I Tried the “SIMPLE” Decluttering Rule on My Nightmare Junk Drawer, and I Can’t Believe the Results

The holidays are almost here, and getting organized is going to be key to actually enjoying the season. But messy and disorganized cabinets and drawers in the most-used area of my home can add up to surefire stress during such a busy season. That changes now.

I put off tackling my kitchen junk drawer for as long as possible, but when the drawer would no longer close properly due to excess junk, I knew it was time to overhaul the clutter and completely re-organize it. I reach for stuff in this drawer most during the holiday season while prepping and serving food, and even wrapping gifts. To prepare, I wanted to find a decluttering method that would ensure success and foster a routine for keeping this area tidy throughout the season and beyond. 

I landed on the “SIMPLE” method. With easy-to-follow, flexible steps for organizing — plus, a focus on establishing a routine — I was sure this was the process I needed to implement to tame the junk drawer clutter once and for all. 

The “SIMPLE” method was coined by pro organizer Kathy Jenkins, owner of Come to Order. It’s an acronym for what she says is the most effective order of events when it comes to organizing and decluttering a space.

S: Sort like items with like.
I: Identify which items to keep.
M: Make a home for it.
P: Put it in containers.
L: Label it.
E: Establish a routine.

I began transferring items to my cleared-off kitchen table and categorized them as best I could as I went. When all the items had been transported to the table, I marveled at the clean space in the drawer. It was more satisfying than I could’ve imagined! I cleaned out all the crumbs and little bits of trash that had accumulated in the bottom of the drawer. I made piles of tools, utensils, pens (so many of them!), notepads, sunglasses, tape dispensers, keys, and wine stoppers. 

I was astonished at all the duplicates of tools I didn’t need in that drawer, and even had a place elsewhere in my home. I found plenty of items that didn’t belong, too, like papers, receipts, and old mail that needed to be tossed. Truly, I cannot figure out how I ended up with so many pens, markers, highlighters, and pencils! I pared these down by distributing them to our dedicated homework station and trashed any broken pens or dried-out markers. If items had not been used in a while, they weren’t restocked in the drawer. 

After cleaning them, I placed my organizing dividers back in my drawer. I knew I had to rework them to be sure like items stayed with like items — after all, I didn’t want to dig through a pile of pens for a can opener. I put wooden utensil trays on the left side of the drawer and acrylic organizers on the right side to contain pens, notepads, and other office supplies. I’m hoping this will lessen the chance that the items are mixed together and lead to disorganization (again). 

Although my handy label maker actually lives in my junk drawer, there were only a few items that I felt I needed to label. I labeled each family member’s birthday gift cards and cash stashes so that they stayed separate and everyone could quickly access theirs when needed. 

I think this step will be the most challenging part of the method, as the drawer tends to be where everyone in the family tucks miscellaneous items into. I knew I had to make a plan and get other family members on board. I explained to them the new organizational system with the respective sides of the drawer, then returned the personal items unearthed from the back of the drawer that didn’t belong. I plan to make a point to handle papers and mail each day so that paper clutter doesn’t accumulate there either.

Ultimately, the “SIMPLE” method was absolutely simple to implement. The process helped me get my junk drawer clean and organized in record time. The dreaded task I had been putting off became doable with the brilliant framework, and I’m already thinking ahead to other spots in my home to use this method to organize speedily.

Would you try the “SIMPLE” method to declutter your home? Let us know in the comments below!