I’d like to introduce you to Sinea.  She blogs over at Ducks in a Row and loves to be organized.  Here’s her step by step method for organizing a kitchen drawer: 

Many thanks to Angela for the privilege of guest posting on The Grocery Shrink.  I was thrilled when I found out that April was “Organizing Month”. Though my house might not always show it, organizing is my thing and I love to make it simple and easy enough for anyone to do! 

So, let’s take on a project that takes no time at all:  a kitchen drawer.  My kitchen has several drawers.  One for cooking utensils, one for silverware and then there’s the “other one”. 

The “other one” has been unfortunately named “The Junk Drawer”, for obvious reasons. I think it believes it, too.  It gets junkie really fast.  It should contain pens, pencils, scotch tape, safety pins, glue stick, new birthday candles, bottle opener, can opener, screw driver and maybe a notepad.  What it often contains is beyond imagination.  When I found out that I would be guest blogging, this topic was the obvious choice.  The Junk Drawer needs to be brought back under control!

Organizing a drawer shouldn’t be a big deal.  After all, it is just one drawer!  Then, why do we let them get so out of hand?

First of all, it’s not our fault.  Kitchen drawers are handled many times a day by a number of users.  Each person has a different interest in its contents and doesn’t care at all what condition it’s left in, just as long as they find what they need.  With that many “helpers”, it doesn’t take long for a neat, organized drawer to become a tangled mess.

Second, clutter sneaks up on you.  You don’t notice it until it gets really bad.

The Great Organizing Secret: when life is spinning out of control, clean a drawer. That’s right. Organizing even one drawer gives you a momentary success, sense of accomplishment and peace. It is proof that there is at least one thing that you can control. Organizing a drawer can be downright therapeutic! 

Now, get ready for my little “disaster area”:

What a mess! 

*When I emptied the drawer I was horrified to find that as much stuff had slipped underneath the dividers than what could be seen on top.

Wait till you see the pile!

How to turn it around:

Multi-task. Select a moment that you will be waiting in the kitchen, anyway.  While the coffee is brewing is a likely choice.  Or, how about when you’re waiting for something in the oven to get done? Those are good times to tackle this little project.  It should take 10 minutes, or less. 

1. Clear a space on the kitchen counter or table. 
2. Lay a dishtowel out and tip the drawer over onto it.  (If you use kitchen drawer dividers, pull them out and tip their contents onto the towel, then scoop out the rest of the drawer’s contents to add to the pile.)
3. Tilt the empty drawer over the sink or waste basket to get out the crumbs and residue.
4. Take a damp sponge, soaked with Orange Cleaner and clean the drawer out.  Dry it.
5. 5.       Do the same for your separators.  Soap them up, rinse them and dry them. (If they are made of wood, use Pledge or wood cleaner instead of soapy water.)
6. Put the drawer back in place.
7. Add the clean dividers.

Now, turn your attention to the kitchen counter.

You will be sorting three groups:   1. throw away   2. put away   3. back in drawer

See what I mean? 

Who would have thought so much would be hiding in that little drawer?

1. Throw away

Bring your waste basket right up next to you. Start picking out the scrap papers, old plastic bag ties, expired coupons and other trash. Quickly rifle through it, sorting out the trash and toss it in the garbage.

2. Put away

Some things undoubtedly have shown up in that drawer that don’t belong there. Use a bowl or small basket for the “put away” group.  If they go in a different drawer in the kitchen, quickly lay them aside on the counter to take care of in a minute.  The items that don’t belong in the kitchen go in the basket to be carted to where they do belong when this job is over.

3. Back in drawer

Finally, put the items back that do belong in the drawer.  Make it neat. Stand back and look.  Ahhh.  Feels good. Ten minutes and the job is done! 

It really did take 10 minutes.

Except for stopping as my family kept asking me what I was doing…and with a camera, no less! 

Many blessings to the Coffman family as they welcome the arrival of their new baby.

Open invitation to Angela and her many readers: please stop by my blog, Ducks ‘n a Row, anytime!

I’d love to hear from you.   www.ducksnarow.com

‘Till we meet again…

Sinea