Fall is not only a good time to clean out your closet, as you transition your wardrobe from summer to winter wear, it is also an opportunity to inventory your toiletries. As flu season approaches, taking stock of your medicine cabinet, makeup bag, and other personal care sundries will give you a chance to get a head start on winter!

First, gather all of your medicine cabinet items and toiletries in one place so you can see what all you’re dealing with. Then start checking expiration dates. The other day I came across half a bottle of Nyquil that expired in 2015 (yikes)! Put anything out of date in the discard pile. All medicines should have expiration dates and those past their date should be responsibly disposed of. This means, dumping liquids down the drain and throwing the pills in the garbage. If disposing in the garbage, be sure to mix the pills with dirt, kitty litter or used coffee grounds. Be sure to check which medical containers can be recycled, and then properly clean them out for recycling. With prescription drugs, take extra care and flush pills down the toilet. You can also drop them off at any of the med return boxes located throughout the county. There is one in the Williamsport Police Department and at all township police departments and sheriffs’ offices.

For non-medications check for signs of degradation. While nothing too harmful can come from using expired makeup, some products may cause minor irritations, and some will be downright unappealing and not look, smell, or act as initially intended. If it looks funky, get rid of it. In general: liquid cosmetics are good for up to a year or so, while powders have a longer shelf life of up to 3 years, depending on the quality. Eye and brow pencils can last from 1-3 years if properly stored and sharpened. Mascara is only good for 3 months after its initial use and lipsticks are good for up to 18 months, while lip balms can last up to 5 years. Nail polish can last from 1-2 years, depending on the quality. If you shake the bottle and the formula won’t mix up, the polish is garbage. Nail polish remover does not expire—so there’s a win! Most cosmetics are now marked with an expiration date in the form of a little jar denoting the number of months it is good for after opening.

Additional toiletries like cleansers, moisturizers, and face creams are good for 1-2 years, again depending on the quality. Sunscreen is good for one year, so be sure to ditch any leftovers from the summer. Bath products like soap, body washes, shampoo, and conditioner last for up to 3 years. Toothpaste and mouthwash should have expiration dates to check.

Once you’ve sorted through all of your toiletries, clean off the bottles and containers you’re keeping with a damp cloth — you don’t want to put them back dirty. Before you do put them back, give your cabinets and vanity drawers a good clean as well. Wipe them out and vacuum out any dust. Also, clean the sink, countertop, the mirror, and the outside of your medicine cabinet.
After you’ve cleaned, divide what’s leftover into categories. For example, I found it helpful to designate a shelf for my husband, several shelves for my products, a third area for shared items like dental floss and Band-Aids, then a space for our daughter’s baby wash and medicines. The items we each use on a daily basis are placed in the most convenient spots. Backup supplies can be stored in a linen closet, in baskets, or plastic containers, whatever fits in your space and style.

Depending on how many bath and powder rooms you have, this could be quite an undertaking, but necessary — especially for expired medications. The final step is to be sure and stock up on over-the-counter drugs and home remedies before the first frost. There’s nothing worse than having to do a CVS run when you’re fighting a runny nose and sore throat, right?