What's In Your Junk Drawer?

Even though summer usually says outdoor activities, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the majority of us are confined to our place of residence. The last pandemic in 1918 was a period in history without the internet, without computers, without social media, without smart phones, without cable, without movies on DVD, without television, and even without radio. For this pandemic, in addition to all the above mentioned conveniences, we have live face-to-face communication through such platforms as Facetime, Skype, and Zoom. When you compare our situation to 1918, we are in a much better position to handle the stay at home restrictions.

But there's still that daily cry of 'there's nothing to do.' Maybe this is a good time to turn our attention to cleaning out and organizing that infamous catch-all known as the junk drawer. Don't deny that you have one. Everyone does and it's usually in the kitchen. What are some of the common items kept in a junk drawer? Wouldn't this be a good time to clean it out? Get rid of all the obsolete junk in that junk drawer? Let's take a look of some of things you'd typically find in the junk drawer.

1)  Scissors:

These are a must in a junk drawer.  They don't need to be an expensive pair, but they do need to be there.

2)  Paper clips and safety pins:

When something needs fastening, it's a nuisance to rummage through your office for a paper clip and sift through sewing supplies to find what you need.  It's very convenient to have a few of these items handy in the kitchen.

3)  Pens and pencils:

Another must for the junk drawer.  Everyone always needs one in the kitchen.  This is where a lot of the free give-away promotional pens end up…or the one you liberated from the grocery store after writing that check (assuming anyone writes checks at the store rather than using the handy debit card).

4)  Bandages:

Just in case you cut yourself while chopping veggies.

5)  Gum and candy:

Always a nice surprise to find a stick of gum or piece of candy. But how long has it been there?

6)  Rubber bands:

While they're essential to a junk drawer, they often end up running amok.  You need to put them in something so they won't get tangled with everything and with each other.

7)  Bag clips:

If you have the kind with magnets on them, then you probably keep them on the freezer or refrigerator.  But if they don't have magnets, you'll most likely keep them in the junk drawer.

8)  Batteries:

Many people keep batteries in their refrigerator, but it has been debated whether or not this actually extends battery life.  I keep mine in my junk drawer, mostly AA and AAA batteries since they are the most used. I do, however, have a clear plastic case that hold them.

9)  Mini tools:

It's good to have a few tools handy such as different sizes of screwdrivers (both Phillips head and flat head) and maybe a hammer and pliers for those quick emergency fixes that don't require dragging out the big tool box.

10)  Flashlight:

It's nice to have one handy in case of that power failure.  Of course, I also have one in my bedroom and my office.

In my junk drawer I have some of these items and I have some that aren't mentioned here such as a couple of extension cords, a jar with miscellaneous nails and screws, and a roll of duct tape.

There are drawer organizers made for the specific purpose of putting that junk drawer in some kind of order.  I've given up on them and have returned to the basic disorganized system.

What kind of stuff do you keep in your junk drawer?