Keep Your Life Free Of Excess Clutter With A Simple Parts Box Hack

At some point in your life, you've probably thought, "Let me put this somewhere I'll remember it," just before losing that same item. If you haven't, you might just be superhuman. For the rest of the mere mortals out there, maybe it's time for a better system. Every time you clean an area, you find knickknacks and doodads that could serve a purpose but don't have a dedicated place to call home. Perhaps it's time to make a place for them instead of shoving them in random drawers or cabinets. Start your own parts box, an easy way to keep track of the little things that you may need one day, before they disappear into the void.

Where do all these random parts come from? If you've ever put a piece of furniture together, you know it usually comes with extra pieces just in case. Over time, it's easy to misplace these extra pieces, so they're nowhere to be seen when the need arises. By starting a parts box to hold these extra pieces, you can simplify your life should you actually need one of those items. 

You can use a simple Dollar Tree lock-top box to organize your tools and all sorts of other items. Grab an empty one to use as your parts box. Then, simply take any extra pieces, place them in a resealable bag, label where they belong, and toss them into your parts box. You can even date the bags to decide when to let things go — once a certain amount of time has passed, you can decide whether or not to keep those pieces. Your parts box can come in especially handy when moving — think extra parts for reassembly and protective coverings.

When it comes to your parts box, you can keep things as simple or organized as you wish. If you choose a simple plastic box without compartments, you can add organization by reusing Styrofoam to store tools. More often than not, your furniture comes packaged in Styrofoam, which can hold screws and nails in place. Instead of throwing it out, minimize waste by repurposing it into the ultimate organizer. You could also use drawer dividers, small plastic containers, or other items to separate the contents. 

There are tons of other ways to organize your parts in a way that feels authentic to you. Consider using a tackle box that is already separated into easy compartments. Similarly, you could use a toolbox for your parts collection. It is organized and portable with heavy-duty strength if some parts are larger than others. Keep screws together in one section and nails in another, or organize by project.

A parts box isn't only useful when it comes to furniture pieces. A tackle box can be the storage solution you need for small jewelry or crafting supplies as well. You can create a number of boxes to store any small trinkets that need a home. You've never seen your space this organized!