Organize + Energize: Spring Cleaning + Your Medicine Cabinet

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert

When we get involved with spring cleaning, we don't often think of our medicine cabinet.

Are you organized when it comes to your medications? With spring cleaning season upon us, take a moment to go through your medicine cabinets. Here are some valuable tips about storing and organizing your medications.

Believe it or not, your medications should not be stored in a medicine cabinet in the bathroom. The bathroom is the worst place to store your medicine. The bathroom is prone to high temperatures and humidity. Medications should be stored away from heat and moisture and closed tight. Keep in a hallway closet, or anywhere in the home where the room temp is between 68 and 77 degrees. Some meds need to be stored in cooler places. Always read the labels.

Here are 6 tips to help you get your meds in order:

1. Go through your home and gather all your meds.

Search the bathroom, linen closets, kitchen cabinets, desk drawers, pocketbook, car or bedroom. Search anyplace where you think you may have stored medication at some point.

2. Check for expiration dates and dispose of any expired medication.

Be prepared, you will have medication that you will be throwing out. I will be surprised if you don’t.

3. Check your closet every year for expired meds.

You will be amazed at the medication you find.

4. Call your local pharmacy if you are unsure as to how to dispose of your meds.

Do not throw meds down the toilet.

5. Keep your meds contained to one area in your home.

Make everybody aware of where the medication is stored. Try not to store meds all over the home. It will be easier and quicker to find and keep track of if it is stored and contained in one area in the home. Keep them stored in containers and label the container for ease of access.

6. Do you store meds at your office?

Don’t forget to go through your office and organize and throw out expired meds there also.

Please check on your elders and make sure that they are organized when it comes to their medications. Also, check to make sure they have a list of all the medication they are taking and be sure they carry the list with them at all times, most importantly, to doctor's appointments. Set them up with a pill organizer so they are taking their pills on schedule every day.

Not only our elders, but everybody should carry a list of meds that they are taking. List the name of the medication, dosage, and how often you take the medication. Keep a copy at home and carry one with you.

Once you organize your medications, you are taking one smaller step to getting organized.

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. Kristin spent several years working in retail management, medical offices, and was even a successful certified personal trainer for 4 years. She discovered that in each of these fields she had a natural ability to streamline spaces and processes. Through her organizing ability and her passion for motivating others to achieve their goals, Kristin created Organizing in RI. Kristin has appeared on air on www.talkstreamradio.com and Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio. Her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. She is also available for organizing workshops.

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