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):

Complete Steps in Series:

Step #1 ~ What Needs to Be Done in Your Home?
Step #2 ~ Restocking the Cleaning Closet
Step #2, 3, 5, 6 ~ Examining the Store-Closet, Pantry, Cellar and Such
Step #4 ~ Examining the "Table Linens"
Step #4 ~ Examining the "Bed Linens"
Step #7 Examining the Toolbox and/or "Junk Drawer"

Checklist for Preparing Your Own Maintenance:

"Odds and Ends" Monthly Home Maintenance ~ Printable Checklist

Are you ready to begin your monthly home maintenance?

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