MEDICINE CABINET IN CHAOS? HOW TO CREATE ORDER
A sudden sore throat, a cold nose or an insect bite after a walk in the woods - there are always situations in which you need to have certain medicines, bandages and aids at hand. The so-called "medicine cabinet" in the medicine cabinet is indispensable for precisely this purpose. But what does your medicine cabinet look like? In many households, it is not uncommon for it to be in chaos. Next to empty packages, there is expired cough syrup, and headache tablets are piled up. It can be annoying and even dangerous if you don't have the right medication at hand in an acute case.
But don't worry, in this article we'll tell you how to permanently tidy up your medicine cabinet and show you what really belongs in it.
What actually belongs in a medicine cabinet?
A medicine cabinet contains a number of general preparations that help against common complaints such as digestive problems, pain or cold symptoms. In addition, there are 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-allergic in the medicine cabinet. A fever thermometer, a cold compress, tweezers and bandage scissors are also an essential part of the medicine cabinet. In addition, there are individual medicines that you need to take regularly.
Since children need age-appropriate medicines, you should compile a special children's medicine cabinet and keep it separate from the medicine cabinet for adults. In this way, you can avoid mistakes, which can sometimes be dangerous for small patients. If you don't have space for a separate medicine cabinet, labels or colorful stickers can help you quickly tell them apart.
How do you tidy up a medicine cabinet?
A tidy medicine cabinet goes a long way toward effective and smart management of your medications. Therefore, spend some time to create order in it and maintain it with regular checks. That way, you won't have to fret if you can't find something quickly enough, or if it's empty or expired. In the following, we will show you how to tidy up a medicine cabinet in a goal-oriented way.
Step 1 to a tidy medicine cabinet: Get an overview and sort it out
In the first step, clear out your medicine cabinet completely and sort out all medications that have expired. There are no exceptions here. Expired plasters should also be disposed of. Important: Ensure proper disposal. Medications must be disposed of in a special way. It is best to collect everything first, for example in a wooden storage box. So the transport will be easier.
Step 2 to a tidy medicine cabinet: Restock and structure 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 stock up on, buy them at your local pharmacy or order your selection online. Next, it's time to structure. Categorize your medications into groups such as cold and flu items, pain relievers, digestive aids, bandages, etc. Suitable storage methods are Plastic storage boxes such as BINZ KLAR from iDesign. Such storage systems are real all-rounders, stackable and liquid-tight. The transparent design means you can always see what you still have in stock in the medicine cabinet.
An alternative is the iDesign storage box KLAR with lid. In this box you can store everything very safely. Labeling the boxes is a great way to visually highlight the categories. You can of course also Stickers, labels and tags use for this purpose.
Good to know: Sometimes you may find it more convenient to store medications in the medicine cabinet without a folding box and package insert. However, these provide important information and reduce the risk of confusion or application errors. Therefore, always keep them in their original packaging and with package inserts. You can safely store them in storage tins collect.
Step 3 to a tidy medicine cabinet: Find the right place to store it.
Medications must always be stored in a dry, dark and cool place. A medicine cabinet in the kitchen or bathroom is therefore not ideal. The storeroom or bedroom is better. If you have children living in the household, make sure that your medicine cabinet is lockable.
Step 4 to a tidy medicine cabinet: Note down important information
The inside of a medicine cabinet door is ideal for placing important medical information and emergency contacts.
Step 5 to a tidy medicine cabinet: Check once a year
To ensure lasting order in your medicine cabinet, you should always keep your medicine cabinet up to date. This means taking stock, sorting out and restocking at least once a year. Once you have used a medication, always put 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 medications from a medicine cabinet?
Many medications should not be disposed of in regular household trash. Of course, they should certainly not be flushed down the toilet. In most cases, the recycling center in your area is the right place to go. Pharmacies also offer to take back expired medicines. It is best to find out about this on site.