13 Things That Were in Every Junk Drawer
These 13 common items define the chaotic yet nostalgic landscape of every household junk drawer.
- Alyana Aguja
- 3 min read
The junk drawer was less of a storage space and more of a time capsule filled with forgotten, mismatched necessities. From expired coupons to mystery keys, each item told a quiet story about hesitation, convenience, or sheer laziness. While rarely useful, these bits of clutter were comforting in their chaotic familiarity.
1. Mismatched Batteries
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There was always a loose AA or AAA battery rolling around, often without its match. Some were brand new, others probably expired five years ago. Yet, no one ever threw them away — just in case the remote died.
2. Takeout Menus
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Crinkled, greasy, and outdated, these menus stayed long after the restaurant closed down. You might find three versions of the same Chinese place with slightly different prices. Despite the internet existing, they felt essential.
3. Rubber Bands
Andres Siimon from Unsplash
A chaotic tangle of rubber bands always found its way in. Some were snapped, some were dried out, and none were ever actually used. They just kept multiplying like drawer gremlins.
4. Expired Coupons
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That 20% off Bed Bath & Beyond coupon from five years ago? Still there. You never used them, but they gave you a false sense of preparedness.
5. Mystery Keys
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No one knew what door they opened, but no one dared throw them out. What if they unlocked something important one day? So they lived on, rusting in peace.
6. Twist Ties
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These little guys came from every bread bag and electronics cable ever opened. They were bent, twisted, and never reused. However, tossing them felt weirdly wrong.
7. Tape Rolls With No Start
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You’d dig through the drawer, desperate for tape, only to find the roll — but not the edge. You’d scratch and peel at it for minutes before giving up. It was practically a psychological test.
8. Random Screws and Nails
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There was always a collection of metal odds and ends, usually from IKEA furniture or a long-forgotten project. No one remembered where they came from, but they might be useful someday, maybe.
9. Old Cell Phones or Chargers
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Obsolete flip phones and mystery charging cables gathered like tech fossils. You kept them “just in case” someone needed a Nokia from 2004. Spoiler: no one ever did.
10. Dried-Up Pens
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You’d reach for one in a hurry, and it never worked. Then, you’d test another. The result? Ten pens later, you were still writing nothing.
11. Broken Scissors
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Somehow, the only scissors in the house lived here — and they barely cut anything. The handle was probably chipped, and the blades misaligned. However, replacing them never felt urgent.
12. Thumbtacks and Paperclips
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A small explosion of office supplies without a container. You’d stab yourself fishing through the drawer just to find a pen. Yet no one ever moved them.
13. Birthday Candles
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Half-melted and bent, these candles were always missing a few numbers. You had every number except the one you needed for the next birthday. Still, you’d keep them for years, just in case the math worked out.