Our junk drawer hadn't been cleaned out since ... well ... let's just say it'd been a long time. This challenge gave me the nudge I needed to take on the project. Once I got going, it was kind of fun to see what I found. Here's the Before picture:

Here's the new product, a six-piece interlocking drawer organizer set from Rubbermaid. Sweet.


The entire set, assembled this way, measures 12" x 12", and the smallest sections are 3" x 3" square. The sections interlock, so it'll keep the configuration you set up. Each section is lined with a slightly textured surface, so items don't slide too much, and each section has no-slip feet to keep the unit in place. Very neat.
I couldn't fit the entire set in this narrow drawer, so I decided to use three of the sections. But first I had to empty the drawer and sort out what really needs to be there. After all, organizing junk is as illogical as vacuuming around clutter. (Not that I haven't done that, but that's another post.)


We removed these child-safety latches years ago; why are they still here?


Innocent victims of furniture abuse


After I'd tossed the junk, I set out to organize the remaining items. I put the loose screws into a sandwich bag and transferred the smallest items--rubber bands, paper clips, and so on--to the 3x3 compartments.

Here's the final result:

As I looked at these photos, I realized that I should have taken out the non-skid drawer liner; it's not needed with this organizer. Overall, though, I'm very happy with the result! I plan to use the remaining sections (the ones that don't fit in this drawer) to organize some of the loose items in my silverware drawer. No more getting sliced on the vegetable peeler, I hope.
Ready to take on your own Organizational Challenge?
Buy it: Learn more about Rubbermaid No Slip Interlocking Drawer Organizers.
Win it: Thanks to the team at Rubbermaid, one lucky reader will win the same six-piece set that I received.
This giveaway is closed. (See who won here.)
Here's how to enter: Help me feel better about my clutter: leave a comment and tell me about one of your own organization challenges. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.
Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):
- Join the Rubbermaid Club. (1 entry)
- Become a fan of Rubbermaid on Facebook. (1 entry)
- Check out the Rubbermaid blog and tell me something you learned. (1 entry)
- Subscribe to my feed in a feed reader. If you already subscribe, leave a comment to let me know. (1 entry)
- Subscribe to my feed by email. Subscriptions must be verified to count. If you already subscribe, leave a comment to let me know. (2 entries - mention Entry #1 and Entry #2)
- Follow both me and Rubbermaid on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway ( RT @FC_Melissa Enter to win a @Rubbermaid Drawer Organizer Set http://bit.ly/de1KSO #giveaway ). (1 entry per day)
- Enter this giveaway in another blog's current giveaway linky list. Leave a comment here with a link to the post. (3 entries - mention Entry #1, Entry #2, Entry #3)
- Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post. Leave a comment with a link to your blog post. (2 entries - mention Entry #1 and Entry #2)
- Add my blog to your blogroll, and send me a link to your blog. (2 entries - mention Entry #1 and Entry #2)
- If you qualify for the top-secret bonus entries, leave two comments (one per entry).
More details: Open to residents of USA, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 2/22/10 at noon (Eastern time). Winners will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org. Each winner will be contacted by email and must claim the prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Void where prohibited.
Disclosure: I received the pictured drawer organizer set, at no cost to me, for review purposes. All of the opinions in this post are mine alone. The giveaway prize is being provided by Rubbermaid.
Disclosure: I received the pictured drawer organizer set, at no cost to me, for review purposes. All of the opinions in this post are mine alone. The giveaway prize is being provided by Rubbermaid.

