Medicine cabinets are an essential storage unit in every household. They are used for storing first-aid kits, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications. Maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in a medicine cabinet is vital to ensure that the medicines are safe to use and free of any bacteria or dust. In this article, we will discuss five essential steps to clean and maintain a medicine cabinet.
Step 1: Empty the cabinet
The first step to clean a medicine cabinet is to empty it entirely. Take out all the medicines, syrups and other items, and put them on a clean surface. This will allow you to clean the inside of the cabinet thoroughly. Additionally, you can also take a closer look at the expiration dates of the medicines and discard any that have expired.
Step 2: Clean the cabinet interior
After emptying the cabinet, it’s time to clean the inside of the cabinet. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to clean it. To sanitize and disinfect the cabinet, mix water and a small amount of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Use this solution to wipe the surfaces of the cabinet thoroughly. This will eliminate any bacteria or germs inside the cabinet.
Step 3: Organize the medicines
Organizing the medicines is an important step to ensure that you can easily find the medications when needed. You can organize the medicines based on the type, expiry date, or usage. Use containers or Ziploc bags to separate the medicines and keep them together. This will also prevent the spills from one container from contaminating all the other medicines.
Step 4: Check the expiry date
Checking the expiry date of the medicines is essential to avoid any potential harm to your health. Get rid of expired medicines and make a note of the ones that are about to expire. This way, you can use them before they lose their efficacy or potency. You can also bring back the discarded medicines to the pharmacy through drug take-back programs.
Step 5: Maintain regular cleaning
Regular cleaning of your medicine cabinet is crucial to keep it free of dust, bacteria, and clutter. You can schedule a monthly or bi-monthly cleaning of your medicine cabinet to ensure that it is well-maintained. It will also help you keep track of the expiry dates of the medications and ensure that you don’t risk using expired medicines.
