Medicine Cabinet

I'm feeling a bit under the weather this week so when I went to take some cold medicine, I was thankful to have an organized medicine cabinet.  I opened the cabinet where I keep all the medication and found exactly what I was looking for.  When you're sick, the last thing you feel like doing is going through bottle after bottle to find what you need.  Or worse, having a sick child who needs medicine in the middle of the night only to find that you're out of what you need.  Organizing your medicine cabinet should be another quick organizing project and the next time you or a family member have an ache or a pain, you will be able to quickly find the medicine you need to feel better.

• First, take all the medicine bottles out of the cabinet and properly dispose of any expired medicines.  Most medicines can be safely thrown in the garbage but should be mixed with coffee grounds or kitty litter to make it less desirable for children and animals.  Please see the FDA website for any questions you have regarding safe drug disposal.  http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm  Another option for safe medication disposal is The National Prescription Drug Take-back day scheduled for April 28th, 2012.  
  
• Sort the remaining medicine into categories such as vitamins, cough and cold medicine, children's medicines, prescriptions, etc.  Sort into categories that make sense for you and your family.
• Determine what size container or plastic baskets that are needed for each category.  Plastic baskets can be purchased at any discount store, dollar stores or maybe you already have containers.  Be sure to label each container with the designated category so you can quickly grab the basket you need.
• Wipe the shelf and syrup bottles before returning them to the cabinet.  Sometimes children't medicines and cough syrup leave a sticky residue.

As a note:  Medicines should not be stored in the bathroom or other high humidity areas of the house.  I keep mine in the kitchen.

I would LOVE to hear your ideas for organizing medicines.  Please leave your comments below.