While all of this Coronavirus mayhem has communities across the world in a panic, I decided that there’s no time like the present to take stock of my medicine cabinet. While I don’t plan to stockpile like it’s the end of days, I do like to be prepared! This is great to do for when you have guests as well. A comfortable guest makes a world of difference in the overall visit.
Disclaimer: I am in no way mocking the deaths that have occurred due to Coronavirus in recent times. However, based on personal research, it seems that the Flu is just as, if not more, deathly, and I think we should be prepared to tackle any sort of cold, flu, tummy illnesses should the unfortunate needs arise.
How to Organize Your Medicine Cabinet:
Only one of our bathrooms has a “classic” medicine cabinet. It’s in the kid’s bathroom upstairs, so I keep their medication and first aid items in there. Aside from that, I like to keep the rest of our medicines and toiletries in the top of our linen closet, so the kids can’t reach it.
1. Take everything out.
This is always the most annoying step, but it’s imperative. Take eeeeverything out of the medicine cabinet or wherever else you have meds lying around your house. Gather them together, and make sure the shelves you want to store everything on are clear.
2. Sort and trash.
Go through everything. Check expiration dates, empty blister packs (the things you punch meds like Sudafed out of), almost-empty bottles, etc. Make sure you have a garbage bag with you. Keep what you need, and toss the rest.
3. Sort the remaining stock.
Start with two categories: Daily Meds and Other Meds. Depending on how many prescription medications you have, you may end up putting things like Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen into your Daily Meds category. I love these one-handle bins from The Container Store. I was turned onto them by my friend and professional organizer, Elisheva from Let It Go Consulting. They’re perfect because they’re small enough to fit in spaces like a linen closet or medicine cabinet, and the handle makes them easily accessible, even if they’re on a higher shelf.
I use one of each of these bins for the two categories of medicines we have. As you can see in the background of the photo, sometimes, the larger, Costco purchases of Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc are too big for the bins. If you have enough space, I’d consider getting a third bin for Daily Over the Counter (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Tums) vs. Other Meds (Imodium, Sudafed, etc.) I’ll list out my medications that I keep in stock later in this post!
If you have more space, and you have a need for a larger bin, this same bin comes in a larger size as well. This is a great bin for pantries too!
4. Label the bins
Whether you use a label maker, which I HIGHLY recommend if you’re an organizing fiend, like me. I mean, I personally organize when I need to feel better. It gives me energy. Not everyone is like me, but a label maker really does come in handy! This is the one I use. Whether or not, you have a label maker, you can write on the bin with a sharpie or a paper label as well. It helps you know what’s in the bin without having to always take it out!
5. Write it down!
This is SO IMPORTANT! Do you find yourself coming home with new medicine because you didn’t remember you had it? Or you find that extra tube of toothpaste 5 months down the road? Keep track of everything in your medicine cabinet and toiletry overflow stock by writing it down on post-it notes. You can stick the post-it notes on the linen closet door, and that way you can see what you have and what you need! Full list of my stockpile recommendations below!
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Helpful Tips:
I recommend removing the blister packed medications (the ones where you push through some foil to pop out the pills) from their boxes, as long as you can see the name of the medication on the foil. Then you can stack them up in a bin, and they’re more easily accessible than the tiny boxes.
Medications and Toiletries Check-List:
Here’s what I make sure to always have on hand in my medicine cabinet. I’ve also included must-have toiletries as well. These are things that I keep for my family, as well as with any visitors and guests that may come along as well.
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I tend to buy most of our meds from Target. And I generally buy the Target generic brand for most items. Some, like Tums, I am very particular about.
Note: By listing the medication I keep in my medicine cabinet does NOT mean I am endorsing medications and/or giving medical guidelines regarding the consumption of this medication. Please consult with your doctor before taking any medication or giving any medication to your children.
Kid Meds and Toiletries:
- Motrin
- Tylenol
- Benadryl
- Zyrtec
- Zofran (prescribed)
- Boogie Mist
- Boogie Wipes
- Vicks Vaporub for Kids
- Nose Frida
First Aid Items:
General Meds:
- Sudafed
- Claritin
- Pepcid
- Tums
- Gas-X
- Tylenol
- Benadryl
- Ibuprofen
- Flonase
- Mucinex
- Benadryl Itch Spray
- Hydrocortisone Cream
- Imodium
- Excedrin
- Sleep Aid
- NyQuil
- Vapo Pads for humidifer
Overflow Toiletries To Keep In Stock:
- Hand Sanitizer
- Adult Shampoo
- Adult Body Wash
- Listerine
- Toothpaste
- Toilet Cleaning Gels
- QTips
- Deodorant
- Kid’s body lotion
- Toothbrushes for guests
- Kid’s body wash
- Kid’s shampoo
- Cerave body lotion
- Pads / Tampons (For you and your guests.)
- Black panty liners (You never know when you or a friend may be in need.)
- Pregnancy Tests (I keep them for ANYONE who may need them, just to “be sure”, and just to never run out. You can stop gossiping now.)
- Liquid hand soap
- All purpose wipes and cleaner
- Paper Towels
- Kleenex
Stay healthy all year long with these tips! If you like this post, please pin and share it. xo, Alyssa
This is a quality list! Thanks for putting it together!
Thank you so much!!! I hope it’s helpful!