Clutter-free medicine cabinets are possible even for the busiest of families. Honestly, the busier you are, the more these hacks and tips will help you buy back a few minutes in your day! These are the best types of tips because they are fast, effective, and inexpensive!  Keep reading for the best 15 easy Ideas to create a clutter-free medicine cabinet.

collage of 15 Ideas for a clutter free medicine cabinet with images of the inside of different medicine cabinets

How to Organize Your Medicine Cabinet

There’s something about that “out of sight” space that allows your wild side to simply turn a blind eye. But what of you can rein in those unsightly things, like pills, shaving cream, and tweezers into an easy-to-access place? It feels great to get all of our visual clutter tucked away neatly into a hidden space, behind a mirror or cabinet door.

But medicine cabinets are not always neat, are they?

Best Medicine Cabinet Organization Ideas

They can quickly turn into one of those catch-all areas we find in every room. The last thing you want is to open the door and to have oddly shaped packages and gadgets falling all over the place like a mischievous jack in the box.

One thing you may not have considered is that the medicine cabinet is often the smallest closet in your house.  No wonder it is so cluttered!  Think of much larger closets and cabinets that you are having trouble controlling the clutter and chaos!

1. Clearing out the lid is a great place to start when you want a clutter-free medicine cabinet.

Check expiration dates and throw out all the medicine that has already expired. No use keeping it around — it’s not worth the risk! All consumables have expiration dates, but so do other things like sunscreens. Check all packaging and toss out the old.

How to Safely Dispose of Unused or Expired Medicine

The best way to dispose of most types* of unused or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately.

If you cannot get to a drug take back location promptly, or there is none near you, and your medicine is:

  • on the FDA flush list, your next best option is to immediately flush these potentially dangerous medicine down the toilet.
  • not on the flush list, you should follow these instructions to discard the medicine in your trash at home.

fda.com

zoomed in view of medicine bottle to see expiration date

2. Hanging tools will give your cabinet organization

Mount magnetic strips to hold tweezers, nail files, bobby pins, etc. This sure frees up a lot of shelf space! Those bathroom and grooming utensils prefer to be kept neat and orderly rather than shoved behind every bottle or box. This inexpensive trick will help declutter that space quickly.

magnetic strip holding bobby pins, nail file, and scissors
Use a Mini Magnetic Strip To Organize Beauty Tools from Real Simple

Why declutter?

Clutter and mess can create more stress and anxiety, but by cleaning, organizing, and reducing the clutter, people are able to take control of their environment and create a more relaxing environment that helps them focus better on the more pressing issues in their lives.

3. Embrace magnets for creating a clutter-free medicine cabinet

Simply place magnetic sheets behind your shelves to make the entire medicine cabinet magnetic. You’ll be able to add clips, hooks, and more. This offers an incredible amount of versatility and creativity to how you can best use the wall space inside.

How to make a magnetic medicine cabinet graphic with magnetic clips holding ziplock bags of dental floss picks and notes

4. Utilize that cabinet door for storage

The back of the door is also an excellent place for stick-on pods for your makeup and toothbrushes. All things with narrow diameters will fit nicely on the door.

  • toothbrushes
  • nail polish
  • nail files
  • toothpaste and dental floss
  • makeup

The best part of utilizing the space behind the cabinet door efficiently is that is an achievable goal. Sometimes organizing and declutter in the entire house is simply too big of a task to conquer, but tackling a small space, like creating a clutter-free medicine cabinet can be just the step you need to give you the motivation to tackle the bigger goal.

You can create a real sense of peace and order in your home one cabinet at a time.

Set a timer for 15 minutes and see what you can do with that cabinet.

medicine cabinet organized with clear acrylic shelves attached to the inside door

5. Transform the medicine door into a message board

Paint the inside of the medicine cabinet with chalkboard paint. It’s a smart way to keep track of items you run out of in the bathroom, or just a fun way to leave nice notes for your family.

It is a wonderful surprise to wake up early for work or school and to open a cabinet to a wonderfully encouraging note, or to see a gentle reminder about something important that needs to be done that day.

You can use this message board to write:

  • encouraging words
  • funny jokes or sayings
  • words of affirmation
  • to-do lists
  • shopping reminders
  • your ideas

A hidden message board is a wonderful addition to your space.

inside view of medicine cabinet with blackboard on the door and shelves organized nealtly
Paint Inside of Medicine Cabinet with Chalkboard Paint from Inspire Design and Create

6. Create a clutter-free space by separating items from their boxes.

This smart lady uses a recipe box to store boxed medicines and their instructions. You can keep the medicines themselves in a separate container, while all their boxes and important instructions can be flattened and filed away.

