Time for the big bathroom cabinet reshuffle Expert guide to home supplies

EVERYONE needs a decent first aid kit, separate from the medicine cabinet.

It should include plasters, bandages, antiseptic wipes to clean wounds and eye wash solution to remove dirt or grit.

It needs sterile dressings for when you need to sort a wound at home or on the way to hospital, as well as medical tape to help hold it in place.

A thermometer and tweezers for splinters are also a wise choice.

If you use anything, replace it as soon as possible to keep your kit well-stocked. It is also a good idea to have a separate, smaller, first-aid kit in your car for any emergencies as well.

Always keep your medication in its packet. The box will feature the directions for use, exactly what is inside and the expiry dates.

Sometimes, blister packs are too small for expiration dates, making the packets vital for safety.

Medications that are not stored properly or safely will go out of date faster so if you are in any doubt, put it in a pile – somewhere safe, where children cannot get hold of it – to take to the pharmacy, where it can be safely binned.

MANY of us have given our homes a spring clean in recent weeks, purged our sock drawers and spice racks – but the medicine cabinet rarely gets a look-in.

Most of us only ever think about it when we’ve sliced open a finger or our head is pounding but it’s important to declutter medical supplies each year.

An annual review of prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines and bits and pieces such as plasters will make sure you’re fully equipped – and could even save your life.

Using an old product won’t necessarily land you in hospital, but it won’t work effectively, either.

Where you keep your pills and potions matters, too.

Here, Sultan “Sid” Dajani, community pharmacist and former treasurer of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, reveals what you need at home and how to store it safely.