Make that junk drawer your go-to drawer! 10 things to keep and 5 to get rid of

Make your junk drawer a little more useful.

We all have one. That drawer that we lovingly call the junk drawer… where everything from batteries to mystery keys end up. We’re helping you make the most of the space, sharing 10 things to keep in that junk drawer, and a few things to get rid of so it becomes a space that you’ll actually be proud to open.

Organizer Vanessa Croshaw shared advice for organizing the junk drawer.

Rethinking the Junk Drawer

Vanessa suggested that we should rethink the term “junk drawer.” “I don’t like the name junk drawer because you’re giving yourself permission to put junk in it,” she said. Instead, she recommended calling it a “go-to drawer” or a “drop drawer.” This name shift can help you be more intentional about what you store in this space.

Must-Have Items for Your Drawer

Vanessa listed several essential items that should be in every junk drawer:

• Scissors: You’re grabbing them every day.
• Tape: Essential for packing packages.
• Name Cards and Twine: You can turn anything into a quick gift.
• Charge Cords: Your two favorite charge cords. Two, not 12.
• Tape Measure: Always handy for quick measurements.
• Notebook and Note Cards: Useful for writing love notes or shopping lists.
• Favorite Pen: Ultimate luxury… pick your favorite pen.
• Sharpie: Always needed for labeling.
• Hair Ties and Lip Gloss: Practical items that are often needed on the go.
• Lens Cloth: Keep those glasses and sunglasses clean.

Items to Remove

Vanessa also highlighted items that should be removed from the junk drawer to keep it functional:

• Owner’s Manuals: There’s a good chance you will never touch it, and if you do, find the information online.
• Broken Items: Either fix it or toss it.
• Staplers and Paper Clips: We’re just not using paper like we used to.
• Rubber Bands: Often unnecessary and take up space.
• Hole Punch: Rarely used and can be stored elsewhere.

Organizing with Bins

To keep the drawer organized, Vanessa recommended investing in clear plastic bins so that every item has a home. This makes everything easily accessible and neatly stored.

Find more of Vanessa’s advice on Instagram, @every.needful.thing.ut, or at everyneedfulthing.com.