This ‘Roving Junk Drawer’ Trick Clears Counter Clutter Fast When Your Home Feels Most Chaotic
Double your hardest-working spaces now and come back to it in a few weeks with minimal effort
At the busiest and most stressful time of the year, clutter on your kitchen countertops is inevitable and pretty unavoidable. But, with guests on the way and time tighter than ever, how can you clear clutter fast?
Our answer is simple, effective, and oh-so-easy – using a 'roving junk drawer' to cheat your way to a streamlined space.
What Is the 'Roving Junk Drawer' Trick?
While Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and holiday hosting are all reasons to celebrate with friends and family, for some, this time of year is more stressful than ever.
In fact, according to a recent study conducted by Manhattan Mental Health Counselling, 41 per cent of adults anticipate more stress this year than last, with time pressure, overcommitment, and social comparison appearing among the classic triggers.
But, with the 'roving junk drawer' trick, clutter in your home, whether hosting or simply spending time relaxing, needn't be a trigger, too.
Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved here at Homes & Gardens, is the brains behind this clever tip. 'I have taken to using a 'roving junk drawer' in my home ahead of guests when I am short on time, high on stress, and low on energy,' she explains, all of which tend to be exacerbated at this time of year, leaving most people decluttering when overwhelmed.
For Punteha, who is disabled and lives with chronic pain, she is constantly finding new ways to easily declutter with health challenges, and this trick, which was born of necessity on a really low-energy and high-pain day, really works.
She adds, 'This effectively is a temporary cheat to declutter countertops and surfaces. Get yourself a cardboard box from an inbound package, or a plastic bin with a lid, such as the Sterilite Latch Box available at Walmart, and quite literally tip all of your counter clutter in there.
'This might include paperwork, trinkets, and odds and ends that don't really have a home, or have lost their way, but are taking up space in a high-function or high-traffic area.'
There are, however, warns Punteha, a few caveats to keep in mind, as you shouldn't include any items you might need over the next few weeks, food items, damp items, or living plants, as you certainly don't want to find yourself dealing with common indoor pests or mold and mildew between now and when you return to clear the box.
'Everything else can go in there, and then you seal it shut,' adds Punteha. 'Whether it's a lid that comes with the plastic bin, or taping the cardboard shut with packing tape,' available at Amazon.
Make sure to set a date to return to your roving junk drawer so the box of clutter doesn't become a problem later.
Once sealed, simply write the date on the top that you intend to return to the box, or slip a note inside with that information on it, and pop a matching task in your calendar so you don't forget about it completely when you have more time.
'Put it out of sight, out of mind, until the date you have agreed with yourself to return to the items and sort them out,' advises Punteha. 'I set a digital reminder on my phone so I cannot escape it.'
And, the best part of this 'roving junk drawer' trick is that, much like the didn't know decluttering method, you may well find that none of the items in your roving junk drawer are actually missed.
In that case, you can appropriately trash, recycle, donate, or sell the decluttered items, using the Pile Decluttering Method, to banish any things you shouldn't keep on kitchen counters for good.
In particular, this will work well for decluttering those accumulated pieces that tend to build up in your space with nowhere to go, working to make more counter space, even in a small kitchen.
What to Shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This latching box is strong, sturdy, and stackable, with a see-through base and sides so you can easily identify items you're yet to sort with a quick glance.
This packaging tape boasts industrial-strength adhesion and works on all kinds of boxes, including recycled boxes. It's editor Punteha's packing tape of choice for tasks like this, as it won't unstick over time.
Your roving junk drawer doesn't have to be unsightly – this stylish storage basket is hand-woven with a lidded design to discreetly cover the contents so you can even hide your roving junk drawer in plain sight.
Using visual reminders such as sticky notes like these makes it easy to mark up piles for selling, donating, sorting, trashing, or decluttering, which is known as the Post-It Note Decluttering Method.
This storage basket is sewn from braided unbleached cotton and can be filled with items and stashed away on a shelf, behind your couch, or under your bed. You can even cover the items with a stylish, folded throw so visitors won't spot what's under it.
If you've got more areas than just your kitchen counters to clear of clutter, this set of four boxes can be used all around the home and then stacked up out of sight in a garage, attic, shed, or balcony.
Meet the Expert
Punteha joined Homes & Gardens in 2024 and was previously the editor of Real Homes. She's been a journalist for over 16 years and has written for publications across the national press, including BBC Good Food, Daily Mail, and Closer. Punteha is disabled and lives with chronic pain, so small decluttering, organizing, and cleaning projects around the home that save time, are low-energy and high-impact, are her forte.
Wondering how to keep kitchen counters clear year-round? Begin by making decluttering a daily habit.
