Why it’s important to clean out the medicine cabinet and under the sink
Keeping my medicine cabinet and under the bathroom sink clean and organized is important for a few key reasons:
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Safety – Having expired or unnecessary medications and cleaners around can be unsafe, especially if I have young children or pets in my home. Properly disposing of anything I no longer need helps prevent accidental poisoning or misuse.
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Effectiveness – Medications can lose their potency over time. Tossing out expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and vitamins helps ensure I’m getting the most benefit from the products I’m taking.
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Clutter – It’s easy for these spaces to become overstuffed catch-alls over time. Regular cleanouts help me start fresh and make better use of the storage space.
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Cost savings – Getting rid of unused and expired items means I don’t waste money replacing things I already have. A tidy medicine cabinet also makes it easier to do a quick inventory of what I need to restock.
How often to clean out the medicine cabinet and under the sink
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Medicine cabinet – I should thoroughly clean out my medicine cabinet at least once per season, or every 3 months. This allows me to regularly evaluate what I have and clear out any expired or unneeded products.
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Under the sink – This area tends to collect more clutter and lasts longer than medicines, so I only need to fully clean under my bathroom sink about twice a year to maintain organization. But I should still check product expiration dates about every 3 months when I organize the medicine cabinet.
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Extra tip: Take inventory of what I have before shopping for replenishments so I don’t overbuy. I can stock up on any essentials I’m low on after removing the expired/unwanted items.
Step-by-step process for cleaning out each area
Medicine cabinet cleanup
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Remove everything from the shelves so I can fully examine each product.
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Check expiration dates and toss any medicines, supplements, or toiletries that are expired to be safe.
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Properly dispose of unused medications – don’t flush them!
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Wipe down the empty shelves with a disinfectant cleaner.
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Sort through items and only keep what I use regularly. Toss or donate extras.
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Group similar items together (e.g. oral care, pain relievers).
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Return items to the shelves in a logical order for easy access.
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Restock anything I’m low on now that I have a clear idea of my inventory.
Under the sink deep clean
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Remove all items from under the sink and clean the empty cupboard.
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Check product expiration dates and discard anything that’s expired, especially cleaners.
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Safely dispose of unneeded chemicals like bleach, ammonia, drain opener, etc.
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Assign areas:
- Cleaning supplies in one area
- Extra towels and toiletries in another
- Reusable grocery bags off to the side
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Install organizing units (e.g. adjustable shelves, bins) to separate categories.
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Only return the items I use regularly to the newly organized space.
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Replenish cleaning and self-care supplies I need based on my sorted inventory.
Tips for maintaining an organized medicine cabinet and under the sink
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Set reminders on my phone to prompt me to declutter each area on a schedule
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When I use/buy an item, immediately toss old version or expired backup from shelf
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Store lesser-used items separately from main space and rotate them in as needed
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Group together products that are used in sequence (e.g. cleaners and scrub brushes)
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Avoid overbuying duplicates – only stock up after checking what I already have
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Keep an inventory list of main items I like to always have on hand
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If space is tight, regularly re-evaluate if I really need each item
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Clean as I go – wipe spills promptly and move misplaced items back
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Take the 2-minute rule – straighten with quick tidies whenever I notice clutter
Regularly cleaning out my medicine cabinet and under the bathroom sink takes a little work up front, but saves me time, money, and storage space in the long run. Sticking to a maintenance routine keeps these key areas organized.
