THE news that some charity shops up and down the country have been overwhelmed by donations over the last few days suggests that people have again been using lockdown to have a good sort-through their things in order to give them a new home.
But we also have things that are no use to anyone and yet we keep hold of them in our junk drawers.
Worcester rubbish removal experts Divert.co.uk recently held an online poll to discover the sort of things stuffed at the back of the drawer, which get looked at once in a blue moon and then returned to the dark recesses.
Company spokesman Mark Hall said: “We all do it, and you can picture now exactly which drawer you’ve been blindly throwing miscellaneous items into never to be seen again.
“It’s time to open the drawer and face the rubbish you’ve been hoarding for once and for all.”
The poll found that the most common items exiled to the drawer were:
Batteries
Usually out of the packet, and most likely do not work.
Instruction manuals for appliances
Remember the toaster that broke three years ago? Still holding onto that manual JUST IN CASE.
Random keys
Are they for the windows? Are they spares for the back door? Are they even for your house?
Spare screws
You kept the spare screws for the ever-so-sturdy bookcase you built five years ago on the off chance it’ll fall apart. It hasn’t.
Desk items
Paperclips, rubber bands, and Sellotape which has mostly run out.
Takeaway menus
Even though most of the family order from apps now and the menus have changed in the last few years.
Old technology
You could open a museum of iPhones past and present with the collection you have in the drawer, not forgetting the tangled mess of old chargers!
You never know when you'll need an old light bulb...
And what of some of the more weird and wonderful things kept in the messy drawer?
Baby teeth – Diana, aged 53: "The kids have left home now"
50 Hotel room keys – John, 38: "I honestly don't know why I have them"
Lock of an ex's hair – Taylor, 44: "Yeah I should throw that out"
Old photos bought from a charity shop – Rhona, 72: " I have no idea who they are, but they do look so happy"
Taxidermy mouse – Dan, 34: "I bought it off eBay"
Mark said: “You have the usual suspects that most people seem to be hoarding, but sometimes people stash bizarre items such as birthday cards from exes or the ashes from old pets in their drawer.
“Junk drawers by nature will end up in a mess within a few months if you don’t keep on top of them with regular tidy ups.
“Otherwise it’ll be another four years until that last bit of Sellotape sees the light of day again.”
What's the oddest thing you've got lurking in one your drawers? Use the link below to let us know.
What's the weirdest thing you've got in your junk drawer?
We all have strange things that we've kept in a drawer 'just in case it comes in handy'. What have you kept hold of?
