Where's your junk drawer? Personally, I've got a couple. Most us of have at least one junk drawer somewhere in our house. Don't know what a junk drawer is? Remember that drawer that started out as a helpful place for keeping assorted useful items like tape, safety pins, tacks, and buttons? That miscellaneous drawer for things which otherwise have no home.
When you first created it, you claimed your had a system for placing objects in it, right? Well, we all thought we did too. But soon that drawer began to accumulate, well, anything that we couldn't find anther place for. Perhaps stuff winds up there when you don't feel like taking the time to put them where they really should go.
Here's the plan: Get this drawer (or all of these drawers) back into a state where they are useful again, instead of bottomless clutter pits. Here are a few simple steps you can take to reclaim these drawers back under your own control.
First things first. You want a clean drawer? You've got to empty it out. Take everything out. Place a piece of fabric paper towel down to protect your countertop or table surface. Then actually dump out the contents of the drawer right there. If you can't dump it, just make sure that none of the items end up scratching your table surface.
Once you've dumped everything out of the drawer, you need to sort through it. Start designating separate areas on the counter or table for groups of similar items from the drawer.
Wait a second. There is something important that you must consider while organizing your drawer. If you find unrecognizable objects or objects that nobody in your household claims, get rid of it. But remember, it's good karma to double-check with everyone one you live with before tossing an item in the garbage.
Found stuff that belongs somewhere else? Without hesitating, bring those items back to their proper home. Yes it's best to do it immediately before you lose inspiration.
Ok. Now clean the drawer completely. You want to start fresh, so why not clear all the dust and crud out of there? Wipe it dry. After it has dried, lay a fresh piece of contact paper down inside the drawer.
Still with me? So far you managed to clear the drawer of clutter and clean out the crumbs. Yes, it's a beautiful thing.
What you have just done is lay out the base for your new organized drawer. Now that the drawer is clean and manageable, we are going to install a simple, functional organizing system that everyone can uphold.
First, you need to find small containers to hold.. well.... small things. Ice cube trays, egg cartons, vitamin bottles, little boxes or even 35-mm film containers work well to store small things in. Ideally, you should use containers that you can see into and clearly identify its contents. If you cannot see into it , at least make sure it's clearly labeled.
Be creative. Small plastic sandwich bags are ideal for organizing and storing rubber bands, thread, and string. If you store glues, paste, oil, or other liquids, make sure they have tightly-fastened lids. Sometimes, it makes sense to store sticky substances in jars wrapped in a plastic bag.
Otherwise, all it takes is someone to bump into the drawer and knock those jars around to turn a good day bad. : (
So now that you have a new organized drawer, be proactive about keeping it organized. Remind your family or roommates, and encourage them to keep the drawer organized. An organized drawer is one step step closer to an organized life. A little prevention keeps you from having to clean up an even bigger mess a few months down the road.
