What do you do with the extra button in the mini plastic zip-bag that comes with some clothing items? Keep? Toss? Or do you have some organizational trick you’d like to share?

17 comments

1. I used to keep them, but after 30+ years of never once sewing one of those buttons back on I started throwing them away immediately.

2. I keep them in a rubbermade tub. I have the worst luck with buttons.

3. I keep them. I used to think they were unnecessary because I never had to use them, then my favourite coat lost a button without me noticing, and I was inconsolable. Now they all go in a small box in my cleaning supply closet.

4. I keep them in a box if the button is too distinctive to replace. That way I don’t have to throw the item away just as I can’t find a matching button. If it’s just a generic button I donate. I also used to cut off buttons of any shirts that were too stained to be donated. Schools desperately need art supplies or if you know an arts and crafts charity then they usually take them.

5. I have a ziplock bag in my closet that I stuff all of them into. I have had to root through it to find the button I need on more than one occasion when the button has fallen off of a garment. I keep it in the bag if it has the brand on it because it can help to match up the correct button to the garment. No organizational trick, just keep them all together in one spot. I should probably use something fancier than a ziplock.

6. Keep them with a sewing kit in a danish butter cookie tin, as is tradition.

7. I have a button container. They all go in there in case I ever need them.

8. It goes in the butter cookie tub/ sewing kit, along with all the others!

9. they stay in my sewing box. I just know I’d lose them so I keep them with the stuff I need to use them

10. Keep it in my sewing kit. I always end up needing it eventually.

11. I tend to hold onto extra buttons for a bit and then lose them. The ones that came with my most recently purchased coat are still in the pocket (where they were when I purchased it). I should probably put them somewhere…

12. I save them in a plastic bin. To keep them organized, I notate each little bag as to what piece of clothing the button belongs to.

13. I’m sorry but i toss them. if i were to mend a button, i wouldn’t find the one i need anyways so i would just take whatever i find

14. Keep and usually lose 😂

15. Keep the button for ten years + even though the garment will last for 1 or 2.

    Use the tiny baggie for drugs.

16. If it’s an unusual button I’ll sew it inside the garment somewhere – in a sleeve, inside the lapel, anywhere it won’t show or be annoying. Otherwise I usually throw them out

17. [removed]