Spring Cleaning For Your Medicine Cabinet: Updating Your Healthcare Essentials
When did you last update your medicine cabinet? Having a selection of reliable products to use when caring for your family’s health is helpful in many situations, but it is important to ensure that your products are have not exceeded the use-by date and relevant to the needs of your family and your lifestyle. Here at Gray’s Pharmacy, our friendly team can help you find everything you need to stock and update your medicine cabinet, and we will be happy to help with all of your healthcare queries.
If your medicine cabinet could do with organising or updating, read on to find out more about getting the most from your medications and ensuring you have the essentials to care for your family’s health. Organising your medicine cabinet is a useful process to assess and update your supplies, and we have some great tips to help you get started today.
Organising your medicine cabinet
As part of your spring cleaning process, it’s a great idea to take the chance to organise and update your medicine cabinet. Following our simple guide can help to make the process easier, and we recommend approaching your organisation process with the following steps:
- Remove everything from your medicine cabinet. To organise your medicine cabinet, it is first essential to remove everything that is in it and have a good look at what you already have. This is a useful exercise in finding out what you have and what you need, and you can work from here to begin your organisation process.
- Check for expired or unwanted products. It is easy to hold onto old medications for many years so this is a great opportunity to check the expiry dates on medicines and get rid of any products that have expired or are no longer needed for yourself or your family. As you get rid of products that are out of date, you can make a list of any that need replacing so that you can restock your supplies.
- Clean your medicine cabinet. Whether you keep your medicine supplies in a locked cabinet or a secure box, this is a good time to clean it in preparation for organising it. Medications should always be stored securely and kept out of the reach of children and vulnerable adults, and you should always store medications with their packaging and information so that the correct details can be easily accessed if needed. Ensure that medications are stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunshine and moisture.
- Use categories to sort your medications. To organise your medicine cabinet, it can be helpful to sort your supplies into categories such as cold and flu remedies, first aid supplies and prescription medications. You may find it helpful to put similar items together in boxes or containers to keep them separate and labelling these can help you find what you need more easily, which is especially helpful in a medical emergency.
- Think about who the medication is for. It’s helpful to sort medications into those suitable for children and those that are for adults only. This is important so that you do not get confused and accidentally give inappropriate medication options to children, and it also makes it easier to find what you need when you’re in a hurry. Children’s painkillers, treatments and first aid products may be kept together in a specific area of your medicine cabinet, or you may prefer to have a separate locked box or second cabinet for children’s medications.
- Arrange your cabinet logically. You will thank yourself for your forethought every time you open your medicine cabinet if you organise it logically and according to frequency of use. Items that are used more often are more easily accessible at the front and items that you do not reach for very often can be stored behind other products. If you are using a cupboard or cabinet to store your medical supplies, you can hang small items such as scissors on the inside or the back of the door to ensure they are easily accessible and do not get lost.
- Purchase new supplies. Once you have noted down the products that were out of date and decided on any extras that your medicine cabinet is missing, it’s time to visit Gray’s Pharmacy to update your supplies. Our team will help you find everything you need to ensure that your medicine cabinet is fully stocked and that you are well-equipped to deal with any medical emergency or common illness.
Once your medicine cabinet is organised, it is easier to keep track of medications and replace out-of-date supplies when needed. This is a great task to include in your spring cleaning as it’s a quick win that will leave you feeling organised and prepared for most medical situations that arise in your family.
Spring Time Medications
Taking care of your health all year round means being aware of the challenges of each season and preparing yourself to deal with them properly. If you suffer from allergies, these are likely to be worse in the springtime and this can be a challenge to live with. Finding products that work for you can change your life and we have a great range of allergy products and other springtime medications that can make a difference.
In the Spring, you may find it helpful to include products such as these in your medicine box or first aid kit:
- Allergy medication. Spring is the most common time for allergy symptoms to appear, especially if you suffer from hay fever or grass pollen allergies. When you’re stocking your medicine cabinet, it’s a good idea to ensure that you have some allergy tablets or other medications in there so that you can quickly offer relief from allergies to your family and guests. We recommend Cetrine Allergy Tablets, formulated to relieve the symptoms of allergies fast, or Zirtek Oral Solution, which is a liquid medication for hay fever and dust mite allergies.
- Eye drops. If you suffer from allergy-related symptoms or pollen sensitivity, eye drops such as Otrivine Antistin Eye Drops can be helpful to relieve redness and itchy eyes. These are a great medicine cabinet staple, allowing you to combat allergies to house dust mites and pollens with ease.
- Decongestants. Colds can occur at any time of the year, and a Spring cold is often mistaken for hay fever to begin with. If you or a family member develops a cold in the Spring, you’ll find it helpful to have a decongestant to hand to relieve the symptoms and feel better fast. The Sudafed range is popular and includes decongestant syrups and tablets to help clear a blocked nose and sinuses. Talk to us for advice on dosage and medication for all ages.
- First Aid items. Accidents and injuries are common all year round, and it’s a great idea to ensure that your first aid kit is fully stocked in your medicine cabinet. You may also find it useful to have a travel first aid kit for the car or your day bag, and we have many products to fill your first aid kit so that you’re prepared for anything. A comprehensive first aid kit should include plasters and bandages, antiseptic wipes, wound dressings and hot/cold packs.
- Pain relief medication. When you need pain relief fast, you’ll be grateful that you took the time to stock your medicine cabinet properly. Pain relief options for all ages are ideal, so that you can help out when family members and guests are suffering, and we recommend a range of options such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen as personal preferences vary. Migraleve is a helpful item to keep in your medicine cabinet if you or a loved one experiences migraines, as this is a fast and effective short-term treatment. Take a look at our range of pain relief to find the best options for you and your family.
Visit our experienced team at Gray’s Pharmacy
Stocking and organising your medicine cabinet is a useful task to include in your spring-cleaning regime and when you tick this off your list, you’ll be fully prepared for most basic medical situations. Having the products you need to deal with first aid emergencies allergies and common infections can save you time and stress when you’re caring for your family’s health, and we will help you to find everything you need in store.
At Gray’s Pharmacy, our friendly, experienced team is always available to discuss your healthcare needs and offer advice and support. We offer services including diabetes care, ostomy care and smoking cessation services, as well as online services that allow you to book consultations online. You can also order all of your healthcare, skincare, haircare and beauty products online, or visit our Irish independently-owned community Pharmacy in Castletroy, Limerick.
