Let's be honest - everyone has a junk drawer at home, at the office, or in your car (looking at you, little gappy space in the center console.)
Junk drawer connoisseurs know there are certain must-haves in order to be considered high-quality junk, so let's talk about it.
Reddit user Rascal-Fiats asked:
"What is something every 'junk drawer' must have in order to be considered a proper 'junk drawer'?"
My junk drawer is filled with mail and a handful of sort-of-burned-but-still-very-usable birthday candles. My family lives generationally - the back half of the year has a birthday literally every week!
The junk-drawer candles are household heros.
This Pinnacle Of Truth
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"The thing that prevents you from closing the drawer."
- Setthescene
"Or gets stuck so you can only open the drawer part way."
- bagpipercat
" 'We keep a funnel and a potato masher in this drawer because we think it's fun to sometimes not be able to open this drawer.' "
- knock-off-pale
"In my parents case it’s the sharpening stone we thought disappeared in 1998."
- Camp_Express
Too Important
"A screw that looks too important to throw out but you have no idea where it came from."
- ArminTanz
"Throwing that in the junk drawer is amateur hour. I have a box with a bunch of little drawers filled with those random 'too important' screws."
"Every so often I need a weird sized screw and find the perfect one, and my hoarding is vindicated."
"I also keep every Allen key that ever came with anything I had to build myself for the same reasons."
- DMala
"Mom finally got rid of the screws. Said she got tired of looking at them."
"Couple weeks later, found out it went to one of our kitchen chairs. To this day, I still haven't let her forget."
- Cool-Experience7357
"I had this screw. Finally threw it out."
"A week later found a hole on the microwave that was missing its screw. And it was the exact one I threw away."
- AxeellYoung
The Graveyard
"Assortment of single batteries."
- KyleClarkeFilms
"Dead batteries."
"You must try each one and put back when you realize they are dead."
- spytez
"Extra points if no two are the same brand."
- dpdxguy
"Must include at least one battery type you no longer use, like photo battery or round cells for your high school pocket calculator."
- Blausternchen
Keys And Karma
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"Keys for unknown locks."
- Back2Bach
"And locks without keys or missing combinations."
- Vtfla
"When we broke up, my ex gave me back a box of my stuff. What she didn't realize is she also threw in the ring of keys for different padlocked boxes in her studio (she frequently had people over and wanted to protect her supplies)."
"I was going to return them, but then I was informed that she had been sleeping with our mutual friend (she told me she "needed time to herself"), so I kept them and then liked the post she made about having to buy bolt cutters and replace like 10 different padlocks."
"Still have the keys. F*ck you, Diana."
- [Reddit]
Instructions Unclear
"Instructions for a product that either doesn’t need instructions (like a fan) or that you don’t even own anymore."
- Alive-Singer-3432
"Along with small plastic spare parts for the product that definitely aren't gathered into any identifying or organized sense."
- RissaMeh
"I have instruction for a chair in my drawer. Just a chair."
"It came premade, didn’t have to build it. No features, just a wooden chair."
"Why did it have instructions?"
- Chared_Assassin
"I still have instructions for Atari 2600 games. I haven't owned an Atari for 30 years or more."
- tearsonurcheek
A Matter Of Need
"Random chargers."
"What's that to? No one knows but we save it just in case we might need it again."
- Black_Tears524
"I guarantee if you throw it away, someone's gonna know in the next 3 days."
- Uppgreyedd
"I 'cleaned' my junk drawer."
"Four hours later I was digging through the garbage can looking for that dirty white apple cord to a first-gen iPad. I forgot a relative gave it to my kid."
"My kid definitely did not forget."
- somewhenimpossible
"When we recently moved, I found a mystery charger that we couldn't identify."
"Every electronic that needed a charger had one so we decided to toss it."
"Fast forward 2 months and my friend asks if I still have the charger for his 3ds that I had borrowed. Oops."
- Maybe_Not_The_Pope
On Chicken Wings And Cheating
"Rubber bands that are sticky or crusty/cracked from being so old."
- Nondenomnoms
"Stray rubber bands."
"I dated a girl who suspected I was cheating on her because she kept finding stray rubber bands around my apartment and thought some other woman must have used them to tie her hair and left it there."
"The problem was, I couldn't explain them either."
"Every time she would bring these things up I would have this sheepish look on my face while telling her I couldn't explain why these things kept ending up in my apartment."
"It wasn't until after we broke up and I ordered chicken one day that I went to open the box and realized the thing was held closed by a rubber band."
"Every time I would order fried chicken I would take the rubber band off and end up leaving it somewhere for her to find."
- yellow_fig_tree
"On one hand, you may have been entering 'too much fried chicken' territory."
"On the other, who ties their hair with rubber bands? Sh*t would HURT."
- ChrdeMcDnnis
This Christmas
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"That random Christmas decoration that was found way too late to be packed with the rest."
- [Reddit]
"5 years ago...."
- Trinerella
"And you know this year you’ll remember to put it out for Xmas and then it can be packed away when you take everything down again, but you never see it until 3 days after you put everything away."
- bk1285
"I ended up hanging mine on the fridge because I found out it had a magnet. That was at least six years ago, even moved it onto the new fridge."
- gggggfskkk
"You are committed to the “I’ll put it away next year” lie."
- Camp_Express
Plus Or Minus?
"Flat head screwdriver."
- SuperDan523
"And I always need a Phillips head!"
- Proof-Operation-9783
"I call them plus screwdrivers, and minus screwdrivers."
"My father-in-law is a carpenter, and it drives him nuts."
- Fat_Bearded_Tax_Man
"It's always whatever screw driver you don't need at the moment."
