How to Pack a Junk Drawer and Other Odds and Ends

Rooms pack quickly. It's the scattered small stuff — the junk drawer, the cord basket, the half-used batteries, the things with no home — that eats an afternoon. Here's how to move through it fast without just dumping it all in one tote you'll dread later.

Sort into four piles first

• Trash: dried-out pens, dead batteries, expired coupons, mystery keys
• Belongs elsewhere: put it with its actual category (tools with tools, craft supplies with crafts)
• Genuinely useful miscellany: tape, scissors, chargers, small tools — this becomes one labeled tote
• Decide later: a small bag, not a tote; deal with it after the move

Use zip bags as tote dividers

Group small items in labeled zip bags — "cables," "batteries," "picture hooks," "keys" — before they go in the tote. It keeps a single tote from becoming an unsortable pile, and you can find the one thing you need on day one.

Cords and chargers

Coil each cable and secure it with a twist tie or velcro, then bag by category (phone, laptop, kitchen, AV). Take a quick photo of your TV and desk setup before unplugging so reassembly is guesswork-free.

Batteries and small hazards

Loose batteries can short against metal — bag them, or tape over the terminals of 9-volts. Don't pack aerosols, lighter fluid, or partially used paint thinner in totes; set those aside to transport safely or dispose of properly.

Make one "first day" catch-all

As you go, drop the things you'll want immediately — a multi-tool, the tape measure, a phone charger, a pen, scissors, a few trash bags — into one clearly marked tote that rides in your car. It saves you opening ten lids on the first night.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pack a junk drawer for moving?

Sort it into trash, items that belong with another category, genuinely useful miscellany, and a small 'decide later' bag. Bag the useful items by type and put them in one labeled tote.

How should I pack cords and chargers?

Coil and tie each one, then bag them by category — phone, laptop, kitchen, AV. Photograph your TV and desk setup before unplugging so you can reconnect everything quickly.

Can I pack batteries in a moving tote?

Bag loose batteries or tape the terminals of 9-volts so they can't short against metal. Keep aerosols, lighter fluid, and solvents out of totes entirely.

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