Dump the Drawer: 7 Secret Stashes You're Pretending Aren't Clutter

Do you have that one drawer that only opens if you jiggle it three times and pray to the God of Disposable Batteries? Yeah. Me too.

Except it’s not just one drawer, is it? It’s seven. Seven secret clutter lairs scattered through your house like little chaos goblins. From that “catch-all” basket in the entryway to the cabinet you’re afraid to open because something might dive out—today, we’re busting them all wide open. And guess what? It’s time to stop pretending they’re “organized chaos.” They’re just chaos.

It’s cool—you’re not alone. I’ve decluttered hundreds of these junk caves, including my own. So let’s expose them for what they are and boot the nonsense back to whatever hole it crawled out of.

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1. The Bedroom Nightstand (A.K.A. The Midnight Mystery Drawer)

It starts innocently. A book, a lip balm, maybe a charging cord. Then one day, you find expired cold meds, six hair ties, mystery crumbs (who eats toast in bed?!), and a receipt from 2019.

Here’s how to unclog it:

• Trash the expired meds and wrappers. You’re not a pharmacy or landfill.
• Keep only ONE item of each kind. One pen. One journal. One lotion.
• Add a small drawer tray so everything has a home—and stuff doesn’t end up playing Twister in there.

Feel better already? Good. Let’s keep digging.

2. The Under-Bed Bunker

Ah yes, the land where forgotten things go to hibernate. Maybe there’s old wrapping paper, long-lost socks, or seasonal clothes you swore you’d “go through last year.”

Spoiler: if it’s under your bed and you forgot it existed, it might be auditioning for Hoarders.

Decluttering moves:

• Pull it all out. Bonus points if it’s dusty (because it’s GUILTY).
• Use under-bed storage bins with lids so you’re not just sliding chaos back in.
• If you haven’t touched something in a year, out it goes. Your bed is for sleep, not secret storage.

Want a boost when you’re decluttering your room in general? Don’t miss this power-read: 10 Things Cluttering Your Closet (And How to Say Goodbye—for Real This Time)

3. That Weird Kitchen Drawer with the Birthday Candles & Who-Knows-What

You know the one. It’s next to the junk drawer, but somehow… worse. Half-used packs of toothpicks, melted tealight candles, twist ties forming their own society, and a tiny pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter from when you were briefly into seasonal baking.

Declutter plan:

• Dump it all on the counter.
• Only keep what you use at least twice a year. (Be honest—are you really making shaped cookies or just hoarding cookie cutters out of guilt?)
• Buy small clear containers to sort essentials: birthday stuff, batteries, or tape.

And I’m just gonna say it: If you have five packs of emergency birthday candles, you’re either a professional party planner or deeply in denial.

4. Behind-the-Couch No Man’s Land

This isn’t a “drawer,” but it IS a neglected dump zone. It’s where remotes, old magazines, gift bags, lost toys, and maybe a petrified peanut have gone to die.

If an object goes behind your couch and you don’t look for it within the week—it’s officially clutter.

Attack strategy:

• Pull the couch away and brace yourself.
• Trash anything dusty, wrinkled, or broken.
• Use a slim storage bin behind the couch (yes, they exist!) to keep only what you actually use—like a reading blanket or gaming controller.

5. The Entryway Catch-All (A.k.a The Bermuda Triangle of Mail, Keys & Crushed Sunglasses)

The entryway is supposed to welcome you home—not silently scream abandoned chaos.

So why is it:

• Piled with unopened bills?
• Housing socks (??)
• Covered in sand or salt or glitter, depending on the season?

Fix it now:

• Add a small tray for daily drop-offs: keys, wallet, sunglasses.
• Open mail by the recycling bin. Instantly toss the junk.
• One shoe basket per human. No negotiations.

Because starting your day by tripping over a rogue sneaker? Not the vibe.

6. Your Car’s Glovebox (and Console, and Cup Holders, and…)

This is a portable drawer. Maybe 7. Your cup holder has 4 melted mints. The glovebox is full of expired insurance papers and 12 napkins from three different states.

Declutter drive-thru (pun very intended):

• Trash wrappers, stale gum, parking receipts from 2017.
• Keep the essentials: registration, flashlight, charging cord, and—fine—a mint or two.
• Add a small bin or car organizer. Something like this one on Amazon (affiliate link alert) is magic for between-seat chaos.

Check your mirror. See that smug smile? Yeah, you just crushed it.

If your car’s feeling more disaster-mobile than zen zone, hit up Declutter Your Car: Because Even Your Cup Holders Deserve a Second Chance. Thank me later.

7. The Forgotten “Backup” Cabinet

This one lives in the bathroom, laundry room, or hallway. You think it’s for “backup supplies”… until you open it and realize:

• You have 27 hotel shampoos.
• Three opened deodorants.
• Five kinds of cough drops and no actual medicine.

Here’s how to detox the backup stash:

• Pull everything out. Set up categories: Keep, Toss, Donate.
• Check expiration dates—yes, shampoo can go bad. So can sunscreen.
• Limit duplicates to one backup per item, max.
• Store things clearly so you actually use them. Stop treating it like Narnia storage.

Wanna declutter the bathroom fast? Check this life-changer: Declutter Your Bathroom: The 15-Minute Purge (Because You Don’t Need 8 Half-Empty Shampoo Bottles)

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Let the Clean Begin

Listen. I’m not mad about your weird candle drawer or the takeout ketchup packets you swear you’ll use (spoiler: you won’t). But I AM here to gently scream: it’s time.

Clear out the weird drawers. Expose the stashes. And give yourself permission to have a junk-free home that doesn’t attack you every time you open things.

And hey—don’t declutter it all in one go. Pick one drawer today. One stash tomorrow. Or go full beast mode with Declutter Like a Pro: The 20-Minute Whole-House Speed Sweep.

Whatever you do—dump the drawer, reclaim your sanity.

Which of these crawlspaces are lurking in your home? Tag us in your #ClutterConfessions over on Instagram @mysimple.life.official—I’ll be cheering you on while purging my third drawer of power cords I haven’t matched to a device since 2012.