How to Easily Organize a Medicine Cabinet: 7 Simple Ideas

Do you have trouble finding what you need in your medicine cabinet? Are things cluttered and crammed together? If so, it’s time to organize that space!

Every fall I try to go through my medicine cabinet in order to organize and prepare for the cold and flu season ahead. It may not be one of the most exciting fall activities but I consider it essential because I want to know that we have supplies on hand if the family becomes sick with something contagious.

In this blog post, we will give you seven simple tips to help make your medicine cabinet more organized and functional. Follow these steps and you’ll be able to find what you need quickly and easily. Let’s get started!

Why should you organize your medicine cabinet?

There are several reasons why you might want to organize your medicine cabinet. Maybe you’re constantly misplacing things or you can never find what you need. Maybe it’s just too cluttered and cramped. Whatever the reason, an organized medicine cabinet can save you time and frustration.

An organized medicine cabinet can also help ensure that you’re taking the correct medications. If your medicine cabinet is overwhelming, there’s a greater chance that you could accidentally take the wrong medication. By keeping things organized, you can help reduce the risk of making a mistake.

So now that we’ve talked about why you should organize your medicine cabinet, let’s move on to the best ways to organize medicine cabinets.

What are the best medicine cabinet organization ideas?

Here are our best ideas on how to get your medicine cabinet organized!

1) Empty the medicine cabinet space

Start by taking everything out of the medicine cabinet. If you have another medicine cabinet in the house you may want to combine everything together so you can see everything you have.

Once the medicine cabinet is empty go ahead and wipe down the shelves quickly. We all know how small bobby pins or other bathroom supplies can get lost in cabinets and drawers.

2) Separate the medicine bottles into categories

Next, you will want to look through all the containers and separate medicines from first aid supplies. Once you have that sorted, you may want to create different categories of medicine types.

You could use these categories as a guide:

• Cold, Cough, & Flu
• Allergy & Seasonal
• First Aid & Bandages
• Pain Relief
• Nausea & Digestion
• Home Tests
• Children’s Medicines
• Skin Medications
• Eye Care
• Mouth Care
• Join & Muscle
• Essential Oils

3) Check for expired medicines

As you are sorting your medicines and pills you can look at each of the expiration dates and set aside anything that is past its expiration date. You may be surprised by just how much you need to toss from your cabinet.

After you check the dates make sure to look through other supplies that may not be getting used in your cabinet. If you have items like old lotions, heating pads, foot massagers, or joint supports that aren’t needed anymore then consider removing them from the space as well.

4) Make sure you are stocked

Next, you may need to ensure you now have enough supplies to last you for the next flu season. If you had to remove a lot of expired items you may need to visit the store to restock these essential items.

Items that are essential in a medicine cabinet include:

Essential Seasonal Medicines

• Cold & Cough Medicines
• Fever Relief
• Sore Throat Relief
• Vaporizing Rubs
• Nasal Sprays
• Allergy Medications
• Nausea Relief Medicine
• Pedialyte
• Room Humidifier

Essential Medicine Cabinet Items

• Ear Thermometer
• Face Masks & Gloves
• Cotton Swabs & Balls
• Alcohols & Disinfectants
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Aloe with Vitamin E Oil
• Band-Aids (various sizes)
• Gauze & Bandage Supplies
• Nail Clippers, Files, and Tweezers
• Support Wraps for Joints
• Hot & Cold Therapy Items
• Itch & Resh Relief
• Heating Pads
• Muscle Massagers
• Pill Cutter
• Medicine Measuring Cups

5) New storage ideas

Once you have sorted your medicine into different categories, and have restocked your supplies, you will need to find a way to store them. One option is to use clear storage containers. This will allow you to see what medicine is in each container and easy access to the medicine when you need it.

Another option is to use labeled storage bins and boxes. This can help you keep track of where everything is and make it easier to find what you need. The main reason this is such a great solution is that you can stack the boxes on top of one another and utilize more space in a small bathroom or linen closet.

Lazy Susan products can also help if you have a corner cabinet you are trying to organize it lower shelves you are reaching into because you can spin them to find what you need. The storage bins you choose will really depend on how much space you have to work with inside your medicine cabinet.

6) Label storage boxes

One of the best tips in any home organization project is to label the storage bins you choose. This makes a big difference for you and for your family members when they are trying to find medicine quickly.

You can use a label maker if you have one, or find some free printables from home organization blogs and websites. Once you have all your labels on your boxes you will almost be finished with your medicine cabinet organization goals.

7) Return the medicine to the cabinets

The last step is to return all the medicine to the medicine cabinet. Make sure you put the heaviest items on the bottom shelves and lighter items on the top shelves. You may want to keep a small step stool in your bathroom so anyone in your family can easily reach the medicine they need.

You can also put a medicine cabinet in your kitchen if you have the space. This is a great way to keep medicine out of reach of small children but still have it readily available when you need it.

Medicine cabinet organization doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By following these simple steps you can easily get your medicine cabinet organized and keep it that way.

FAQ

What are the different categories of medicines?

There are several different categories of medicine that you might want to consider when organizing your medicine cabinet. These include over-the-counter (OTC) medications, prescription medications, vitamins and supplements, first aid supplies, and emergency medicines.

How should I store my medicine bottles?

One option is to use clear storage containers. This will allow you to see what medicine is in each container and easy access to the medicine when you need it.

How to organize the bathroom medicine cabinet?

If you have a small bathroom medicine cabinet you can keep the most used essentials from the list in this article in your bathroom for easy and quick access, and still have your main kitchen cabinet for organizing and storing everything else.

How should I dispose of the old medicines?

The best way to dispose of old medicines is to take them to a medicine disposal site. You can find a medicine disposal site by visiting the FDA website.

Where can I buy good storage containers?

There are a variety of places where you can buy storage containers for your medicine cabinet. You can find them at most major retailers, home improvement stores, and online. These stores include Target, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.

What are the best labels to use?

The best labels to use are ones that you can easily see and read. You can find a label maker at most office supply stores, or you can use a sharpie to write on the storage containers.

What are good first aid supplies to have?

Some good first aid supplies to have in your medicine cabinet include Band-Aids, gauze, medical tape, cotton balls, alcohol wipes, and antibiotic ointment.

Is it better to keep medicine in the bathroom or kitchen?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It depends on your personal preferences and needs. Some people prefer to keep medicine in the bathroom because it is more convenient, while others prefer to keep medicines high up in a kitchen or storage closet. The main idea is that you keep everything organized and out of easy reach from kids.

Where is the best place to keep medicine?

The best place to keep medicine is in a cool, dry place. You want to avoid storing medicine in areas where there is excessive heat or moisture.

Conclusion

We hope you found these medicine cabinet organization tips helpful! A little bit of time and effort spent now will save you time and frustration in the future. Do you have any other great tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!