A Peek Inside Every Mom’s Kitchen Drawer
If you grew up in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, you probably remember that one drawer every mom had in the kitchen- the one packed with odds and ends that somehow kept the household running. It wasn’t fancy, but it was essential. Inside you’d find everything from twist ties and spare keys to coupons, string, and maybe an old pair of scissors that still worked just fine. That drawer was a mix of resourcefulness and comfort, a place where mom always knew she could find exactly what she needed.
A Tiny Notepad
Mom kept her little notepad close by. It was always covered in scribbles about milk, bread, eggs, and other reminders. Mom wrote on it every week and then tore off the page as she shopped. Some lists from years ago were still stuck inside.
Paper Clips
Paper clips weren’t just for paper. Moms used them for fixing, poking, and hanging things. They came in every shape—bent, shiny, or slightly rusted. You’d find at least three tangled together. They were ready to jump into action for anything that needed holding, fixing, or unclogging.
Sewing Needles and Thread Spools
A few spools of colored thread, a handful of sharp needles, and maybe a thimble rolling around in the drawer made up Mom’s sewing kit. The threads were always tangled, and one needle was guaranteed to prick your finger. But she could fix a hole in minutes.
Bread Twist Ties
Every kitchen drawer had a bunch of these in it. They came from bread bags, chip bags, and, of course, a few mystery sources. Moms used them for everything, like organizing cords, sealing leftovers, and even fixing toys in a rush.
Rubber Bands From Newspapers
You just didn’t buy rubber bands back in the day. Why? Because they arrived like a gift around the newspaper every morning. Mom kept them in a tangled ball, “just in case.” Need to hold a pencil bundle? Rubber band. Close a bag? Rubber band. Problem solved.
Safety Pins
Safety pins were a household essential. And they saved countless fashion emergencies over the years. A popped button? Safety pin. A torn hem before church? Safety pin. Mom had them in every size, and somehow, she always managed to find the right one.
Wooden Clothespins
Old-school clothespins weren’t just for hanging laundry. Everyone used them for crafts, chip bags, or clipping notes to calendars. You’d find a few rolling around loose in the drawer. Sure, they squeaked when you opened them, but they were too handy to ignore. They were the original “all-purpose clip.”
Extra Buttons
Remember when clothes came with extra buttons? You can bet your bottom dollar that Mom kept every single one. They lived in a pill bottle or jar, and came in all shapes and colors. She always swore they’d come in handy. Spoiler alert: they always did.
Dull Scissors
Every house had “bad scissors.” They couldn’t cut wrapping paper straight, but Mom wouldn’t throw them out. They squeaked when you used them, and somehow one blade was sharper than the other. We all knew to ask, “Where are the good scissors?”
Scotch Tape With a Rusty, Broken Dispenser
Mom had a tape dispenser that had been through wars—it was cracked, taped back together, and barely working. You had to use your nail to find the edge of the roll, and it always tore crookedly. Still, it held Christmas presents together and fixed homework disasters.
A Magnifying Glass
No kitchen drawer was complete without a magnifying glass that Mom used to read the small print on medicine bottles and sewing patterns. It was scratched and cloudy, sure, but it worked. If you were lucky, she’d let you play detective with it.
Old Keys
Mystery keys always ended up in the kitchen drawer. Nobody knew what they opened - maybe a shed, maybe a car. Who knows. But Mom kept them “just in case.” Each one had its own story, even if no one could remember what it was anymore.
Furniture Cover Scratch Pens
These little brown pens were Mom’s miracle fix. A quick swipe on a table leg and, voila, it looked good as new. She trusted them like magic wands, especially before guests came over. That poor brown pen worked overtime during the holidays.
Mini Screwdrivers
Did anyone else’s mom have a set of tiny tools rolling around in the kitchen drawer? They were just perfect for fixing glasses, toys, and screwing pot handles back onto pots. Sure, they’d roll to the back of the drawer and vanish, but Mom always found them.
Batteries
A kitchen drawer is nothing more than a battery graveyard. AA, AAA, and even some old 9-volts, it didn’t matter—Mom kept them all mixed together because some might still work. Half the time, they didn’t even work, but throwing them out was unthinkable.
Masking or Duct Tape
Mom used masking tape and duct tape for absolutely everything—labeling jars, holding wrapping paper, and even fixing those flickering Christmas lights. That old, dusty roll didn’t always stick well, but it gave her peace of mind that she had some stashed away.
