As the saying goes, “Out of sight, out of mind.” With all that’s tucked away in the medicine cabinet, it’s easy to forget what’s inside and quickly clutter the storage space. Who hasn’t opened a medicine cabinet in search of ibuprofen, only to have tubes of eye cream come tumbling out?
“Your medicine cabinet should be a place that serves you,” says Tina Priestly, home organization expert at Ready, Set, REFRESH. “A clean cabinet will save you time, particularly when you are in a hurry.” Incorporating your medicine cabinet into your regular cleaning and organizing routine will keep it streamlined—but if yours is in need of a proper clean-out, we’re here to help.
We consulted some decluttering pros for their favorite tips and tricks for organizing a medicine cabinet. Read on for their step-by-step advice on getting (and keeping) your medicine cabinet in tip-top shape.
Excavate Your Medicine Cabinet
By first emptying your cabinet, you can easily identify what you have, what you are lacking, and what needs to go. In other words: uncover, discover, and discard.
Make sure to follow this first step with a good wipe down of the shelves and interior walls so that they’re clean of spills, dirt, and grime as you organize.
Check Expiration Dates
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Check expiration dates on everything from prescription medications to sunscreen. Priestly emphasizes the importance of discarding items past their due date. “They lose their effectiveness over time and may be dangerous,” she cautions. Similarly, anything that looks or smells different has got to go. “If it’s off, toss it,” she says.
Also, keep an eye out for recalls. If any medications in your cabinet are recalled, dispose of them immediately and responsibly by bringing them to your local pharmacy or the point of purchase for a refund.
Stock Up on the Basics
Having a wide array of health remedies on hand is always a good idea, according to Courtney Cummings, founder and owner of The Stylish Organizer. She says that a well-stocked medicine cabinet should always have pain relievers, bandages, throat lozenges, calamine lotion, prescription meds, products for an upset stomach, and whatever else you use regularly or expect you might need.
Categorize by Type
Luxury Pro Organizer’s founder, Carol Applebaum, advocates for grouping the items you wish to store into categories for organizational purposes. “For example, keep all thermometers and cough, cold, and flu items together, all pain relievers in another group, and so on,” she advises.
If you’re utilizing your medicine cabinet for things like skincare products, dental care, and cosmetics as well, organize these into separate groupings, too.
Choose the Right Organizational Tools
Dedicate specific shelves to each category grouping and divide them further with shelf organizers, adjustable shelves for varying product heights, and organization tools. When it comes to traditional shallow medicine cabinets, Cummings is a big fan of the two-tier riser. “Using an organizer like this will allow you to fit more bottles into the same area because you are maximizing the vertical space.”
For deeper cabinets, try a turntable tray. “You can load [it] up with lots of items from a single category and reach everything with a single spin,” notes Cummings.
Store Frequently Used Products Up Front
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Whether it’s your daily vitamins, facial cleanser, eye drops, or prescription meds, items that are frequently used are best stored up front (or at eye level) for easy recognition and access. If you’re taking supplements or applying skincare at specific times, try arranging them in order to the time of day, suggests Applebaum.
Remember, you want your system to work for you! The less rummaging around you have to do when you are in a hurry, the better.
Use Containers & Labels
By organizing your items in a clear, easily accessible manner, quick and efficient retrieval is all but guaranteed and can help in the functionality of the medicine cabinet. “It’s ideal to use containers and identify each container’s contents using 1-inch labeling tape with a large, easy-to-read font,” recommends Applebaum.
Keep It Child Safe
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In all aspects of this organizing process, make sure that medications and other potentially dangerous items remain appropriately and adequately secure. “It is essential to consider whether others who share the medicine cabinet should have access to these prescribed medications,” emphasizes Applebaum.
It’s always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to storing any personally prescribed meds, as well as anything without a locking cap, which could be mistaken for a toy or an ingestible.
Maintain a Regular Purge Schedule
Once you have your medicine cabinet arranged in an orderly fashion, you want it to stay that way. To achieve this, consistent organization is key. “Maintaining a regular purging schedule ensures that your medicine cabinet remains organized, effective, and safe,” says Applebaum.
Cummings recommends taking inventory of your supplies and checking expiration dates once a quarter. You may be due for a trip to your local drugstore. “Your future self will thank you,” she says.
