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| Four Seasons Hemet Herald | April 2017 | 23 Spring has officially arrived. And with the new season comes that time-honored ritual — spring cleaning. Chances are, if you open up your medicine cabinet, you'll find some old prescription bottles or maybe some leftover medication that "might come in handy someday." In actuality, those medications may have expired and may cause more harm than you realize. Check dates. Examine everything in your medicine cabinet, including ointments, supplements and vitamins. Discard any item that is beyond the expiration date. Many medications lose their effectiveness after the expiration date. Some may even be toxic. One year rule. For prescriptions, follow the one year rule. Discard any prescription medications that are more than one year old. Ditch any items that have changed color, smell or taste. This includes any colors that have faded, because they may have been exposed to too much light. Discard unmarked containers. If something is no longer in its original container and cannot be identified, get rid of it. In the future, try to always keep medications in their original containers so that you can easily recognize every medication. Be careful about throwing out medication. Because of the potential harm to the environment, it is not recommended to simply throw out medication or flush them down the toilet. Here's what to do: Place all medication in a sealable bag. Fill the bag about 1/3 of the way with water, add about ¼ cup salt to the water. Add all your medications, squeeze the air out, seal the bag up and let it sit on your counter for 15 minutes. Add kitty litter, coffee grounds, sawdust, or any material that mixes well and makes it unappealing for children or animals to eat. Seal the bag and put it in the trash. Remove any identifying information on the prescription bottle (like the label), clean and recycle. Your local pharmacy, police department or Drug Enforcement Agency may also be able to assist in disposing of medication. Consider relocating your medicine cabinet. Many people don't realize that the bathroom cabinet is not the best place to store medication. The temperature and humidity changes that take place while the shower is running can lower the potency of your medication. Medications should be kept in a cool dry place, away from children. Consider a drawer in your dresser or a lock box in your closet. For any questions or a needs assessment visit please contact Jennifer Trebler at (951) 663-1060. ASK A QUESTION How do I "spring clean" my medicine cabinet?