Just in case you ever got the mistaken notion that our house (and its accompanying cabinets and cupboards) were in orderly shape at all times, this post will permanently dissuade you of that misconception.
I am sharing the post because confession (of messiness) is good for the soul and also because maybe it will help you attack one of the messes in your own house. (Although I doubt your mess will be half as bad as MY mess.)
It’s that place that catches all the collections of miscellany that don’t seem to fit anywhere else.
Well, somehow our house ended up with not one, but TWO junk drawers, side by side. How I ever allowed that to happen, I do not know.
Last week, after I had wasted innumerable moments searching through BOTH drawers for a certain something, I sternly told myself that I’d had enough of it and I was going to declare war.
Junk drawer war.
And now the time has come for me to invite you to take a peak at the chaotic junk drawers that had taken up residence in the Smith Abode. As you can see, our junk drawers runneth-ed over!
Here is what the contents of both junk drawers looked like when spread out on the counter. (My embarrassment is complete.)
It took me over an hour, but I am happy to say that I did win the junk drawer war.
I put all the stuff that needed to go to another part of the house in a plastic grocery bag, tied a knot in the bag, and stuck the bag in a closet.
Because after an hour of sorting and pondering and thinking, my brain was not overly enthused about the task of doing all the additional sorting and pondering and thinking that would be required to put all those items away. I’ll do that on another day (soon) when I haven’t just wrestled with two overflowing junk drawers.
Sometimes we don’t tackle a particular job because it’s just too overwhelming. But the secret is to give yourself permission to not have to do it all. Just do the first step. Or the first two steps. The job will still be there when you get back to it. Believe me.
And so after sorting things into the four categories, putting items into the grocery bag to be put away later, this is what I ended up with.
Make sure to leave room around the edges. In other words, never put an organizer flush with the sides of the drawer because that wastes good space.
In the picture above, I put extra Post-it notes in the back (there is a Post-it dispenser on the counter above), a ruler on the left side, tape in the front, and an emptied mint container (with Motrin and Tylenol) on the right side.
After I had finished sorting through the drawers I asked myself, “Why in the world didn’t I do that earlier?” It wasn’t that big of a job and now I get a little jolt of joy whenever I open the drawer and see all the wonderful orderliness inside.
And so in closing, the purpose of this post is to hopefully to inspire you to win your own junk drawer war. (Or closet or cupboard war.)
To quote someone famous, “The dreading of it is worse than the doing of it.” That is true about so many things in our lives that we keep putting off–for me, it was the junk drawer war.
What about you? Are your drawers and closets mostly in order or do you have a few messes lurking? Please tell me I am not the only one!
I am impressed with the final result! I like how you described the jolt of joy when you open the orderly drawer. I’ve been known to stand at my newly organized cutlery or junk drawer and repeatedly open and close it just for the simple pleasure of enjoying that nice neat feeling 🙂
Despite enjoying the feeling when I’ve organized something, this does not at all come naturally to me. Becoming more orderly, organized, and neat is a big goal for me, and another is imparting those skills to my kids.The imparting process generally never goes well and results in upset kids and harried mama. Certainly an area for me to grow in.
Jenna,
The imparting process can definitely be a challenge! But you have so many good gifts to impart. Your children are blessed!
I have Werther’s in my drawer too, a comforting sight amongst the junk. Now and then I attack it and it is a nice surprise to see it somewhat orderly for a few weeks. Was more fun to read your junk story than view the contents. Ruth
Ruth,
That’s funny we both have Werther’s. Sisterly minds . . .
I agree. It was more fun for me to WRITE the story than to look at the pictures of a mess!
Becky,
I spent this weekend cleaning out my closet, bathroom and kitchen drawers! I feel more organized now! Will admit it is nice to know it is done and now can go help clean my mother’s home and know my work is no longer waiting on me to get it done!!!! My husband passed away from cancer in 2010, I am just now ready to clean out things. I plan to downsize in a few years so it is a relief now to know I am taking care of so many things that I need to. I have started my “to do” list for the Fall.
Has Sarah been to the Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach? If not, the sand art is amazing to see! I enjoy walking the boardwalk to check out the vendors too!
I always enjoy reading your blog!
Thanks for sharing your life with us!
Lynne,
I noticed your email has wfu.edu in it. You must work there? Since Sarah was treated at Brenner/Wake Forest Medical Center, Winston Salem and Wake Forest have a special place in our hearts.
