Everyone needs a well-stocked medicine cabinet and you should also take the time to clean your medicine cabinet out from time to time. When you have everything you need for injuries and illnesses in one place, you can be well prepared for any little emergency. Here is how to stock your medicine cabinet.

Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet
Before you begin buying new medicine and items in your medicine cabinet, the first thing you should do is take a few minutes to clean it out. You should get rid of all medicines that have expired, and any prescription medicines that are no longer being used. Throw away any bandages that are yellowed or look sticky. If you find an unlabeled bottle of medicine in your medicine cabinet, then it is best to dispose of it properly. When you clean out all items in your medicine cabinet, you can make room for a properly stocked cabinet.

What To Put It In Your Medicine Cabinet
A good medicine cabinet should have all the basics to take care of small injuries such as cuts, bruises and scrapes and illnesses such as headaches, fevers and muscle aches. You also want to make sure that you have medicine that can help take care of insect bites and stings. Purchase to tubes of medicines such as Neosporin and hydrocortisone. You do not have to purchase the expensive name brands of these medicines. The cheap medicines such as store brands are exactly the same and work just as well without costing you extra money. The next thing you want to make sure that you have in your medicine cabinet is a good supply of Band-Aids and bandages. Purchase bandages that can be wrapped around sprained ankles or wrists, as well as Band-Aids for small cuts and bruises. Buy Band-Aids and a variety of sizes so that they can be used for any accidents. Having aspirin or acetaminophen and other pain medications such as Motrin is always a good idea. If you have children, make sure that you have the children's versions of these medicines and that you know the correct dosages.

Putting contact information in your medicine cabinet is also a great idea. Make a list of your local phone numbers, including emergency 911, your pharmacy, all of the doctors that you use, and the local hospital and tape it on the inside of your medicine cabinet door. It might also be a good idea to have other emergency contact information such your spouse’s work or cell phone number just in case anyone should need it.