TL;DR
Put screws, adapters, and special parts into labeled zip bags right away, so you can still match them to the right product later.
How to do it
- Put small screws, adapters, special parts, pads, or spare fittings straight into a small zip bag.
- Label the bag with the product, room, and date, for example: "IKEA shelf, hallway, May 2026".
- Add the manual, warranty slip, or QR code separately if it is genuinely useful.
- Keep all bags in one solid box instead of a loose junk drawer.
- Review the box once a year and throw away parts for products you no longer own.
Why it helps
Small parts are useful only if you still know what they belong to later. Without context, they become anonymous bits of metal and plastic. A label turns leftovers back into findable spare parts.
Better labels
Do not write only "screws" on the bag. Use concrete labels like "Tim bed frame, spare screws", "monitor arm, Allen key + spacers", or "kitchen lamp, wall plugs + clips". The more specific the label, the less guessing you do later.
Good to know
Never cover voltage, wattage, or safety markings on power supplies, batteries, or electrical adapters. Those details must stay readable. For important warranty documents, a photo or digital folder is often better than storing paper in the box.