"Maybe I still need it" -kram: So you bring order into the drawer of the shame

We know them all - the drawer of the shame. It exists in almost every household, often in the kitchen or in the hallway, sometimes also in the bedroom. This drawer is the final opponent of minimalism.

Here batteries (half empty, of course), old keys, chewing gum paper, ballpoint pen that no longer write, and somewhere in between ... a single, mysterious rubber ring. For what? No idea. But throw away? Rather not. You could still need.

But today it is the end of the storage of "maybe useful" stuff. You become a professional professional and bring order into chaos-with a few clever tips and the right drawer organizer. Ready? Let's go.

Step 1: everything out - yes, really everything

The first step is merciless: pull the drawer completely empty. Prefer the entire content on a table. It will look worse than you thought. But that is exactly the point. Sometimes you have to see the extent of the chaos to see how much stuff you actually hoard.

You will find things that you no longer even knew that you have them:

• A ball of cable that no longer fits a device.
• Half a role Tesafilm - without a roller.
• Dry felt pens that look like from the Stone Age.
• And guarantees a few mysterious small parts that let you ask: "What the hell is that?"

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Step 2: Muck the big muck - be radical

Now it is sorted out. Rigoros. Ask yourself with every part:

• Do I really need that?
• Did I use it last year?
• Would I miss it if it were gone tomorrow?

If you hesitate to one of these questions, the answer is clear: off to the trash. (Or in recycling, if possible.)

"Maybe bauche-I-the-das-noch" objects are particularly tricky. Spoiler: You won't need them. Old cell phone charging cables for devices that you no longer have? Away with it. Use instructions for toaster that you haven't had since 2010? Ciao.

Tip: Sit down an "emergency box" for a maximum of 5 things you are unsure. If you don't need them in the next 3 months - away with it.

Step 3: drawer organizerto use

Now comes the fun part: create order. With drawer organizers, the chaos is not only tamed, but elegantly staged. These little miracle things are available in all shapes and sizes - from variable compartments to stackable boxes.

Also great for small stuff: cutlery boxes that are actually made for the kitchen drawers. In the subjects, it can also be sorted in great "need-I-see-conscious" stuff.

Also great for very small parts: sorting boxes that are intended for screws, nails & Co.

Here you can shop organizers for drawers at Lidl, Tchibo & Co.*

Organize the drawer clever

If you have enough separate storage space options, such as sorting boxes or boxes for the drawer, then it is time to grant:

• Sort by categories:Pens to pens, batteries to batteries, cables to cable.
• Use small compartments for mini stuff:Office clips, rubber bands or USB sticks finally have a home.
• Flexible organizers are worth gold:They can be adjusted when a little more or less space is needed.

The ingenious thing about it: If everything has its fixed place, the "quick throw in" is more difficult. Order becomes routine.

Step 4: The one-for-one rule

So that your drawer does not look like before in three weeks, a simple trick helps: the one-for-one rule. Means: For every new object that hikes into the drawer, an old has to get out. So the amount of small stuff always stays under control.

In addition, you can get used to a mini-flowering ritual: briefly go through the drawer once a month to sort out unnecessary stuff. It takes less than 5 minutes, but saves nerves.

Step 5: Psychological trick - open the drawer with pride

This is where one last but effective tip comes: make your drawer a place you like to open. Perhaps you put a beautiful drawer inlay on a small, positive note such as "You are organized!" Sounds silly? But works.

Because the more you are happy about the new order, the more motivated you are to get it.

The drawer of the shame becomes a drawer of pride

Keeping order in the drawer is not magic. It only takes a bit of courage to muck out, a few clever organizers and the decision to let go of the "might be-useful being".

The reward? A drawer that you open with pride-and no longer a wild tetris game to find the last ballpoint pen. Ready for your personal clean-up revolution? Then go to the drawer!

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