Declutter Diaries: Medicine Cabinet

By Y.M. Lowy

Welcome back to another post in our home organizing series! Today, we’re tackling a small yet essential space in the bathroom, the medicine cabinet. With a little effort, you can transform your medicine cabinet into a well-organized, easily accessible space. Let’s dive in!

Organize This: 

Purge Expired Items: Check the expiration dates on all your medications, creams, and over-the-counter products. Over time, it can become a cluttered catch-all for expired medications, half-used ointments, and random health supplies. Dispose of anything that’s expired or no longer in good condition. 

Use Containers and Bins: For small items like cotton balls, nail clippers, or thermometers, use small containers or bins to keep things organized. Clear bins are ideal, as they allow you to see the contents at a glance.

Sort and Categorize: Group items by type. Put all pain relievers together, bandages in another section, and allergy medications in a different area. This way, you’ll know exactly where to look for what you need.

Label: Label your bins or shelves so that everyone in the house knows where to find what they need. You can even label the different categories (“Cold & Flu,” “First Aid,” “Pain Relief”) for quicker access.

Store Daily Essentials at Eye Level: Items that you use regularly should be at eye level for easy access, while less-used items can be stored on higher or lower shelves. This will make it easier to grab what you need without rummaging through everything.

Did You Know?

The use of aspirin dates back over 2,000 years! Ancient Egyptians used willow bark, which contains salicin, a compound similar to what is found in modern aspirin, to treat pain and inflammation long before it became a widely recognized medication.

Myth Busting:

Myth: Over-the-counter medications are always safe to take without consulting a doctor.

Reality: Even though over-the-counter medications don’t require a prescription, they can still have side effects or interact with other medications you’re taking. It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you have underlying health conditions.

One Item Purge Challenge:

A study found that nearly 50% of medications go unused after being prescribed, and many people keep them in their medicine cabinets long after they’ve expired. It’s a good reminder to regularly clean out your medicine cabinet to avoid keeping unnecessary or outdated medications!

How Do You Do It?

Where do you keep your medicine cabinet? Is it tucked away in the bathroom, the kitchen, or perhaps even your bedroom? We all have unique spots for storing medications, tell me, where’s yours and how do you keep it organized?