3 ways to organise your medicine and vitamin cabinet

Start fresh and check expiry dates

You may have vitamins and medicines in different parts of the house. Not anymore! Bring them all together in one simple place (like the medicine cabinet) and take stock of what you've already got.

While you're sorting, make sure to check the expiry dates on medications. Medications and first aid products have expiry dates for a reason: they may lose effectiveness or even become unsafe over time.

If you have loose blister packs or medication in foil wrappers, and you can't remember when you bought it, stay on the safe side and dispose of it properly at participating Blooms The Chemist pharmacies.

You can see what you're able to dispose of here.

Group 'like' items together

Organise your items into categories to make them easier to find when you need them.

Some handy groups could include:

• Pain relief and fever medications

• Cold and flu remedies (lozenges, cough syrup, cold and flu tablets)

• Allergy treatments

• Digestive health

• First aid supplies (bandages, antiseptics, first aid kit)

• Vitamins and supplements

Keeping similar items together saves time in an emergency and prevents double-buying when you’re stocking up.

While you're organising your items, double check if there's any empty packets of medicine hiding in a box, which avoids you reaching for the cold and flu tablets and finding there are none left!

Store them safely

Make sure all medications are kept in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and humidity.

For families with young children, storing medicines up high or in a locked cabinet is essential to keep little hands safe.