How to Declutter Your Kitchen Junk Drawer

Is decluttering on your list of things to accomplish in the new year? Think about starting with something easy, like your kitchen junk drawer. The time is now. January is a great month for decluttering.

We all have them. Yes, I'm talking about that unsightly junk drawer. Have you looked in your kitchen junk drawer lately? How do you feel every time you open that drawer? Does it frustrate you? Can you find what you are looking for? If you are ready to tackle your kitchen junk drawer I can help.

How to Declutter Your Kitchen Junk Drawer

(This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Purchases made through these links help support this blog.)

My Organized Kitchen Junk Drawer

This is a tip I use whenever I am decluttering. It is very useful for drawers and closets in your home that seem to accumulate all matter of stuff. I'm talking about those black holes where stuff goes and never seems to come out again.

Steps to Declutter Your Kitchen Junk Drawer

Choose a day to declutter your kitchen drawer when you are in the mood. It is best to start decluttering when the spirit moves you and you are in a positive frame of mind. Don't start your kitchen drawer decluttering when you are frustrated.

Purchase a drawer organizer in advance. I love expandable bamboo organizers and adjustable bamboo dividers. Choose your preferred organizer and be sure it fits your drawer before you start decluttering. It will help you feel accomplished to have a place to put things.

Get Ready To Sort. You'll need a trash can and a box.

Take everything out of your drawer and make a pile on your counter.

Clean. Wash and dry the inside of your drawer.

Place the new organizer into the drawer.

Sort the items on your counter. The items will either go into the trash or the box.

Place the things in the box one item at a time so you will make a note in your head of what you put in the box. Now, put the box in a place that is accessible, out of sight. and preferably not in the kitchen.

Admire your empty drawer. You are done for now.

Yay! Yes, I know nothing is in the drawer. You are going to restock and organize that drawer one item at a time, as you need something. Over the next days and weeks, retrieve items from the box only when they are needed in your kitchen.

Return Items to the Drawer When Needed. After three months you'll have moved most of the essential items from the box to your drawer.

Discard or donate non-essential items. Three months is usually enough time to know whether to discard, donate, or keep the remaining items. If you are unsure about letting go of an item, return it to the box until later. The rest should be discarded or donated.

As an aside, check Facebook for a local "For Free" page. You can post pictures of your "junk" that can soon be someone else's "treasure".

Check your box again. After six months, check your box again. It is time to make a final decision about the items that remain.

This is a no-stress approach to get the upper hand on your kitchen stuff. It is easy to do and encourages you to be more mindful of the accumulating items in your kitchen. Try using this technique with other drawers and closets in your home, too.

Happy decluttering!

Comments

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year. This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect.

How to Kill Ants in Your Home

Simple Homemade Ant Bait That Works If you’ve ever had ants show up in your kitchen, you know how quickly a small problem turns into a big one. This simple homemade ant bait uses just three ingredients and works by eliminating the colony, not just the ants you see. No sprays. No guesswork. Just a method that actually works.

Crunchy, Spicy Gingersnap Cookies

An Old-Fashioned Cookie That Always Turns Out There’s something about a good gingersnap cookie that just feels right. Not fancy. Not complicated. Just dependable… and really, really good. These crunchy, spicy gingersnaps are the kind of cookie you make when you want something you know will turn out—and something everyone will recognize and enjoy. They’ve got that classic crackled top, a warm blend of spices, and just enough sweetness to balance it all out. And the best part? They’re easy. No mixer required. Traditional Ginger Snaps Cookie Recipe ( This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase with these links.) Gingersnaps Cookies This old-fashioned gingersnap cookie is a winner. It's easy to make and will be a favorite in your recipe rotation.

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

These old-fashioned whoopie pies are soft, chocolatey, and filled with a rich, creamy filling, just like the ones many of us remember. This is a true New England-style recipe. If you’re looking for a true whoopie pie recipe—the kind made in New England with a cooked filling—this is it. Whoopie pies are a beloved treat, a nostalgic dessert that evokes childhood memories and continues to delight today. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! This recipe, inspired by traditional Maine-style whoopie pies, comes from my family recipe box. It delivers soft, chocolatey cakes with a rich, creamy cooked filling – no marshmallow fluff needed! The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe (Soft cakes & Creamy Filling) This post includes affiliate links. Whoopie pies are essentially handheld cake sandwiches: soft, round, cake-like cookies embracing a luscious, creamy filling. While their ...

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can surely bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe. An Old-Fashioned Date Cookie Recipe What are old-fashioned date-filled cookies? Old-fashioned date-filled cookies are a nostalgic, soft sandwich cookie featuring two rounds of tender sugar cookie dough with a sweet, homemade date jam filling in the center. This vintage 1930s recipe is a traditional holiday favorite, prized for its soft texture and the perfect balance of buttery dough and naturally sweet dates. This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932, so this...

Five Keys to Growing A Healthy Ficus Tree

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family? If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time. You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig. I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long. How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades This post includes affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you use these links. When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

Calla Lily Tea Sandwiches

These calla lily tea sandwiches are an easy way to create something truly special for a bridal shower, tea party, or small gathering, without making things complicated. One look at these calla lily tea sandwiches and you might think they are far too fussy for you to make for your special gathering. Fear not! These calla lily tea sandwiches are adorable, tasty, and not too fussy once you get your assembly technique down. Best of all, these calla lily finger sandwiches make a beautiful presentation on your buffet table. Calla Lily Finger Sandwiches (This post includes affiliate links.) Calla Lily Tea Sandwiches If you are looking for finger sandwiches that are a little different, you have found them here. These calla lily sandwiches are a perfect little bite to add to your party menu. They are especially perfect for bridal show...

The Ultimate Cinnamon Swirl Bread: A Bread Machine Recipe

Today's recipe will fill your kitchen with an incredible aroma and lots of smiles. It's homemade cinnamon swirl bread made with your bread machine. If you’ve ever struggled to get that perfect cinnamon swirl or ended up with gaps or leaking filling, this method fixes that using your bread machine. Bread Machine Cinnamon Swirl Bread (Soft, Easy Recipe) This post includes affiliate links. This recipe brings together the ease of your trusty bread machine with the deliciousness of a warm, sweet, and perfectly swirled cinnamon bread. Get ready for a slice of pure comfort!

Easy Chicken Parmesan-A Make Ahead Freezer Dinner

Chicken Parmesan is a favorite dinner in the Just One Donna house because it is a delicious dish that can satisfy your cravings for Italian food. It's also easy to make at home with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry. But what if you don't have time to cook on a busy weeknight? Don't worry, you can make Chicken Parmesan ahead of time and freeze it for later. I like to prepare Chicken Parmesan to have on hand in my freezer for those busy weeknights when we might be tempted to head to a restaurant instead of eating at home. How to Make Freezer Chicken Parmesan for Busy Nights This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small compensation when you shop using these links Easy Freezer Chicken Parmesan for Dinner Chicken Parmesan, also known as Chi...

Just~One~Donna

Search This Blog