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Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Examining the Toolbox or "Junk Drawer" ~ Odds and Ends Series


"Seventh. Have in a box a hammer, tacks, pincers, gimlets, nails, screws, screw-driver, small saw, and two sizes of chisels for emergencies when no regular workman is at hand. Also be prepared to set glass. Every lady should be able in emergency to do such jobs herself."
~ Catharine Beecher & Harriet Stowe, The New Housekeeper's Manual, 1873

Alas, the final installment of steps in our Victorian Era tribute to the "Odds and Ends" Monthly Home Maintenance Series. Today we are examining the homemaker's "toolbox". I do hope the Beecher sisters forgive me as I take some liberties with their idea and also include a look into the modern day  "junk drawer" (which may house similar items)! You see, hubby keeps our garage well stocked with all kinds of tools so a few in our small home is all that is necessary. However, we will delve into this topic and see how it can apply to us today. But before I move on, I will admit that I can not "set glass" though I can set a pretty table!


What the Beecher sisters recommend is basically maintaining a home repair kit. If you do not have a handy husband with a stocked garage, you may consider storing a tool kit of some sort in your home. They even sell pink ones! Such items might include a hammer, screwdriver (Phillips and flathead), adjustable wrench, utility knife, pliers, tape measure, nails, screws, scissors, etc.


For those of you who own a "junk drawer", now would be the time to clean it out. Remove all the items and throw away anything you no longer need (like scraps of paper, weird unidentifiable objects and so forth). Wipe out the draw and apply pretty shelf paper to make it nice and neat. Inserting an organizer tray (like shown in pictures) may also be helpful to maintain order. 


Since drawer space is minimal in our home, we keep a small utensil caddy on a shelf which acts as both mini tool box and "junk drawer". This stores our handy homemaking basics such as a hobby hammer, 7-head screwdriver tool (which I love!), glue to fix minor household items, measuring tape, packing tape, regular tape, pens, markers, highlighters, tape measure, small flashlight and a few other odds and ends. These items keep our home running smoothly for the most part. Repairs which require "more involved" tools are done by my dear husband.


Odds and Ends Challenge: If you have these items spread all over the house, perhaps it would be a good time to corral them into one convenience location. Whether it be a "junk drawer", toolbox or a handy homemaking station like ours, it does help to have everything in its place!

"A housekeeper who will have a regular time for attending to these particulars will find her whole family machinery moving easily and well; but one who does not, will constantly be finding something out of joint, and an unquiet, secret apprehension of duties left undone or forgotten, which no other method will so effectually remove."
~ Catharine Beecher & Harriet Stowe, The New Housekeeper's Manual, 1873


This final installment will be proceeded by a printable of a complete step-by-step instructional checklist to aid you in doing your own "Odds and Ends" Monthly Home Maintenance. Here is what we have accomplished thus far in our Series (note that some steps were placed together and altered to make for modern day needs):


Are you ready to begin your monthly home maintenance?


28 comments:

  1. Dear JES...I enjoyed this post! I have always longed for a completely pink toolbox! Now wouldn't that be fun? {{Smiles}}
    I like how pretty your drawer is...even ''junk drawers'' can be lovely, as you show us through this post!
    Have a blessed day!

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    1. Thank you for your visit Kelly-Anne! Yes, homemaking can be quite fun with all these little touches of love (and pink)!

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  2. Ha, love the quotes from the Beechers, especially the one that mentions a gimlet. I had to look that word up. I do have a toolbox that keeps my household tools neat, but it's decidedly ugly. I'd like to have an upright tool organizer where you see only the tips of your tools.
    Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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    1. Thanks for sharing Toni! The question is... can you set glass??? Something tells me you can?

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    2. Absolutely, I sets me glass where ever I pleases, and me cup, too. ;)

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    3. I knew you were clever! :)

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    4. Ha, thanks, but I'm not clever enough to have set glass in a window frame..yet. However if I had to I'm sure I'd give it a try. And I think anyone would if pressed.

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  3. Love the old-fashioned perspective put to modern use! We'd do well to take more old-fashioned principles to heart!Found you over on Coffee and Conversation... thanks for sharing!

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  4. Wow thats the stuff I need to have in my purse!! No, really a very nice post and I have a similiar drawer, but it doesn't look as pretty LOL I do love my mini hammer that I use to put up pictures in the house.
    Hugs to you my dear friend!
    Roxy

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  5. My Aunt gives pink tool kits as wedding gifts!!! She has a household of boys and knows what it can be like to have 'HER' tools keep disappearing. She says the boys don`t use her pink ones or get them lost among their own in the workshop!

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    1. Your aunt is a genius! Thank you for sharing Amanda!

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  6. I have several "junk drawers". I need to choose one location and make it as orderly and pretty as yours.

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  7. Jes, I have a toolbox which comes in handy when I need to bang something with the hammer. Hmmm, I also have a few 'junk drawers'. I will have to sort them out ASAP.

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    1. And sorting them out will probably give you some extra storage space (perhaps bringing it down to one drawer)! That would be wonderful wouldn't it? Thank you for taking the time to comment! :)

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  8. When my husband and I were first married he put my "single girl" tools with his tools in the garage. Then one day when I went to find a hammer for some task, I couldn't locate one. I mentioned it in front of my mother-in-law, who ended up giving me a new tool box and tools for Christmas! Now I keep "my" tools on a closet shelf in the house where I can locate them easily. Now I need to tackle my junk drawer!
    Blessings, Leigh

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    1. Sounds like your story has a happy ending! Thank you for sharing Leigh! Happy organizing :)

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  9. We just created a "command center" on the wall in the dining area between our kitchen and living room. We created it in order to eliminate the junk drawer! It doesn't hold tools (they are out in the garage), but it holds other handy things.

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    1. Great idea Shannon! Thank you for sharing :)

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  10. Great idea! This is definitely something we need to work on in our home.

    Christina
    www.ourwoodhome.com

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to visit here today Christina. I have enjoyed reading your kind comments :)

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  11. My junk drawer(s) are totally out of control and I needed this project badly. Would love for you to share this at Celebrate Your Story Link Party. You can link up here, http://www.thesweetsensations.com/mexican-chocolate-cake-and-celebrate-your-story-link-party/

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  12. Delightful post, my friend! My "junk" drawer is in need of some organizing. I have little baskets tucked in it, but they seem to always get too full {{smiles}}

    I greatly appreciate you linking up with Roses of Inspiration - thank you!

    Also, I LOVE your pretty new header. Hugs and joy!

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  13. I have a small Ryobi hand drill with different tips: Flat, Phillips, star, square and drill bits. Also command strips and adhesive are a must for the modern house.

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  14. I have a small Ryobi hand drill with different tips: Flat, Phillips, star, square and drill bits. Also command strips and adhesive are a must for the modern house.

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    1. Excellent additions - thank you for sharing!

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