A messy medicine cabinet can make your mornings stressful. What should be a handy spot for your essentials often turns into a pile of half-used products, loose bobby pins, and expired medicine. If things keep falling out when you open the door, it’s time to tidy up.
Getting your medicine cabinet organized can make your daily routine easier and less stressful. When everything has its own place, you save time and avoid frustration. This guide shares simple tips to help you clear out and organize this important space, so it works better for you.
First, Declutter and Clean
Before you can organize, you need to declutter. Start by taking everything out of your medicine cabinet and placing it on a towel or counter. This gives you a clean slate and a full view of what you actually own.
Check Expiration Dates
Check each item for expiration dates. Throw away any expired medicine, supplements, or skincare products. Look closely at cosmetics, which often have a symbol showing how long they’re safe to use after opening, like an open jar with “12M.”
Sort Your Items
Sort your items into three groups: keep, toss, and relocate.
- Keep: Items you use regularly that are still within their expiration date.
- Toss: Anything that’s expired, empty, or you haven’t used in over a year.
- Relocate: Items that don’t belong in the bathroom. Certain medications and supplements can lose their potency in a humid environment, so consider moving them to a cooler, drier place like a kitchen cabinet or linen closet.
After sorting, clean the inside of your cabinet well with a multipurpose cleaner.
Smart Storage for a Tidy Cabinet
With your cabinet clean and cleared out, you can start putting things back in order. These tips will help you use all the space you have.
Group Similar Items Together
The best way to organize is to sort items into categories. Some common groups are:
- Oral care (toothpaste, floss, mouthwash)
- Skincare (cleansers, moisturizers, serums)
- First aid (bandages, antiseptic wipes)
- Hair care (hair ties, bobby pins)
- Makeup and cosmetics
Keeping similar items together helps you find what you need faster. When everything has its own spot, it’s easier to keep things neat.
Use Clear Containers and Risers
Clear acrylic organizers make a big difference in medicine cabinets. They let you see everything easily and keep small items together. Try small, stackable drawers for things like cotton swabs and makeup sponges, and use narrow bins for taller items like cream tubes.
Shelf risers help you use the vertical space in your cabinet. They create levels so you can see and reach items in the back as easily as those in the front. This works well for small bottles and jars that might get lost.
Take Advantage of the Door
Don’t forget the inside of your cabinet door. You can add a slim magnetic board to hold small metal items like tweezers, nail clippers, and bobby pins. Small stick-on pods and hooks are also great for storing lip balms, hair ties, or even your toothbrush.
A small dry-erase board is another smart idea. Use it to write reminders, track medications, or leave notes for family members. Just make sure anything you add doesn’t stop the door from closing all the way.
Decant for a Uniform Look
To make your cabinet look neat, move daily items from bulky packaging into matching containers. Put things like cotton rounds, bath salts, and mouthwash in clear jars so you can see when you’re running low. Keep any extra supplies in a closet or under the sink for refills.
Organizing a Shared Cabinet
Sharing a medicine cabinet doesn’t have to be messy. A few easy steps can help everyone keep their things organized.
Designate Zones
Give each person their own shelf or section in the cabinet. This way, everyone has their own space. If there are several sections, assign one to each person. Add labels to the shelves so it’s clear whose space is whose.
Consider Height
When choosing shelves, consider everyone’s height. Put items for taller people on higher shelves and things for shorter family members or kids on lower ones. This way, everyone can reach their own stuff. Shared items like toothpaste can go on a middle shelf for easy access.
Create Portable Caddies
For things you don’t use often or for special routines like manicures or first aid, make a portable caddy. Use a small container with sections for all the supplies. Just take it out when you need it and put it back when you’re done. This helps keep your cabinet from getting cluttered.
Make Your System Last
Organizing your medicine cabinet is a great start, but keeping it that way is what really matters. Every few months, do a quick clean-out to get rid of expired items and put things back where they belong. Making this a habit will help your cabinet stay useful and stress-free.
