Tip: Start With the Junk Drawer
TL;DR
Everyone has a junk drawer. You know the one–it’s filled with mystery cables, random keys, dead batteries, and for some reason, a domino. Clearing it out only takes about 20 minutes, but the payoff is immediate: a lighter mind and the satisfaction of turning clutter into a fresh start.
- Empty the entire drawer onto a clear surface so you can see exactly what’s inside.
- Group similar items together to quickly spot duplicates and things you no longer need.
- Ask yourself whether you actually use each item, then decide what to keep, toss, or recycle.
- Donate useful items in good condition, like phone chargers, tools, or unused stationery, to give them a new life.
Everyone has one. Maybe it’s in your kitchen, maybe it’s tucked away in your office, or maybe it’s a bin on the top shelf of your closet filled to the brim with stuff. What’s inside? Half-charged batteries, expired coupons, mystery cables that might belong to your TV (or not), plastic cutlery, and somehow…a stray marble.
If your junk drawer has become the spot for “I’ll deal with this later” items, you’re not alone. We’ve seen a lot of these, and the good news is they’re one of the easiest places to start when you’re looking to reclaim a little storage space.
How to tackle your junk drawer:
- Empty it…completely
Taking out one lost pen doesn’t count. Empty the entire drawer on a clear surface so you can see exactly what’s inside. It might look worse before it looks better, but trust the process. - Group similar items together
Test the batteries and set the dead ones aside for recycling (now, not later!). Put pens, notepads, highlighters and any other lost stationery items in a pile. You get the idea. Once everything’s grouped, it’s easier to see what you have and what you don’t need three of. - Keep or toss
Ask yourself whether you actually use each item. If you haven’t touched it in a year, it’s probably time to let it go. If you just rediscovered your childhood Game Boy? Maybe you can still hold onto that one. - Donate
If an item is still in good condition and you don’t need it, let someone else put it to good use. Things like tools, unused stationery, phone chargers, and other useful household items can often be donated instead of thrown away.
The goal isn’t to create a beautifully organized, Instagram-worthy drawer with matching bamboo dividers. It’s just about knowing what’s inside, making it easy to find what you need, and freeing up space for things that matter to you.
Best of all, it only takes about 20 minutes. (An incredibly satisfying 20 minutes, we might add.) And you’ll feel that extra little bit of calm whenever you open the drawer and find just what you need.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the junk drawer a good place to start decluttering?
The junk drawer is one of the easiest places to start because it's small, manageable, and takes only about 20 minutes to tackle. The payoff is immediate: you'll know exactly what's inside, find what you need faster, and get a small but satisfying win that can motivate you to keep going.
What is the best way to sort through a junk drawer?
Start by emptying the entire drawer onto a clear surface so you can see everything at once. Group similar items together, test batteries and set dead ones aside for recycling, then go through each item and decide whether to keep it, toss it, or donate it. If you haven't used something in a year, it's probably safe to let it go.
What should I do with the items I pull out of my junk drawer?
Dead batteries should be recycled rather than thrown in the trash. Items still in good condition like unused stationery, phone chargers, or small tools can often be donated so someone else can put them to use. Anything broken or no longer useful can be tossed, and if the pile grows bigger than expected, a junk removal service can handle the rest.
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Ready to reclaim your space without losing your whole weekend? The 1-hour declutter challenge proves that all you need is one room, a 60-minute timer, and three simple boxes: Keep, Donate, and Junk. Ditch the overthinking, grab quick wins with old tech and duplicate tools, and create a lighter, more enjoyable home today—one hour at a time!
Tip: Start With the Junk Drawer
Tackle your home’s most chaotic spot in just 20 minutes! Everyone has that one drawer overflowing with mystery cables, dead batteries, and random keys. Clearing it out gives you an instant, satisfying win that makes tackling the rest of your space feel easy. Ditch the useless clutter, group what’s left, and turn everyday chaos into an organized, stress-free victory today!