My biggest problem with the term waste drawer is the word junk. If something truly has no use, why are we storing it in valuable space in our kitchen, mudroom, or office? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that everything in your junk drawer has to be high quality or particularly valuable. What is this do what must be done, however, is to serve a purpose.
When organizing any space in your home, from your refrigerator to your closet, every item needs to deserve its place. If you don’t wear these black pumps, donate them. If you keep buying that bag of spinach but never finish it, it might be time to re-evaluate. Items in your junk drawer should follow the same rule.
Once you stop thinking of it as a catch-all space and start thinking of it as a utility drawer with a purpose, it becomes much easier to stay organized. Below is my step-by-step system for organizing a junk drawer so it stays that way.
Rachel Rosenthal is an organizing expert and founder of Rachel and Company, a professional organizing company based in Washington, DC. Since 2007, Rachel’s business has worked with over 3,000 clients and partnered with leading brands including West Elm, Pottery Barn, The Container Store, and Four Seasons. Rachel’s expertise has been featured in over 100 publications, including Real Simple, Martha Stewart, House Beautiful, The Rachael Ray Show, and local morning shows on NBC, ABC, and Fox. Rooted in the belief that organization can be achieved by everyone, Rachel focuses on solutions that are easy to use and enhance a home’s existing aesthetic.
How to Organize a Junk Drawer (Quick Steps)
If you want the quick version, here is the simple system I use:
- Empty the drawer completely
- Declutter broken or unused items
- Move objects that belong elsewhere
- Create categories for what’s left
- Add drawer organizers or dividers
- Return items thoughtfully and prepare them for use
Now, let’s break down each step.
Why Junk Drawers Are Getting Out of Control
The biggest problem with a junk drawer is the catch-all mentality. We’ve been conditioned to throw things we don’t know what to do with in a drawer and deal with them later. This is how you end up with drawers full to the brim and never being able to find the battery you know you have, or the box of matches you need in the event of a power outage.
Like any other space in your home, your junk drawer should have intentional categories. When everything has its place, the drawer becomes useful rather than chaotic. Changing your mindset from a “junk drawer” to one containing categorized items with a specific purpose is the first step in organizing it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing a Junk Drawer
Step 1: Empty the Junk Drawer Completely
Yes, everything. I know the thought may make most of us wince, but the first step to organizing your junk drawer is to empty everything. This is the only way to see exactly what you are working with. Once the drawer is empty, wipe it clean to start with a clean slate.
Step 2: Declutter and Remove Broken Items
Next, declutter the items you took out of the drawer. Some things will be obvious, like throwing out the trash or recycling old receipts. But don’t stop there. Write with each pen to make sure it works. Test the batteries. Turn on the flashlights. Check the tape rolls. You might be surprised how many items in a junk drawer are actually broken or unusable. Think about which items you really need in your home and which can be thrown away or donated.
Step 3: Move items that belong elsewhere
After decluttering, look at what’s left and decide if it really belongs in that drawer.
For example:
- Should your screwdriver live in the kitchen, or should it go in the garage or toolbox?
- Is this rule better suited to the children’s homework area?
- Should extra charging cables be in a desk drawer instead?
Moving things around helps prevent your junk drawer from becoming a storage space for items that belong elsewhere.
Step 4: Create Categories for What’s Left
Once you’ve decluttered and moved items, you’ll be left with the items that really belong in the drawer. Now it’s time to create categories.
For example:
- Scissors
- Adhesive tape
- Batteries
- Pens and pencils
- Elastics
- Small tools
- Chargers
Grouping items into categories makes it much easier to find what you need and maintain the system over time.
Step 5: Add Drawer Organizers or Dividers
Once you’ve identified your categories, measure your drawer so you can add suitable organizers. Some types of bins or drawer dividers are essential for organizing junk drawers. Since these drawers often contain multiple categories, the organizers prevent everything from sliding into one big pile.
Measure the drawer width, depth, and height, then find organizers that fit your space and categories. Adjustable dividers, small bins, or modular trays all work well. Think of it like playing a little Tetris until everything fits together perfectly.
Step 6: Put Everything Back in Place (and Get It Ready to Use)
Now comes the satisfying part: putting everything back together. Place each category in its designated organizer or section. But before you close the drawer, go further.
This step will be unique to your junk drawer, but consider sharpening pencils, folding the end of the tape over so it’s easy to grip, refilling a lighter, or matching batteries by size. These little finishing touches make a big difference. Now everything in your junk drawer is ready to use at any time.
What should actually be put in a junk drawer?
A well-organized junk drawer typically contains small, frequently used household items that have no other obvious home.
Some common items include:
- Batteries
- Scissors
- Adhesive tape
- Elastics
- Pens and pencils
- Flashlight
- Matches or lighters
- Phone chargers
- Small tools like a screwdriver
The bottom line is that each item serves a purpose and belongs to a category in the drawer.
Common Junk Drawer Organization Mistakes
If your junk drawer never seems to stay organized, one of these habits could be the reason.
Treat it like a catch-all.
A junk drawer shouldn’t be the place where random items go missing.
Keep broken items.
Dead batteries, dry pens and tangled cords quickly create a mess.
Do not use drawer dividers.
Without organizers, everything slides into a chaotic pile.
Mixing too many categories.
Limiting the drawer to a few simple categories keeps it functional.
Never modify the drawer.
A quick reset every few months prevents clutter from building up again.
How to Keep Your Junk Drawer Organized
Once your drawer is organized, a little maintenance will go a long way in keeping it that way. A quick five-minute reset once a month can help prevent clutter buildup: use this time to throw out broken items, test pens, or remove anything that’s been sitting in the drawer for no real purpose. Try to return items to designated sections after using them so that the categories remain intact, and be careful about what you add again. If something doesn’t serve a clear purpose, it probably doesn’t need to reside there.
A junk drawer doesn’t have to be perfect, but with a simple system in place, it can remain functional, tidy and easy to use.
Organize your junk drawer with these effective products
Once your drawer is decluttered and organized, the right organizers make all the difference. Drawer dividers, small bins, and modular trays keep items from moving around and turning into one big pile.
The right tools help ensure that every item in your drawer has a home and stays there.
Junk Drawer Organizers
Neat method
Luxury acrylic
Line arc design
Wrap it up
This article was last updated on March 22, 2026 to include new information.
The position The Secret to Organizing a Junk Drawer (Hint: Stop Treating It Like One) appeared first on Camille Styles.