A sudden sore throat, a runny nose or an insect bite after a walk in the woods - there are always situations in which you should have certain medicines, bandages and aids to hand. The so-called "medicine chest" in your medicine cabinet is essential for this. But what about your medicine cabinet? In many households, it's not uncommon for them to be a mess. Empty packaging is next to expired cough syrup and headache tablets are piled up. It can be annoying and sometimes even dangerous if you don't have the right medication to hand in an emergency.
But don't worry, in this article we'll tell you how to keep your medicine cabinet tidy and show you what really belongs in there.
Get your medicine cabinet in order now
What actually belongs in a medicine cabinet?
A medicine cabinet contains a range of general preparations that help with common complaints such as digestive problems, pain or cold symptoms. There are also products that you can use to treat minor wounds and injuries, such as plasters, a disinfectant, compresses, gauze bandages, etc. Allergy sufferers should always keep an anti-allergy product in the medicine cabinet. A clinical thermometer, a cooling compress, tweezers and bandage scissors are also an essential part of the medicine cabinet. There are also individual medicines that you need to take regularly.
As children need age-appropriate medicines, you should put together a special children's medicine cabinet and keep it separate from the medicine cabinet for adults. This will help you to avoid mistakes, which can sometimes be dangerous for young patients. If you don't have space for a separate medicine cabinet, labels or colorful stickers will help you to quickly keep them apart.
How do you tidy up a medicine cabinet?
A tidy medicine cabinet contributes significantly to the effective and clever management of your medicines. Therefore, spend some time to keep it tidy and maintain it with regular checks. That way, you don't have to be annoyed if you can't find something quickly enough or if it's empty or expired. Below we show you how to tidy up a medicine cabinet effectively.
Step 1 to a tidy medicine cabinet: get an overview and sort things out
Clear out your medicine cabinet and sort out all medicines that have expired. There are no exceptions here. Expired plasters should also be disposed of. Important: Make sure they are disposed of properly. Medication must be disposed of separately. It is best to collect everything first, for example in awooden storage box. This makes transportation easier.
Step 2 to a tidy medicine cabinet: reorganize and restructure your medicine cabinet
After sorting out, you now have the ultimate overview of what your current medicine cabinet looks like and know what might be missing. Write a shopping list of all the products you need to replenish, buy them from your local pharmacy or order your selection online. Then it's time to structure. Categorize your medication into groups such as cold and flu products, painkillers, digestive aids, bandages, etc. The following are suitable for storage Plastic storage boxes such as BINZ KLAR from iDesign. Such storage systems are real all-rounders, stackable and liquid-tight. Thanks to the transparent design, you can always see what you still have in stock in the medicine cabinet.
An alternative is the iDesign KLAR storage box with lid. You can store everything safely in this. Labeling the boxes is a great way to visually highlight the categories. Of course you can also Stickers, labels and tags for this purpose.
Good to know: You may find it more practical to store medicines in the medicine cabinet without a folding box and leaflet. However, these provide important information and reduce the risk of confusion or application errors. Therefore, always keep them in their original packaging and with the package insert. You can safely store these in storage jars in storage tins.
Step 3 to a tidy medicine cabinet: Finding the right storage location
Medication must always be stored in a dry, dark and cool place. A medicine cabinet in the kitchen or bathroom is therefore not ideal. A storeroom or bedroom is better. If children live in your household, make sure that your medicine cabinet can be locked.
Step 4 to a tidy medicine cabinet: note down important information
The inside of the door of a medicine cabinet is ideal for placing important medical information and emergency contacts.
Step 5 to a tidy medicine cabinet: check once a year
To ensure that your medicine cabinet is always tidy, you should always keep your medicine cabinet up to date. This means carrying out an inventory at least once a year, sorting out and restocking. If you have used a medicine, always sort it back into the appropriate category or container. This makes it easier for other family members to quickly find the right medication.
How do I dispose of expired medication from a medicine cabinet?
Many medicines should not be disposed of in normal household waste. Of course, they should certainly not be flushed down the toilet. In most cases, hazardous waste at your local recycling center is the right place to go. Pharmacies also offer to take back expired medicines. It is best to find out locally.