Clear your chest. Your medicine chest or cabinet, that is. When was
the last time you cleaned it out?
If you're a regular headache sufferer or live with someone who is, then your
cabinet is probably full of pain-killing pills like acetaminophen, ibuprofen,
and aspirin.
You should make it a habit to check expiry dates and chuck out all expired
medications or those that show signs of breaking down. Just like food, drugs
do spoil over time. Ready-to-be-thrown-out aspirin and acetaminophen tablets
may smell of vinegar. Liquid medicines may become discolored.
But don't throw medications in the garbage! Instead, take them to your
local pharmacy for disposal. Many pharmacies have programs where they accept
old medications and pay for special waste disposal companies to destroy them
safely. Alternatively, check out local community newspapers advertising hazardous
waste disposal days organized by your community. You can usually get rid of
outdated medications at these events along with unwanted household chemicals
like leftover paint and paint thinners.