You are wise to work on the downsizing process slowly. I can imagine few things more overwhelming than to have only a short time to pare down all my belongings and get them moved. Doing it the way you are–room by room and drawer by drawer–is not only smart but it is de-stressing the process. Plus, as you says, it’s just a good feeling!
I am sorry to hear of your husband’s death from cancer. I know that cleaning things out has a whole added depth of emotion when some of those things used to belong to him. I hope you will feel him close as you handle and sort his things and prepare yourself for the season ahead.
No, Sarah has not been to the Neptune Festival. I will mention that to her; sounds cool!
Thanks for your encouraging words about the blog. It means so much to me that my blog is enjoyed by my sweet readers.
I, too, have a junk drawer. And it definitely needs to be cleaned out again. (My mother was very frugal and always saved stuff…thumbtacks/rubber bands/ twisty ties/shoe laces, etc. so I learned it from her. However, as I get older, it is becoming much easier to pitch the things I know I won’t be using any time soon. 😉 )The rest of the drawers, cupboards, rooms etc., are all in pretty good shape. About 5 years ago, we gutted and remodeled our kitchen. In the process of emptying all of the cupboards, I sorted and pitched right then and there. Ever since then, I have tried VERY hard to keep everything in order. Also, I always put stuff away right away, instead of pushing it off to the side or hiding it away to do later. It’s much easier to do it right then and handle it once than to put it somewhere and have to handle it twice. 🙂
LeeAnne,
You’re right. It takes a concerted, daily, intentional effort to keep stuff from piling up again once it is cleaned out. But if you stay on it, the way you have done since your remodel, it becomes a habit and gets a little easier. It is so worth it, though, to have non-cluttered space.
And the thing you said about not handling things twice is a very wise word of organizing wisdom. So true!
I recently retired and have LONG said that one of my first projects was going to be cleaning out my “rat holes.” Well! I’m having a teensy bit of trouble getting myself motivated because the task seems so HUGE. So thanks for this motivation to tackle just one little corner of a rat hole. Surely to goodness I can do that! I hope?… I think I can, I think I can. 🙂
Jenny,
SURE you can! And the secret to it is what you just said: tackling just one little corner. And then that little corner looks so great it inspires you to tackle another corner.
I can’t tell you what a good feeling I get every time I open up my ONE junk drawer and don’t have to rummage around for 10 minutes. Well worth the work of getting it straightened out.
You can do it! 🙂
Double dog dare ya to tackle the garage or better yet, the attic!!!
Well, that should be interesting. Wonder who’s going to tackle that – and the charge is on!!!
Sharyn,
Steve and I actually have cleaned our garage together a few times and it wasn’t that bad. But as I told him–the attic is not anywhere in my cleaning future. 🙂
Have a feeling it’s not on your bucket list either. ?
Steve,
I would love to do the garage but most of the stuff is guy stuff and I wouldn’t know what needed to be kept or thrown away.
The attic? I don’t think you will EVER find me up there! 🙂
May I ask what you were looking for and did you find it? I appreciate your honesty and therefore, I’ll be honest too (but hopefully not offensive). I’d have a nervous breakdown and breakout in hives every times I had to open those drawers. I hate clutter. If there were a way to attach pics in the comment section, I’d show you my junk drawer which is bordering on me needing to buy Benadryl (in BULK). I know, it’s a personal problem that I should problem seek out help from a professional but I sort of have it in my head that there’s no helping me. LOL!
How are Steve and Sarah feeling? Any trips to Florida planned this summer or Fall?
Take care!
Jodi,
I don’t recall at the moment what item I was on a hunt for but it was probably something as simple as a rubber band.
You’d never know it by those pictures but as a rule, I hate clutter too. I am still not quite sure why I let those drawers go so long!
We are not planning a trip to FL but we are leaving for Wisconsin next Monday; Nathan and family are flying in to be with us. (And the rest of my extended family.) Hooray!
I definitely have messes lurking. My spare bed has become the place to put things that need to be taken to a thrift shop. Most of the time that’s okay but when my parents come to visit, I have to take everything off the bed for the time they’re here. Today, I entered all the things I had ready to take to Its Deductible to track for income tax purposes and took everything to a thrift shop that benefits the Boys and Girls Club of KC. I still have other messes I need to take care of but at least now the only things on the bed besides pillows are a back pack I need to take to my niece the next time I see her and a book s I have read and need to take to the used book store. I just took books on Saturday – both mine and my mom’s – so will wait until I have several before going again. Now I think I will go take the dresser in my sun room.
