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Professional Organisers Say It’s Time to Clear Out Your Junk Drawer
If it's time to declutter, here's what experts say you should toss.
When you're thinking about spaces in your home that need decluttering, the junk drawer might not be at the top of your list. After all, the point of the junk drawer is that it's a spot for items that don't really belong anywhere else. But it might be time to reconsider that strategy. Organisers say you should toss these items from your junk drawer.
“The junk drawer is really your ‘greatest hits’ drawer, holding items you reach for all the time, rather than a dumping ground for random bits and bobs,” says Laura Kinsella, a professional organiser and owner of Urban Organyze. So ask yourself: Would your "greatest hits" drawer really have a bunch of dried-out pens and old charging cables for electronics you don't own anymore? Hopefully, the answer is no.
Luckily, most junk drawers can be decluttered in 20 minutes or less. You might be surprised at how much you can get rid of in that time.
“Junk drawers are one of those areas that become overwhelming as they become overstuffed, however, it only takes a few moments to solve the problem,” says Wendy Trunz, partner and head organiser at Jane's Addiction Organization.
Below, experts share the items you should toss from your junk drawer.
Old Paperwork
One piece of paper may seem harmless, but before you know it, a stack of old paperwork makes your junk drawer chaotic. “Many times they are old wrappers, old receipts, business cards, school work, and vouchers that may already have expired,” Trunz says. The organising pro recommends pulling out all the papers stuffed inside the junk drawer and throwing out what’s rubbish and filing away anything you need to keep. Don't forget to shred anything which contains personal information.
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Takeaway Menus
Old takeaway menus are a common culprit when it comes to junk drawer clutter. Kinsella says it’s time to get rid of the collection—“especially if you order online,” the organiser says. Go through the menus, discarding duplicates and menus from places you no longer order from. “These items quietly steal valuable space that could be used for what you grab weekly like scissors, tape, or other small tools that make daily life easier,” Kinsella says.
Dried-Out Pens and Markers
“An abundance of pens, pencils, markers, and even children’s craft supplies — crayons, coloured pencils, and glue sticks — end up in the junk drawer,” Trunz says. Take them all out and only keep what you grab and use frequently. “Throw away all of the old, dried-out markers and pens, get rid of old craft supplies, and take the supplies that are good and put them back where they belong,” the organiser says.
Extra Batteries
Extra batteries often get thrown in the junk drawer and no one knows whether they are new and still usable or not. “In order not to waste batteries, if you’re not sure, rely on a battery tester,” Trunz says. Instead of letting loose batteries clutter the drawer, get a storage container to organise them. This way, they can stay in the drawer but have a designated home where they are neatly contained and available when you need them.
RELATED: 10 secret items professional organisers would never declutter from their own home
Miscellaneous Screws or Bolts
Toss random screws or bolts with no clear purpose that’s floating around in the junk drawer. Kinsella says clutter like this often builds because we ask ourselves a question that keeps us stuck. “When we’re unsure about something, we tend to ask, ‘Do I need this?’ and that makes it easy to justify holding onto almost anything,” Kinsella shares. A more supportive question, she says, is, “How is this currently useful to me?” The organiser explains that asking the right question typically leads to the realisation that the item isn’t useful right now, or that it belongs somewhere else because it’s not used on a regular basis.
Random Tools
Tools that were taken out of the toolbox or garage to do a quick job in the kitchen often end up living in the junk drawer. “Take out all tools that are big and bulky that don’t belong there and put them back where they belong,” Trunz says. She suggests keeping a small, basic multipurpose tool in the drawer so it’s there when you need it. This will prevent multiple tools from finding their way into the junk drawer again.
Old Cables, Chargers, and Electronics
“The junk drawer also becomes a place where lots of cables, chargers, and electronics get thrown in,” Trunz says. People often hold onto old smartphones, cables, and chargers that end up turning into a tangled space-hogging mess. Trunz advises checking all the items and only keeping those that are current and being used, discarding whatever is outdated or broken.
Recycle Your Electricals can show you where to recycle old tech and cables.
Extra Scissors and Tape
The junk drawer is where you’ll usually find scissors and tape — and while Trunz says it’s a perfectly good home for these items, it is important to keep them to a minimum. She recommends storing two pairs of scissors along with one regular tape and one packing tape in the drawer. “One of each will be easily accessible rather than having multiples mess up the drawer; keep the extras somewhere else,” Trunz says.
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