Tidy Tuesday – the Medicine Cabinet

Today, I decided it was time for the yearly medicine cabinet clean out and reorganization. This is one task that isn’t just about tidying the house. It is also essential for the health and safety of your family. I do all the bathrooms in the same day so that I don’t forget about one of the cabinets and leave outdated or unwanted medication in it.

Photo: SXC

I start by taking everything out of the cabinet and wiping down all of the shelves. I also give the mirror some extra attention to be sure it is really shiny.

Next, I go through all of the medications and check for expiration dates. I also discard unexpired prescription medications that are no longer in use. I’m emphasizing this because, while your child may not dream of taking unauthorized prescription meds, his or her friends may not feel the same. Removing temptation is the best way to avoid prescription drug abuse.

Then, I put everything neatly back in the cabinet and dispose of the expired medications properly. (Don’t flush them or pour them down the sink. They will get into the water supply and add to a growing problem with antibiotics and other drugs in our drinking water. Your county waste department will be able to discuss proper disposal methods with you.)