I also have a junk droawer that has not bee organized since my 3 1/2 year old twins were born. It just keep accumulating "junk".
ReplyDeletedenise_22315 at yahoo dot com
Email subscribe #1.
ReplyDeletedenise_2215 at yahoo dot com
Email subscriber #2.
ReplyDeletedenise_22315 at yahoo dot com
Follow both and tweeted.
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/wiscmom24/status/8677937118
denise_22315 at yahoo dot com
I learned that home office organizational projects are most popular.
ReplyDeletedenise_22315 at yahoo dot com
I moved into my home 4 years ago and I still have boxes of clothes in my bedroom that I have not gone through yet. I have several "junk" drawers that everything gets thrown into when we are expecting company. Feel better???
ReplyDeletegerrie DOT shaeffer AT yahoo DOT com
I joined the Rubbermaid club
ReplyDeletegerrie DOT shaeffer AT yahoo DOT com
I am a facebook fan of Rubbermaid
ReplyDeletegerrie DOT shaeffer AT yahoo DOT com
I visited the Rubbermaid blog and I read and learned about the space saver drainer. This saves counter and storage space and doesn't require an extra drain mat as most drainers do.
ReplyDeletegerrie DOT shaeffer AT yahoo DOT com
Email subscriber
ReplyDelete#1
gerrie DOT shaeffer AT yahoo DOT com
Email subscriber
ReplyDelete#2
gerrie DOT shaeffer AT yahoo DOT com
twitter follower of both (shaeffermom)and tweeted http://twitter.com/shaeffermom/status/8679734313
ReplyDeletegerrie DOT shaeffer AT yahoo DOT com
Not sure how to organize office supplies so just keep stacking them
ReplyDeletesylviawhit@gmail.com
I subscribe by email
ReplyDeletesylviawhit@gmail.com
I'm a seven-month newly wed.
ReplyDeleteAnd we have not yet figured out an integrated filing system for our household. (Dear Husband's system is to put everything in boxes - and he KNOWS exactly which box everything is in, but that doesn't help me). Everything is on the kitchen table right now (and we might have to start eating on the floor if I don't address it soon!!!!)
jvwspam*AT*yahoo*DOT*com
I subscribe via bloglines!
ReplyDeleteMy organizational challenge is always the growing, breeding ground of papers and magazines in my office. The piles grow so quickly that I swear people break into my house to leave papers on my piles. :)
ReplyDeletepetulawrites@yahoo.com
I'm a fan of Rubbermaid on FB.
ReplyDeleteI subscribed to your blog in a feeder (MyYahoo).
ReplyDeleteOh, my.... your before drawer looks just like all 3 of my junk drawers! :-( My challenge comes from me being a perfectionist. If I can't do it right, I don't want to do it...or don't even start! I have a great many ideas of HOW to organize - and I actually LOVE doing it, but if I don't have all of the plastics and tubs and containers on hand, I only procrastinate....and procrastinate...and the junk piles higher...and higher until it's overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance!
Well, I am the oldest of 6 children. There is never a clean spot!! We are always moving things around trying to get more room for our clutter:) Don't feel bad. It didn't look that bad:D Please enter me. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteesterried[at]yahoo[dot]com
my org challenge is in our closet! EEEEEK!
ReplyDeletejoined their club!
ReplyDeletesubscribe to u #1
ReplyDeletesubscribe to u #2
ReplyDeleteMy biggest organizing challenge is paper. It piles up for a week or so til I get crazy and sort it into trash, recycling and keep
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
subscriber 1
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
subscriber 2
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
One of my challenges is my daughters "hair things" drawer. I think the Rubbermaid organizer would be great for that!
ReplyDeleteI already subscribe to emails. #1
ReplyDeleteI already subscribe to emails. #2
ReplyDeleteI added you to my blogroll. #1
ReplyDeletehttp://debbieshomeschoolcorner.blogspot.com/
I added you to my blogroll. #2
ReplyDeleteI read the Rubbermaid blog. I agree that just a few minutes a day will keep most of the mess down--if only I could convince my children!
ReplyDeleteTop secret bonus #1
ReplyDeleteTop secret bonus #2
ReplyDeleteI have a junk drawer in the kitchen also and I have about a handful of things I have no idea what they go to but like you did with the cord, I keep them just incase.
ReplyDeletejonandjen10@gmail.com
Oh my gosh Melissa, I have an entire room that needs organized. It seems in the last year everything is unorganized! I have three hutch drawers full of pictures and "stuff" that really needs organization!I keep things just as you, never know when it might be put to good use. These would encourage me to get going!
ReplyDeleteOh, PALEAZ! Your "before" picture is like a dream come true for my junk drawer! I'm pretty sure my junk drawer is bottomless...kinda like a Mary Poppins bag.