Appliance Manuals From the ‘60s
Did your kitchen drawer look like a repair shop, too? Mom kept a whole pile of faded booklets for toasters, blenders, and coffee pots that she didn’t even have anymore. It looked more like a museum than a kitchen drawer, to be honest.
A Tube of Krazy Glue
No household could manage without Krazy Glue. It was used to fix mugs, shoes, and the occasional broken figurine. Mom glued her fingers together more times than she could count, but she still trusted her Krazy Glue more than any handyman.
Felt Pads for Chair Legs
Little felt pads came in handy for protecting the floor, though most lost their sticky side ages ago. Mom kept extras in a sandwich bag because throwing them away would be a sin. Some stuck and some didn’t, but she held onto them anyway.
A Matchbook From Every Vacation
Even though no one smoked, Mom collected matchbooks from every motel, diner, and road trip you went on as a family. Each one was like a little souvenir. Where did she store them, you ask? In the kitchen drawer, of course.
A Tiny Flashlight
Every blackout started with the same ritual of Mom digging through the kitchen drawer for her tiny flashlight. It barely worked, but all it needed was a good shake to get it going. What better place to store it, right?
Corn Cob Holders
Ever eat corn on the cob with little corn-shaped holders? Of course you did. They somehow just made your corn on the cob feel a bit fancier. Half the set went missing, sure, but Moms still kept them for “nice dinners” with the family.
A Melon Baller
The melon baller was your mom’s idea of sophistication. They helped her make the perfect little balls of fruit for fruit salads and party trays. Yes, she only used them twice a year, but she loved having one - you know, just in case.
Metal Measuring Spoons
Those old, heavy metal measuring spoons jingled every time you opened the kitchen drawer. One was always missing, but Mom somehow managed to master every recipe just fine without it. Throw them out? You didn’t dare! Good measuring spoons last forever.
A Nutcracker
Nutcrackers only came out once a year during the holidays, right next to the bowl of walnuts. You’d spend a good few minutes cracking one open for half a nut. The rest of the year, they lived untouched in Mom’s kitchen drawer.
Jar Lid Grippers
Jar lid grippers were strange-looking contraptions that lived in your kitchen drawer. To your mom, they were the lifesavers that helped her open many a jar. This meant she didn’t have to wait for Dad, and that made her feel strong and capable.
Recipe Cards
Recipe cards were family gold back in the day. These days, you can find them on the internet, but in the ‘60s and ‘70s, you held onto them all - especially if they were in grandma’s handwriting. Mom followed the recipe to a T.
A Bottle Opener
No one ever remembers where their bottle opener comes from, but everyone has one in their kitchen drawer. Some moms had them in funny shapes, like a fish or a dog, but it didn’t matter, because it always got the job done.
Christmas-Themed Cookie Cutters
These were a jumble of stars, bells, and trees that rattled around in a tin box. Mom only used them at Christmas before they were banished to the drawer again. The edges were a little bent, sure, but they came out every December.
A Meat Thermometer
Mom's poor meat thermometer had seen things. The glass was foggy, the needle was crooked, but it was still one of her favorite utensils. Mom wouldn’t throw it out, no matter how old it looked or if it even worked anymore.
A Plastic Citrus Juicer
This little juicer was bright, a bit sticky, and had a few cracks, but it still worked fine. Mom used it to squeeze lemons and oranges for lemonade or fancy desserts. It wasn’t perfect, but it got every drop out. The smell always made the whole kitchen feel sunny and fresh.
A Rosary
Right there between rubber bands and old tape lay a rosary that Mom kept close for comfort. Before big days, or when things felt hard, she’d touch it and whisper a quick prayer. It brought her peace, even in a messy, noisy world.
Expired Coupons
Mom loved a bargain, even if it was long past its time. She kept coupons for soups, cleaners, and snacks that didn’t even exist anymore. They sat in an envelope marked “use later.” She said you never know when they might come back. Spoiler alert: they never did.
A Stash of Birthday Candles
Some were short and lumpy, others still shiny and new - but there they were, birthday candles. There was always one number you didn’t need, but Mom saved them all. Each year, she dug them out and made them work. No birthday was ever candle-free.
A Mystery Keychain
Did your kitchen drawer hold a mystery keychain, too? You know, the one with keys that didn’t fit anything anymore? Maybe it once belonged to Dad’s car or the family’s old station wagon. It didn’t matter - she kept it anyway.
