Do you have a utensil drawer in your kitchen that’s getting out of control?
You know. It’s bulging with spoons, spatulas, and other assorted kitchen implements to the point where every time you open it – nothing is easy to find. Then, trying to close it is almost a magic trick!
Not my drawer - mine was much worse!
I’ve discovered a solution that makes oh-so-much sense! I especially like this hint because it’s painless. Sometimes organization tips suggest you just bite the bullet and eliminate stuff – stat!!! This can cause anxiety and the dreaded “What if I get rid of this and then I need it!?!” syndrome. 😉
With the method I’ve found, you will slowly realize that there are lots of things you don’t really need!
Are you ready to show that utensil drawer who’s boss?
First, get a large box or plastic storage tub.
Take everything out of the drawer!
Place ONLY the utensils that you use EVERY week back in the drawer.
Put everything else into the storage box and keep that box in a convenient location in your home.
Now for the next six months (or even a year), whenever you need an item that is NOT in the drawer, retrieve it from the storage box. After using it, you may add it to the items that you keep in the drawer.
After six months (or whatever time frame you choose), there will still be lots of things in that storage box. These are things you hardly ever use. Donate them!
Tell yourself that if someday in the future you really need an item you donated – you can buy it. Chances are this won’t happen, though!
In the meantime, you will have organized a drawer that’s a pleasure to open with easy access to all your cooking tools!
It worked for me 🙂
Oh, but what happens if you are a magnet for other people’s unwanted utensils? I seem to have collected at least 5 more spatulas when my daughters roomates moved out! How they ended up in MY utensil drawer I’ll never know…but now I can’t seem to get rid of them. Cracked wooden spoons, bent forks, spoons that had a stint in the garbage disposal…they’re all there. Oh yeah, and how about all the rusted wire whisks? My husband would love to put all of those into a box and put it away somewhere, as out in the trash can! I did get rid of one utensil once, it was a potato masher. After all, I only buy instant potato buds now so why would I need a potato masher, right? Well guess what happened? My family decided they want “real” mashed potatos again and I had to buy another. So now I have utensil-purging-aphobia! I’m a lost cause!
Don’t you just make me want to get busy with spring cleaning!!! That was NOT on my TO DO list in the near future! It interfers with beading.
But seriously, its a good tip. My bad is even if I don’t use it, I still want to keep it. I wish I could use your method in my craft room. But, I’m gonna stamp again some day, aren’t I? Or at the very least find some other use for my stamps. After all, I loved em when I bought em, and I still love em, even if I don’t USE em…someday….
OMG, thank you so much. I will try it right after this. We are talking BOTTOMLESS pit big time.
I am going to try this. My drawer is awful – thanks for the tip!
good, reasonable suggestion
Crystal, you are sooo wise! It’s sort of the same thing I do with my clothes. If I haven’t worn something in a year, it gets donated! Great tip! xoxo
Aaaah, but that’s the problem- we DO use everything in the utensil drawer, and we have NOWHERE to put other storage! So we end up with everyday items in the sink drainer, and “nearly everyday” items like the can opener in the drawer. It is not a good system, not least because Mr.Icepick does not get along in ANY company. Argh.