I do wonder if anyone has found a system that actually works long-term without turning into another clutter trap.
- I’ve had the same guilt about tossing “perfectly good” hardware, but after years in an old house, I’ve learned to be ruthless.
- My trick: clear jars (old pasta sauce ones work) for each main type—screws, nails, anchors. Label the lid with a Sharpie. You can see what’s inside at a glance.
- Anything weird or rare goes in a “misc” jar, but if it overflows, I force myself to purge.
- Discipline helps, but honestly, some clutter just comes with the territory. Don’t sweat it too much—sometimes you just have to let go of that one random bolt.
Honestly, I’ve tried every system under the sun—bins, drawers, pegboards. They all end up messy after a few months. The jar trick is solid, but I still find random screws in my pockets or truck. At some point you just gotta admit defeat and toss the weird stuff. There’s only so many “mystery brackets” a person needs…
There’s only so many “mystery brackets” a person needs…
Totally get this. I’ve tried labeling everything, but then I end up with a bunch of bins labeled “misc screws” and “random hardware” anyway. Ever tried taking photos of where you pull stuff from before you disassemble? It helps me figure out what those leftover bits are for later, but honestly, there’s always that handful of pieces I can’t place. At what point do you just toss them and hope for the best?
Title: Navigating the do’s and don’ts of fixing up your place
You’re definitely not alone with the “misc hardware” bins. I’ve got a whole drawer full of mystery bits that I swear are multiplying every time I open it. The photo trick is a lifesaver, though—funny how much easier it is to remember where something goes when you can scroll back and see exactly how it all fit together.
When it comes to tossing unidentifiable pieces, I usually give it a couple of weeks post-project. If I haven’t figured out what it’s for by then, odds are I won’t miss it. That said, there have been a few times where I’ve had to dig through the trash because I tossed something too soon… Not my proudest moments.
Honestly, as long as you’re careful with anything structural or load-bearing, the odd leftover screw probably isn’t going to doom your project. Sometimes you just have to let go of the mystery and move on.
Funny how those leftover screws and fasteners can haunt you. I’ve had times where I convinced myself, “I’ll definitely remember what this is for,” and then months later it’s just another orphan in the bin. The photo trick helps, but sometimes I still end up second-guessing myself—especially if I’m juggling a couple projects at once.
You mentioned being careful with anything structural or load-bearing, which I totally agree with. But has anyone run into situations where a “leftover” piece actually turned out to be important? I had a cabinet install where there was one odd bracket left over, and after a bit of research, realized it was a safety clip for earthquake protection (I’m on the West Coast). Wouldn’t have been the end of the world if I’d tossed it, but it did make me rethink how quickly I get rid of mystery parts.
Curious how people keep track of hardware that comes with furniture or appliances. Do you label bags or bins, or just hope for the best? I started using little zip bags with masking tape labels, but honestly, half the time I get lazy and toss them all together. Sometimes it feels like no matter how organized you try to be, there’s always something that slips through the cracks.
Also—has anyone ever actually used one of those “extra” screws from an old project to fix something else? Or do they just accumulate forever?