There are six things you should be storing in drawers, but probably aren’t. Here’s how to organize them:

1.  A dish towel drawer

A dish towel drawer is the easiest “quick win” in a kitchen. Use the drawer closest to your sink for efficiency. File folding each towel allows you to see what you have and easily access what you have. Editing will be one of the most important steps of this project: confirm that all towels you choose to keep are in good condition and similar in size. Insert drawer dividers. File fold each towel to a width and height that will fit within the divided drawer. 

2.  Snack bag drawer

I suggest keeping single-use food storage products near your reusable containers, so everything is in one location. Baggies can be removed from the boxes and placed in shallow open drawer organizers or plastic bag drawer organizers. This will enable quick access and cut down on visual clutter. 

3.  A kids’ drawer

First consider whether these items should be placed where it’s easiest for kids or for adults to access them—this will probably depend on the child’s age. We recommend using a bottom drawer, to encourage kids to get involved in setting the table. And as with everyday dishes, we suggest placing kids’ dishware and utensils near the dishwasher or dish-drying rack to simplify the process of putting them away. This location will be in constant transition as your children age, so we recommend a flexible solution like a drawer divider or bins that can be moved as the items in this area change. Decide whether to sort by type or by child if your children are of varying ages and needs. Place kids’ flatware upright in an open canister alongside the dishes. 

4.  Water bottles

Whether we buy them when we take up a new sport, receive them as a gift with purchase, or pick them up at a random event, somehow we end up with far more water bottles than we actually use. To determine how many each person in your household really needs, think about how many times you use one in a week and how many times a week you run your dishwasher. Once you figure that out, organize what remains either by activity or by household member. 

5.  Pet supplies

Determine where you complete your pet routines and clear out a nearby space (such as a shelf, hook system, or drawer). If using a drawer, measure it to determine the size of your drawer divider. You may wish to create subcategories with canisters to corral smaller items. If your pet eats dry food, consider decanting it into an airtight food-safe container with an easy on-off lid and a measured scooper. If your pet requires medicine and you have small children, be sure to store this out of reach or in a childproof container. Consider creating a secondary area in the garage or mudroom for items used for outside play/walking/grooming. 

6.  Reusable bags

I always find it funny how something that is typically free can be so difficult for many people to edit. Reusable bags and tote bags tend to pile up and spread out into different areas of the home. The goal for this category is to set boundaries. We suggest doing this a bit backward. Purchase one bin that fits the space you have to store these bags, or designate a drawer for this purpose. Edit your current collection with this space in mind. Tuck handles into each bag before file folding. Return the stack to the bin or drawer; label the bin, if using.

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