# Junk drawers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546 "2025-10-01T00:35:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/1 "2025-10-01T00:35:08Z")
Go to you junk drawer. Open . Peruse. List 3 items. Mine are: Tape measure. A roll of old scotch tape. I’m sure is all melded together. A few triple A batteries, I don’t know the pedigree of. (I know there’s much more in your drawers, but 3 is enough) ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/2 "2025-10-01T00:40:01Z")
Is your tape measure the sewing kind or the carpenter kind? I have all those things in mine. Sewing kit. Small screwdriver. Faucet cartridge. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/3 "2025-10-01T00:59:19Z")
It’s a small carpenter one. It was in a pkg. of 3 tape measures, I got. I’ve hung on to the smallest one forever. It’s so cute and as handy as a shirt pocket. Heh, I may have a plumbing part or two in my drawer. Maybe some pipe glue. ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/4 "2025-10-01T01:02:49Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Go to you junk drawer. Open . Peruse. I’m having significant difficulty with step 2…. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/5 "2025-10-01T01:06:04Z")
The top drawer of my desk is a convenient receptable for all sorts of junk combined with important stuff. It contains a passport, birth certificates, and other such things, but also a whole pack of expired credit cards (why do I keep them? Who knows?) and even at least one that is still valid (but the RFID doesn’t work). Plus a roll of Scotch tape, a box of staples, a box of paper clips, and a bunch of Sharpies. Plus about a hundred more items, but that’s already way more than three! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/6 "2025-10-01T01:14:17Z")
A heavy-duty extension cord, a couple of homemade astrolabes, a big box of matchbooks. OK, it’s technically a junk box, but same thing. > [@vbob](#): > > I’m having significant difficulty with step 2…. Anoia, hear our prayers. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/7 "2025-10-01T01:31:16Z")
Take me off your prayer list please, I been running from Anoia, since I became aware of self. Ain’t done me no favors. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/8 "2025-10-01T01:39:14Z")
What my parents called the ohmygod drawer. Jute twine Stapler Set of ring sizers ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/9 "2025-10-01T01:47:51Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > What my parents called the ohmygod drawer. But surely as a Martian you would have at least one Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator somewhere in there? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/10 "2025-10-01T02:01:47Z")
Stolen by some meddling earth creature. Still trying to replace it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/11 "2025-10-01T02:47:51Z")
The three things at the top of the junk drawer were a silicone jar opener, a pair of needle nose pliers and a wooden school ruler with my kid’s name on it. I know more esoteric treasures lie beneath but I could waste an hour getting to find the cool stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/12 "2025-10-01T03:16:09Z")
Yes. There’s a nail file that was supposed to have a lifetime guarantee. My plan was to test the warranty. (Cause it wore out). But I needed to get the address. In the meantime it got swept up in a panic clean off the table event. Lost to the ages, I believe down the abyss of the junk drawer. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/13 "2025-10-01T03:24:31Z")
A torch for soldering copper pipe, a huge pile of poker chips, and scotch tape. There’s a whole bunch of other shit in there, but you said the first 3. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/14 "2025-10-01T03:34:58Z")
I have several, but the closest one has: Scissors 2 pair Utility knife Needle nose pliers ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/15 "2025-10-01T03:38:43Z")
Two pairs of scissors. Some Bic lighters. A pair of safety glasses. I think at the bottom there’s a bill that was paid in full 15 years ago and some twist ties, but you only asked for three. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/16 "2025-10-01T12:02:34Z")
A Sharpie that may or may not still be viable A child’s pair of scissors A half-used roll of Scotch tape, sans dispenser ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/17 "2025-10-01T12:26:21Z")
Two scissors (why are pants and scissors ‘pairs’) & 3 heavy duty kitchen scissors (huh) Dog poo bags for walking the dogs Post it notes Assorted pens Two flashlights Binoculars (small but nice Bushnells, I can see who is in the dog park) Some other assorted things. We just moved and we are starting out ‘organized’ Though sometimes we don’t remember where we put stuff. One thing that I absolutely have organized it my tool area in the connected 4 car garage (I’m in heaven). I have amassed hundreds of tools. Carpentry, mechanical, electric. If I don’t have it I would be surprised. My tools used to be in a 10x12 shed about 100 feet from our house. Not fun in the dark and snow. So some of them slowly made a permanent migration to the house. Handy, but easy to misplace. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/18 "2025-10-01T12:40:11Z")
I don’t really have a junk drawer. I have plenty of junk, just not a dedicated junk drawer. I have this toolbox: [![](https://www.foamfittools.com/graphics2/usgeneraltoolbox_labeled.jpg) ](https://www.foamfittools.com/graphics2/usgeneraltoolbox_labeled.jpg) The top of this opens up and the compartment there is definitely a junk drawer of sorts, but it is only tool and workshop related junk. It has work gloves, half-used cans of stuff like WD-40, silicon lubricant, carb cleaner, etc., rolls of duct tape, some rope, and lots more stuff. I have three desks, each in different rooms. There’s a craft desk, a desk with financial stuff in it, and a generic office desk for my home office/music/computer room. The “junk drawers” in these contain misc. stuff that’s specific to its purpose, i.e. the craft desk has craft junk in it, the financial desk has checkbooks, important papers, etc., and the generic office desk has things like stamps, scotch tape, scissors, and office supply type stuff. I have a set of “junk shelves” that I built in our laundry room that has misc. junk on it like light bulbs, Easter baskets, a spare electric tea kettle, a small fancy red bucket that I have no idea where it came from or why we kept it (maybe it had Christmas or Valentines gifts in it?), and some games. And then we have the room in the basement that has all kinds of junk in it. There’s piles of books (I need to build more bookshelves but I’m running out of places to put them), games, old computers and computer parts, craft and robotics stuff, old stereo speakers, just all kinds of junk. Somewhere buried under all of that mess is a pool table. We haven’t been able to play pool on it in years due to all of the junk. I should probably get motivated and clean that room out. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/19 "2025-10-01T12:42:17Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > List 3 items. 1. Foreign coin receptacle. My SiL gives me souvenir coins from various countries in the world. 2. A little box with my baby teeth that my mom had saved. I can’t bear to part with it because it was something that meant a lot to her. 3. A serrated hunting knife the size of a bayonet. The idea is that, if I’m awakened by a threatening noise, I can hop out of bed, quietly slide the drawer open, and access the monster. Although I could be, in essence, bringing a knife (albeit a BIG one) to a gun fight, it makes me feel better psychologically. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546/20 "2025-10-01T12:51:47Z")
(minor hijack) > [@enipla](#): > > (why are pants and scissors ‘pairs’) Pants used to be two separate leggings, worn in pairs (one for each leg). Over time they evolved into a single garment, but calling them a “pair” stuck. Scissors are a pair because it’s a pair of cutting tools joined together to make one tool. I guess technically you could call one half of it a “scissor” but people would look at you funny if you did. (end of minor hijack) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-drawers/1023546.md?page=2)