A junk drawer is a catch-all drawer where miscellaneous items accumulate over time. While it may seem harmless, keeping unnecessary clutter can make it hard to find things when you need them. Professional organizers recommend regularly cleaning out your junk drawer and getting rid of unneeded items. Here are five common junk drawer items to throw away right now, according to the pros.
Expired Medications and Vitamins
Keeping old medications and vitamins may seem like a good way to avoid waste. However, the pros say expired medicines can be dangerous and should be discarded properly.
“I always recommend clearing out any expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from junk drawers,” says professional organizer Becky Rapinchuk of CleanMama.com. “Not only is it unsafe to take expired medications, but it also gets very cluttered with all those bottles and boxes just sitting there.”
Outdated medications can lose their effectiveness and become unstable over time. Some drugs may even degrade into toxic compounds. The risk of side effects increases when using expired medicines.
To avoid taking old meds by accident, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests safely throwing away expired supplements and medications as soon as they reach their labeled expiration date. When tossed in the trash, unwanted prescriptions can contaminate the water supply. The FDA recommends mixing them with an unappealing substance, like cat litter or coffee grounds, then putting them in a sealed container before throwing away.
Check all medicine bottles and vitamin containers in your junk drawer. Discard any that are past their expiration date to protect your health and prevent future clutter.
Dried-Out Pens and Markers
Pens tend to accumulate in junk drawers until they run dry and stop working properly. Old highlighters and dried-out markers are other common writing utensil clutter culprits. But keeping non-functional writing tools around is unnecessary.
“Toss out any pens or markers that no longer work,” says Alysia Rodgers, professional organizer and founder of Neatnik. “You’re never going to use them again, so it’s best to just get rid of them to clear some space.”
Before throwing away unwanted pens and markers, ensure they are totally dry. Wet ink can leak onto other items and potentially ruin them. Safely storing dried writing utensils in a sealed bag prevents accidental spills or stains when discarded.
Rodgers also recommends keeping only one or two backup pens and highlighters in your junk drawer at a time. Too many extras take up space and will dry out before being used. Have just enough on hand to swap out as needed.
Rubber Bands
Rubber bands seem innocuous, but they can cause clutter and damage in junk drawers. When stretched over time, rubber bands lose their elasticity and become loose or break entirely. Brittle rubber bands no longer serve their original purpose.
“Rubber bands tend to fall apart and get sticky, so it’s best not to let them accumulate,” explains professional organizer Toni Hammersley of A Bowl Full of Lemons. “Toss out any loose, broken, or sticky rubber bands clogging up the drawer.”
Discarded rubber bands can also stick to and potentially ruin items they touch, making them troublesome junk drawer inhabitants. Regularly removing old rubber bands reduces clutter and prevents this nuisance.
In place of loose rubber bands, Hammersley recommends using binder clips, magnets, or other practical tools to hold items together in your junk drawer. Utilize functional alternatives and frequently purge deteriorating rubber bands.
Business Cards for People You’ll Never Contact Again
Collecting business cards can quickly clutter your junk drawer if you’re not careful. Holding on to cards for people you’ll likely never contact again serves no purpose.
“Business cards from people you met once at a networking event five years ago can go,” says professional organizer Celia Wood of TheSoulSpaceCompany.com. “If you haven’t reached out by now, you probably won’t.”
Wood suggests keeping only current business cards that you reasonably expect to use in the next year. For any you want to save long-term, take a photo or enter the contact’s information in your address book. Then, recycle the physical card.
“Try to resist the urge to hang onto cards just in case,” Wood adds. “All they do is create clutter.”
Regularly sorting through your business card collection prevents excessive buildup. Promptly purge any from people you realistically won’t be contacting to keep your junk drawer organized.
Old Takeout Menus
Stash extra takeout menus in a kitchen drawer so they’re handy for reordering. But over time, these menus accumulate and quickly become outdated.
“Get rid of old takeout menus that are wrinkled, ripped, or have faded printing,” advises professional organizer Amanda Rall of House to Home Organizing. “Chances are, the information and offers are outdated anyway.”
Before tossing old takeout menus, Rall suggests jotting down any must-have order numbers or dishes you want to remember. You can reference your list when obtaining current menus.
Rall also recommends periodically requesting fresh menus from your favorite restaurants. Place the latest versions in your kitchen drawer and recycle the old ones.
“Stick to keeping only the clean, crisp menus you’ll actually use,” Rall says. “It keeps the drawer neater and easier to find what you need.”
Answers to Common Questions About Junk Drawer Decluttering
Cleaning out a cluttered junk drawer can seem overwhelming. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions to make the process easier.
How often should I declutter my junk drawer?
“Give your junk drawer a quick declutter once a month,” recommends professional organizer Melissa Maker. “Set a recurring calendar reminder to regularly purge it and prevent too much clutter buildup.”
Maker says doing a mini junk drawer makeover monthly keeps the chaos at bay. Occasionally doing a deeper dive 6-12 months is also beneficial.
What’s the best way to organize a junk drawer?
“Use containers of different sizes to corral like items,” says professional organizer Tori Marlan of torimarlan.net. She recommends small bins, trays, or boxes to group similar objects, like batteries, pens, rubber bands, etc.
Labeling containers also helps keep the drawer organized long-term. Marlan suggests using divider bins or trays with built-in labels for easy identification.
Where should I put junk drawer items I want to keep?
“Only keep items you know you’ll use in the next 30 days,” says organizer Becky Rapinchuk. Place essentials, like scissors, tape, and screwdrivers, in easy reach.
Rapinchuk recommends stashing seldom-used items elsewhere. For example, spare batteries go in the electronics drawer, light bulbs in the closet, and extra pens with office supplies. Remove rarely needed items from your prime real estate junk drawer.
What should I do if I’m having trouble parting with things?
“If you struggle to let go of items, assess why you want to keep each one,” advises organizer Celia Wood. Things kept out of obligation or perceived necessity are typically fine to discard.
Wood suggests setting expiration dates for items, like business cards or pens. Reassess keeping them once the date passes. This provides a concrete reason to toss unneeded objects.
How can I avoid future junk drawer clutter?
Professional organizer Amanda Rall says consistency is key. “Put things back in their designated spot after using them so clutter doesn’t accumulate again,” she recommends.
Rall also suggests conducting a last pass during cleanups to deal with anything that’s migrated into the drawer. Regularly clearing out interlopers prevents recluttering.
Conclusion
Junk drawers easily become disorganized catch-alls when not managed properly. But regularly decluttering and removing unnecessary items creates space and makes everyday items easier to access. Toss expired medications, dried-out pens, old rubber bands, useless business cards, and outdated takeout menus. Follow the pros’ junk drawer advice to keep this busy space clean and functional. What clutter spot will you tackle next?