Organizing Junk Drawers

It's a brand new year. Organizing and decluttering seem to be a popular resolution that we make each year. Stuff comes in all through the previous year and has some how managed to take over our lives. "Stuff" gets thrown in closets, stored in tubs, and before you know it, it's out of control. The new year gives us that chance to clear out the clutter and start over. I like to remember the saying, "less is more."

I am inviting you to take a look at my junk. You must be special to get an invitation to do that! Today I am taking you inside my house and giving you a peek at my junk drawers. I didn't believe in junk drawers before I had a child. There was always a place for everything and I had the time to make sure it got there. After having a child, I have managed to go from no junk drawers in my kitchen, to two.

Recently, I posted an article on using the timer method for completing housework (and managing computer use). Each day I have one big task to complete, set my timer, and begin. I chose to work on the junk drawers as my big task for the day.

When I started clearing out the junk, I was amazed at what I was finding. Pens, pencils, crayons, paint, markers, gum, outlet covers, parts to toys, tools, cupcake toppers, cookie cutters, matches, papers, bubbles, sunglasses, remote controls, DVD cases, first aid kit, phonebook, Chuck E. Cheese coins, Magic Erasers, keys, scissors, and other odds and ends. It was so overwhelming that I decided to just clear out the drawers completely and put everything that was in the drawers onto the counter top and go from there.

(How did I manage to stuff all of that into two small drawers?! Yikes!)

Now it was time to give everything a home. I combined like items and took the things that belonged in other rooms: bedroom, garage, bathroom, to their home. It took about 30 minutes to clean out my two junk drawers, but now I can find the things I need when I need them. What a great feeling!

I challenge you to go into your kitchen this week and find one or two junk drawers that you would like to organize and declutter. Set your timer for 30 minutes and get busy! Then, come back and leave me a comment!

I'd love to hear from you! If you are brave enough, take before and after photos and submit them to me at thefrugalfreegal@yahoo.com and I will feature you in a future blog post!