you every step of the way!
Looking for more tips on decluttering? Check these out!
- 5 Things to Declutter Every Month for a Tidier Home
- The Power of Decluttering One Drawer at a Time
- How to Let Go of Sentimental Clutter Without Regret
- or simply visit our Declutter category page for everything about decluttering!
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