Phyllis,
I definitely love your phrase, “messes lurking.” That’s just what they do, isn’t it? 🙂
Sounds like you are making gradual progress which is definitely better than no progress at all.
I cleaned out our “big” desk drawer last week and filled at least half a kitchen size trash can. I also helped my daughter (23) clean out her closet. Now if I could just convince myself to tackle my and my husband’s closets.
Sue Ellen,
Congratulations on getting one big project done. Maybe the satisfaction of THAT accomplishment will propel you on to the next one!
You can do it! 🙂
Only YOU would have stuff in your junk drawer that you wanted to donate to a thrift store! Surprisingly, I do not have a junk drawer. After downsizing from a house to an apartment there is no drawer in the kitchen in which to put junk. I had to quickly adapt! Things are spread out in various containors throughout the apt.
Now, talk to me about all the grandaughter’s toys/books/clothes/diapers/stickers/sippy cups/utensils etc. That is a challenge, albeit a good one 🙂
OK weird spacing in that sentence above for some odd reason haha
Lesley,
Ha. Yeah, there wasn’t all that much but I think there were some ear buds and a pair of sunglasses and that type thing. I give to thrift stores and I buy from thrift stores–it’s a beautiful relationship. 🙂
I am not sure I could live without a junk drawer; you have done well to adapt.
And I agree–the stuff that a grandchild requires is absolutely mind boggling!
Our junk drawer had been like yours until I decided enough was enough. I got a smaller tray, but also got smaller plastic boxes (like glad). I also used leftover sprinkle containers (sprinkles that you use on cookies and cakes) and put paper clips, thumb tacks, rubber bands, etc. in those. Don’t know if you get note pads in the mail, but we do. So those plus scrap paper ( when printing out coupons and there is extra paper, we tear it off into smaller note size paper) and put that with the note pad paper in a plastic box container. Address labels and stapler, and small calculator are at the front. Yep, ruler on the side. It does stay pretty organized now that each thing has it’s own place. Whew!
Sharyn,
You hit the nail on the head when you said, “It’s stays organized now that each thing has its own place.” That is the secret!
I love your ideas of reusing empty sprinkle containers for storing different small items. They are a perfect size and recycling is always a win-win. Good for you for taming the clutter monster!
We have junk rooms!!! We are in the process of cleaning out. Have thrown away about two large roll out trash cans full. Now to place things back in order. Some things went on the street and got picked up. More to do. Do have some junk drawers, too, but rooms coming first.
That sounds more like me, junk ROOMS!!
HaHa, junk rooms apply to me too, I wish it was just drawers!
Kari,
Rooms. Drawers. I think we ALL might have just a little bit of a clutter challenge from time to time! 🙂
Donna,
It’s funny that you and Ann and Kari are all in the official Junk Room Group. At least you know you’re not alone! 🙂
Ann,
Good for you! Sounds like you guys have made a LOT of progress filling two trash cans. Once you get the rooms straightened out, the drawers will be a breeze!
Praying for you . . .
Would have never guessed this new “Picture” applying to you! Saturday, I made up my mind to attack my office, limited number of drawers; however, I resorted to Plastic boxes, somewhat larger than shoe boxes. I have 11, all filled with assorted items / Junk / memories. So, I know that I am not alone in attacking this issue. God luck on your end. So music is tuurned up, Door to office closed and here I go. Speaking of Music, check out “Lightnin’ Charlie” – Not a comedy act. Now, Get To Work
John,
Always nice to see your name pop up here!
I had never heard of Lightnin’ Charlie but gave him a listen. Great style!
Good luck on your cleaning. Music always makes it go a little eaiser, doesn’t it? 🙂
I have been dreading the “Cleaning out of my closet” task for quite some time now. You might have just inspired me to tackle it, although it will probably take TWO days, not just two hours!! Needless to say, it is quite a mess. I tend to wear the same outfits all the time because I can’t ever seem to find anything in my closet!!
Donna,
Just think how great it will feel to walk to your closet to get dressed and be able to see (and choose from) ALL of your clothes! Definitely worth a few hours (or days) of work to get it that way.
Good luck and let us know when you get it done! 🙂
Well, at least your post got me inspired! I at least got half of my closet cleaned out today! The other side will have to wait until the weekend!
Donna,
Hooray for taking the first step. Half of a cleaned closet is way better than no cleaned closet at all. I know you can’t wait till you’ve whipped the second half into shape and can start every morning looking at all that orderliness!
Good for you!