- OdeeSS
"Long live the junk drawer screwdriver!"
"When I got married and we moved in together, one of the things I bought the weekend after (when we made our trip to get the stuff we realized we needed but didn't cross our minds before we moved in) was a junk drawer screwdriver."
"I hated leaving my toolbox in the 'main house', but I also didn't want to keep having to go into the separate, non-heated part of the house where I keep my tools."
"I very intentionally went to Sears, when they were having their shutdown sale, to get a clear handled non-combination Craftsman screwdriver. Craftsman for sentimental reasons more than anything else, as that's what my dad and both grandfathers always had."
"Sometimes you need a skinny one, and the combos are always so much fatter, so they're basically useless for things like tightening doorknob screws."
"Also the shaft -plus-handle design is about as simple and strong as a screwdriver can be made these days, but if it were to get damaged or lost or anything, it only cost me five bucks, and I've definitely got my money's worth."
"For some reason I find myself reaching for that driver more than my fancy combo drivers with much more comfortable handles."
- Alphapanc02
Now you know all my dirty junk drawer secrets, and what Reddit has to say about theirs - so it's your turn at the mic.
What junk you got floating around your junk drawer?
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Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.
Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
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What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
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Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
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Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
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Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...
The old wives' tales.
They are the stories of legend.
I think we all need a big DEEP Google dive though.
Where did they originate?
WHO ARE THE OLD WIVES!
You don't hear about them as much anymore.
It's like science and logic are suddenly a thing.
But they sure are a good way to keep your kids and their behavior in line.
Redditor the_spring_goddess wanted to discuss the tall tales we've all been fed through life, so they asked:
"What is an old wives tale that people still believe?"
"Wait an hour to swim after eating."
What a crock!
So many summer hours wasted.
I want revenge for that one.
Say Nothing
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"An undercover cop has to tell you he's a cop if you ask him."
LonelyMail5115
"Pretty much most advice when it comes to cops are old wives tales. I’m not even a cop but most of the advice you hear is pretty off."
I_AM_AN_A**HOLE_AMA
Say Something
"That you have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing."
Severe_Airport1426
"I really think this one is important and should be the top regardless. As it’s a piece of advice that needs to be relearned and the only way to do that is through awareness."
crappycurtains
"This used to be true. I think they changed it after some guy named Brandon went missing back in the '80s or '70s. You used to have to wait 24 hours if the missing person was an adult because they had 'a right to be missing' and then everyone realized that was stupid and stopped doing it."
AlbinoShavedGorilla
Body Temps
"That drinking ice cold water after eating oily foods will solidify the oil and permanently remain in your body. I informed my coworker that if your body temperature ever reached that point, you’d have bigger problems than weight gain."
chriseo22
"Oh, I have a cousin who 100% believed this. One of those guys who believed every early 2000s internet rumor and old wives tale. One night I chugged a big glass of ice water after dinner and he started freaking out and saying my guts were gonna harden."
"I sarcastically told him to drive me to the hospital if that happened. Obviously, nothing happened and the next morning I said something like 'Thanks for being on standby in case my guts filled with hardened oil.' He just walked off muttering under his breath."
apocalypticradish
Arms Down
"When I was pregnant, I was told by young and old alike that I should NOT raise my arms above my head or exert myself in such a manner because it could cause cord strangulation to my unborn sons and daughters."
Fatmouse84
10 Years Actually
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"Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years."
"I remember accidentally swallowing a piece of gum when I was a kid in like 1995 and just accepting my fate like welp, gonna have this in my stomach til high school I guess."
Gecko-911
I was so afraid to sallow my gum when I was young.
This tale is haunting.
High/Low
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"You can tell the sex of the baby by how you carry."
LeastFormal9366
"Pregnancy certainly wins awards for the most old wives tales. So much absolute BS was repeated to us by everyone we talked to."
IllIIIlIllIlIIlIllI
The Cursed
"If you’re a woman and you wear opal jewelry but opal is not your birthstone (October), you’ll never be able to have children, or will be widowed, or just generally have bad luck or something. You can counteract this by having a diamond in the same piece of jewelry as the opal, though."
"I have a nice opal ring that my parents gave me years ago, and I’ve had other women give me this 'advice' unprompted more than once when I’ve worn it. I have absolutely no idea where it started, but I’m pretty sure this little chunk of silicate rock has no concept of what month I was born in, let alone of how my reproductive organs work."
SmoreOfBabylon
Stay In
"Going outside with wet hair will make you get pneumonia. Or an earache. Or maybe arthritis. Depends on which old wife you listen to."
"Jokes on them - I haven't blow-dried my hair in decades and usually leave the house with wet hair in the morning. On winter mornings, the tips of my hair get frozen. No ear infections or pneumonia or arthritis yet."
worldbound0514
Dreams and Facts
"You never make anyone up in your dreams you've seen everyone in your dreams somewhere else before and never make anyone up entirely."
"How would you possibly prove that to be true? My partner adamantly believes this and tells me this 'fact' whenever I have a dream about someone I've never met before."
mattshonestreddit
"My late wife used to tell me that before she met me she would have dreams of standing at an alter on her wedding day but could never see the guy's face, no matter how hard she tried. After meeting me the face was filled in with mine. Don't know if it's true but one of those things I like thinking of every now and then when I miss her."
Darthdemented
Cracked
Getting Ready Episode 2 GIF by The Office
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"Some people still believe cracking knuckles causes arthritis."
Choice-Grapefruit-44
"There's a doctor (Donald Unger) that cracked his knuckles a couple of times a day for 60 years, but only on one hand, just to prove it. Both hands remained exactly the same."
MacyTmcterry
I love my knuckles.
Do you have any tall tales to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
