Janice’s Jots: Make new seasonal ‘to do’ list

By Janice M. Howard / Columnist

HOWARD

As we look forward to consecutive days of warm weather filled with sunshine and spring showers, many homemakers, like me, start making a “to do” list of projects that will need our attention. Some may also want to compile a second “honey-do” list to compliment the first one.

There’s something about rays of sun shining through winter-streaked window panes that brighten dark corners and under furnishings where spider webs have managed to remain unseen that gets a gal motivated toward all-out spring cleaning.

One day to a full week may be required to sort through the family’s closets. About twice a year, I have to move seasonal clothing from one storage area to another to fit the current season, discard some items and set aside things to donate to the Senior Center Thrift Shop. Funny how wearing apparel always seems to shrink while in storage from one season to the next.

Cleaning out closets, washing windows, applying a fresh coat of paint to walls and woodwork or giving an extra thorough scrubbing to the bathrooms or kitchen area are obvious chores. But how many of us consider taking steps toward cleaning out and restocking the medicine cabinet.

Have you cleaned out your medicine cabinet lately? Have you ever cleaned out your medicine cabinet?

When you purchased over-the-counter medication, did you remember to check for signs of tampering?

When you look inside the space where you store medicines, do you see outdated prescriptions or half-filled bottles?

With these questions in mind, the Council on Family Health says the following tips can help you use your medication more effectively.

Clean out your medicine cabinet at least once a year.

Check expiration dates on containers before use. If a physician has advised discontinuing a certain prescription or if you find medication that is old, foul-smelling, discolored or otherwise unidentifiable, it should be thrown out. The most acceptable method for discarding old medicines is to spill the contents down the drain or flush it down the toilet.

If you don’t completely finish taking a prescription, toss the remaining medicine so that you won’t be tempted to restart it later at the onset of a new illness.

Before discarding empty bottles, it might be a good idea to tear off the pertinent information the pharmacist has taped to your prescription bottles in case some weirdo discovers the container and tries to have it filled at the pharmacy.

The Council on Family Health also suggests storing medications in a cool, dry place – out of the sight and reach of children.

Always read the warning labels and ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you might have to help you fully understand the directions.

Don’t take pills in the dark, in case you’ve reached for the wrong bottle, and never take someone else’s prescription.

If you have young children or grandchildren or anybody’s visiting children, who may be tempted to peek inside your medicine cabinet, it’s a good idea to make sure all medications have child-resistant caps.

Some of the items used to restock the medicine cabinet could include plastic gloves, adhesive bandages, cotton-tipped swabs, gauze pads, an ace bandage, pain killers, oral and/or rectal thermometer, petroleum jelly, syrup of ipecac, tweezers, hydrogen peroxide, saline solution, calamine lotion and an antihistamine.