Have you checked your medicine cabinet in a while? No? Then take this as a sign and have a peek. We don’t often think about keeping the medicine cabinet organised, but it’s actually essential in any house. Nobody wants to dig through twenty pill bottles to find ibuprofen when they have a headache.
If you have a medicine cabinet, it’s just a matter of efficiently storing different medications. Try stackable containers or plastic drawers, or even clear plastic containers. But if you don’t have a medicine cabinet, there are other ways! Lazy Susan organisers, a spice rack, even makeup organisers are viable storage ideas. And don’t forget to keep a medicine chart handy!
It’s crucial to keep your medicine storage organised, so you’re never inconvenienced when you’re sick or injured. Here are some medicine storage ideas – with or without a medicine cabinet.
Decluttering Your Medicine Storage
The first step to organising your medications is to declutter them! This way, you’re not keeping old or outdated medicines, and you can check if anything needs a refill. You’ll also clear up space in the medicine cabinet space.
Throw out expired medicines
Check the expiration dates on all your bottles, especially liquid medicine. Toss out anything that’s already out of date, and take note of what’s getting close to expiry. You may need to replace some medications or replenish your stock.
You may also want to double-check that the packaging is intact and undamaged. Anything half-open or otherwise punctured will need to be thrown out as well.
Sort medicines into different categories
To make storage solutions more efficient, sort out the different medicines! Here are some useful categories to keep in mind:
- First-aid supplies
- Prescription medicines
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Kids’ medicines
- Skincare items (sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.)
- Medicinal items like soaps, balms, cotton balls, etc.
You can then separate these items depending on where they should be stored. Prescriptions and kids’ medicine should go in a medicine cabinet, storage drawers, and other secure locations – somewhere only you can access.
OTC medications and first-aid supplies should be somewhere easily accessible, such as the kitchen. Meanwhile, skincare and medicinal items can hang inside a cabinet door or go in a box.
Storage Solutions for Medical Supplies
We all use different methods to store our medical supplies. Some of us have a designated medicine cabinet in one room, while others use separate storage solutions. Here are different medicine storage ideas depending on where you store things!
In a medicine cabinet
Make efficient use of your shelf space to keep your medicine cabinet organised. It’ll also reduce visual clutter and make it easier to access the medicines you need.
You can separate different pills into stackable containers, or place them in small plastic drawers, categorised into different uses. Clear plastic containers and small baskets are useful for organising medicine since you can clearly see what’s inside them.
Another thing to consider is medicine dispensers – especially if you regularly take prescription medication. You could also use a pill organiser, so you don’t miss your daily dose.
Additionally, pop down to the chemist and see if they have a handy first aid kit for sale. It’s easier than having a scattered collection of first aid supplies lying around.
The essential thing with these medicine storage ideas is to label each container clearly! That way, you know what’s inside and can reach for the correct container right away.
Without medicine cabinets
One good way to keep your medicine bottles in order is a Lazy Susan organiser. You can segregate the different bottles into compartments and levels. It’ll also give you easy access since all you have to do is spin to find exactly what you need.
You can also upcycle a spice rack to hold different bottles and boxed medicines. Or even get several and label them using different medicinal categories!
One other thing to repurpose is a makeup organiser. You can get the fancy kind that pops out, or a simple acrylic organiser to hold pillboxes and medicinal items.
If you have a small space, get a wire rack or shower caddy that hangs over your cabinet door. This works best if you store medicines and first aid supplies in a linen or kitchen cabinet.
Finally, check your local hardware store for a small tackle box! These come with compartments that are perfect for organising pills, cotton swabs, and other medical supplies. It’s also simple to keep a tackle box secure – and out of the reach of small children.
Storing Medicine Safely
Since these are medications, you want to be as safe as possible when storing them. The last thing we want is an accident happening because of improperly stored medicine.
Make sure your medicine storage is child-safe
Kids are naturally curious, and can sometimes have sneaky hands. Maybe they want another one of their dinosaur vitamins, or maybe they really like the taste of cough medicine. Either way, it’s important to keep any medicine cabinets and other storage solutions inaccessible to young children.
Consider storing medicines high up (like the top shelf) or locking the medicine cabinet or box. Additionally, talk to your children and ensure they understand medicines are not candy or a toy. They should never access your medicine storage without you around.
Store your medications in the correct location
It’s tempting to keep medicines in the bathroom, but that’s actually not the best place. For storing medicines and first aid supplies, it should be in a dark and dry location. Bathrooms can be humid, which can affect medications.
Some places to consider for medicine storage include the kitchen, bedroom, or even the linen closet. You can also split your medicines by storing prescription medications in the bedroom, while keeping pain relievers and first aid supplies in the kitchen.
If you hire a professional cleaning service, inform them of where your medications are located, so they don’t move your storage!
Make a medicine chart
One useful addition to your medicine cabinet or storage is a handy medicine chart! List different medicines, their purpose, and their recommended dosage. No more squinting at labels to determine how much cold medicine to give your kids – just check the chart.
TIP: Besides medicine dosages, include emergency numbers such as the nearest hospital, the poison control centre, and relevant doctors (especially the family GP). It’ll give you an easy reference in case of any emergencies.
No matter which medicine storage ideas you use, it’s vital that you store your medications safely. You should also regularly check expiration dates and whether you’re running low on essentials. Don’t let your medical storage give you a headache – that would defeat its purpose entirely!
