Desk-Drawer Essentials

Keep a travel-size deodorant and antiperspirant handy to provide an added layer of protection on hot or stressful days.

When you don’t have the time or the supplies to fix a fallen hem or sew on a button, a safety pin can act as a stand-in.

Bone-dry office air and hours spent in front of a computer can leave eyes irritated. Saline drops help restore moisture.

To remove lint and hair from your clothing, do a quick rollover before important meetings or when heading out the door.

It’s smart to store a spare or two—the vending machine at work is empty most of the time, anyway.

For pre- and post-meal wash-ups, disinfecting a germ-covered phone, and cleaning up sticky spills, antibacterial wipes are indispensible. Opt for the individually wrapped ones; they won’t dry out and are small enough to stash anywhere.

Annoying paper cuts and pinkie-toe blisters necessitate bandages in various sizes. And acetaminophen (or ibuprofen or aspirin) should do the trick for minor aches and pains.

Pop one in your mouth after you finish your morning coffee.

Instead of schlepping your makeup bag between home and the office, tuck a few must-haves in a zippered pouch and let them live in your desk: concealer, blush, lip balm, lipstick, and a hair elastic.

With candles, matches, and a corkscrew, you’ll be fully prepared for those impromptu coworker birthday celebrations and Champagne toasts in the hallway.

Rather than scrounging for silverware every time you eat lunch at your desk, put plastic versions in your drawer. Restock with the extras from take-out deliveries or leftovers from staff functions.

A few drugstore items—a toothbrush and toothpaste, nail file, clear nail polish, brush, lotion, and blotting papers—can go a long way in helping you look put-together all day.

You’re probably not the only one adding sweetener to her morning cup of coffee, so for those days when your office kitchen runs out of packets, keep a few here.

Along with the set at your neighbor’s, drop a set of house keys into your drawer for emergencies, but don’t label them for security’s sake.