Key Points
- Clearing out old pens and tangled cords eliminates non-functional clutter and makes everyday essentials easier to access.
- Tossing unused containers and outdated packaging frees up space.
- Regularly reassessing what’s in your junk drawer prevents it from becoming a dumping ground.
It’s common to have a junk drawer since it’s easy to throw anything (or everything) in there when you’re trying to quickly declutter your space. However, over time, a junk drawer can easily get messy if the items are just accumulating and not being reorganized.
This is why I decided to refresh my junk drawer, so I can get rid of some items that I no longer need. Below, I share the five items that I immediately tossed.
Broken or Old Stationery
When I opened my junk drawer the first time, I was shocked at how many pens, pencils, and other old stationery were scattered throughout. I took a piece of paper and used it to test all the pens to see which ones were dried up so they could be tossed.
The ones that still worked and I liked, I put them back on my table so I could actually use them daily.
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Electronic Cords
I had a bunch of tangled electronic cords and chargers, and as I was going through them, I realized how many were so outdated and didn’t even fit my current electronics. I wrapped them with a zip tie and tossed them out, so I would no longer confuse them with the ones that still worked for me.
Plastic Bags and Bins
To better group my items, I had stored them by category in plastic bags and bins. However, there were also empty ones just lying around, so I went through them to see if any had noticeable cracks or tears and threw them out if they did.
The ones still in pristine condition were reused to store the items that I wanted to keep, so they wouldn’t go to waste.
Packaging Boxes
It’s natural to want to keep packaging boxes of newly bought items, whether it be phone cases, jewelry, or more. However, it’s better to toss them right away if you know you’re never going to be using them again, since they could be taking up valuable space for other items.
Paper Clutter
Besides meaningful cards and important documents, you’d be surprised at how much paper clutter you actually have. I found old brochures, pamphlets, and old sheets that I unintentionally held onto and threw into my drawer since I had no other place to keep them.
I’d recommend getting file folders and labeling them, so you know exactly where everything is when the time comes.