ReplyDeleteThe pantry is mine... all those spice jars and flavor packets. These would greatly help me organize!
ReplyDeleteI joined the rubbermaid Club
ReplyDeleteI am Rubbermaids facebook friend
ReplyDeleteI learned that people buy stuff without any thought of where to put it - and realized that i do that too lol never even realized.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to your feed in afeed reader
ReplyDeleteentry 1 - I subscribe by e-mail petrellinc-slinky at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteentry 2 - I subscribe by e-mail petrellinc-slinky at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeletefollow you both and tweeted - thennl
ReplyDeleteMy kitchen drawers are a mess. This would help immensely in organizing them so I can actually find stuff. hehe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing the giveaway!
-Leslie
carykhepburn@yahoo.com
I learned that the Space Saver Drainer doesn't require a tray. It drains straight into the sink. That's really cool! Less mess and it saves space.
ReplyDeleteThanks again!
-Leslie
carykhepburn@yahoo.com
I have a junk drawer plus my office desk drawers that need to be organized
ReplyDeletetiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
My closets hate me... I have the best intentions but then I end up just throwing things in there when I'm in a hurry
ReplyDeletemy laundry room! always a mess. thanks for a great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy junk drawer is always a mess! It seems like as soon as I clean it, it's a mess again.
ReplyDeleteMy junk drawer is the catch all/hide all place that I stick stuff in right before company comes over.
ReplyDeleteAngie
aphillips374@hotmail.com
OMGosh my junk drawer is a toe death trap, everytime you open the drawer you hold your toes in in fear that something may fall on them!
ReplyDeleteMy junk is drawer is packed with so many different odds and ends, I really have no idea what is actually in there!
ReplyDeleteI became a fan of Rubbermaid on facebook :)
ReplyDeleteA huge challenge is paperwork! We don't file away things as much as we should and it collects.
ReplyDeleterbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com
I have a lot of organizational challenges! And, to me... your junk drawer's "before" picture looks pretty well-organized. :) I need help with organizing STUFF... in drawers, closets, baskets, etc.
ReplyDeleteroseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I'm subscribed by email - Entry #1
ReplyDeleteroseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I'm subscribed by email - Entry #2
ReplyDeleteroseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I blogged about this...
ReplyDelete(entry 1 of 2)
http://anitamartin.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/organizing-junkie/
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I blogged about this...
ReplyDelete(entry 2 of 2)
http://anitamartin.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/organizing-junkie/
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I follow you and Rubbermaid on Twitter and tweeted for 2/11...
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/8983817818
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I'm subscribed via Google Reader.
ReplyDeleteroseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
tweet for 2/13...
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/9064252195
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I have a hard time organizing my kitchen cabinets because I feel we don't have enough space.
ReplyDeletenavybaby1113 (at) gmail (dot) com
Closets are the worst for me!! I can never seem to "organize" them!! :(
ReplyDeleteapril_vereb@yahoo.com
I'm an email subscriber!
ReplyDeleteapril_vereb@yahoo.com
Trust me - I've had several junk drawers like that over the years! :) Love this organizer, though. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteWell, don't feel bad; I have a "junk" drawer & I bet most of us do!
ReplyDeleteLuvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net
I have a technology junk drawer with tons of tangled wires!! I am just going to dump everything.
ReplyDeleteMy kids closets! I'm horrible at purging them on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteI'm a member of Rubbermaid Club!
ReplyDeleteI learned I really need the giftwrap organizer!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a facebook fan!
ReplyDeleteThe reason I need organization help??? I have lived in a camper with my dear Sweetie and our dog Spot, and our 3-legged kitty Kitty and at this present time and poor sick duck who's living for another couple days in the bathtub. She's recovering quite well.
ReplyDeleteSo, please help me, I do need it.