You would be surprised how much space those boxes take on your shelves. By consolidating the medicine and collapsing the boxes you will free up enough space to be creative.

envelope style organizer holding flatten boxes from OTC medication

7. Use household cups and containers to organize the shelves.

Using cups and canisters to hold makeup brushes, hair tools, cotton swabs, etc can transform a cabinet from a cluttered disaster into a beautifully organized space with a place for everything in a neat container or cup.

Inside of a medicine cabinet neatly organized with jars and cups

8. Think Out of the Medicine Box: Use a spice rack!

Some clever people have used this solution: a Rubbermaid pull-down spice rack. Even the messiest cabinet can get organized using this baby, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space. Perfectly suited for smaller narrow bottles, a spice rack instantly gives a place for every bottle and container.

pull-down-spice-rack

9. Drawer Organizers are a perfect solution for a clutter-free medicine cabinet

It’s amazing what you can do with some small drawer organizers and a label maker. Now you don’t have to worry about your spouse or kids asking where the band-aids are. Right? Wishful thinking, but at least you will be able to find them quickly.

Pro-tip: adding labels makes finding what you need a cinch!

plastic drawer cabinet with 12 drawers labeled for individual bathroom supplies

10. Knobs and Hooks to the rescue!

Install knobs or hooks to hang hair elastics. This is especially helpful if you don’t have any drawers in your bathroom (like us). Sometimes quick and easy is the best choice.

These are the perfect solution for those items that you would consider grab and go. Keeping hair elastics and Bobby pins in easy reach makes for quicker styling each day.

magnets holding hair ties, eyelash curler and nail clippers, bobby pins and scissors

11. Command hooks help create a clutter-free medicine cabinet

Hang toothbrushes with command hooks. This is an easier alternative to some of those bulky toothbrush holders. Inexpensive and easy to hand, command hooks are a great option for arranging your toothbrushes! Plus, it keeps the bristles away from each other, so it doubles as a way to help keep germs under control.

clear clips holding toothbrushes

12. Improvise to fine-tune your medicines and supplies

If you live in an older home with super small bathrooms, you may not even have room for a designated medicine cabinet. This kitchen rack (or an over-the-door rack) is an excellent alternative, especially if you don’t have little ones that can get into the meds.

Things you can organize on a rack:

  • Medicines (keep out of reach of children)
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • lotions
  • makeup
  • toiletries
  • bath-toys after they’ve dried

a door hanging organizer ont eh back of the bathroom door, each shelf neatly organized

13. Artistic buckets and bowls make decorative organizational options

These little pails little pails are darling! I also like bowls for tools, eyes, and face. Very neat and organized.

Pro-tip: Keep your shelf depth measurements in your purse or wallet when shopping for buckets and bowls. You’ll want to make sure that cabinet door can close.

You can find all sorts of cute options at the dollar store or even your local thrift store!

medicine cabinet organized with mini buckets and trays, each labelled with its contents

14. Small baskets are a great way to organize your bathroom

Corral and categorize meds in small, narrow baskets. I know I’ve seen these at the local Dollar Store. These inexpensive baskets are great for quick sorting and as a bonus, they are easy to clean.

medicine cabinet organized with small white plastic baskets
Use Small Baskets to Organize Your Medicine Cabinet from Robyn Care Bear

15. Don’t forget that happy element: decor!

Put some contact paper behind the shelves for a pop of color. Okay, so that doesn’t keep it organized, but it will make your medicine cabinet prettier. The key to keeping a space neat and orderly is to make sure you enjoy the space. Just the right splash of color or design may be just the ticket you need to keep that space tidy.

More decorative options?

  • A splash of paint
  • stenciled designs

A little beauty goes a long way!

Medicine cabinet lined with light green contact paper with decorative swirls, shelves neatly organized

BONUS. Get more medicine cabinet organization ideas here!

Taking control of these smaller spaces in your home is empowering. You’ll save valuable time in your day when you have exactly what you need right at your fingertips.

Plus order causes the brain to relax. When you organize and declutter these hidden spaces in your home you are actually giving your mind the gift of peace.

one image with clear baskets like shelves on insode of medicing cabinet holding nail polish, another image with magnetic strips holding metalic bathroom tools, image of inside of medicine cabinet with decorative contact paper

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