How to Secure Medications During Home Renovations or Moves

Nov, 17 2025

When you’re tearing down walls or packing up your life for a new home, your medications shouldn’t be an afterthought. A bottle of painkillers left on a dusty shelf, insulin sitting in a hot car, or a child finding a pill bottle in a moving box-these aren’t just risks. They’re preventable emergencies.

Why Medications Are at Risk During Moves and Renovations

Most people don’t think about their meds until they’re packing boxes or cleaning out cabinets. But here’s the truth: 55% of Australian households have prescription medications on hand, and nearly 70% of those aren’t stored properly-even when nothing’s changing. During renovations or moves, those already shaky habits get worse. Heat, humidity, and chaos turn your medicine cabinet into a hazard zone.

Medications don’t handle temperature swings well. Insulin, thyroid pills, and even common antibiotics can lose effectiveness if they freeze or overheat. Moisture from steamy bathrooms or damp basements breaks down pills faster than you’d think. And if your meds are sitting out in the open while workers come and go? That’s a recipe for accidental poisoning, especially with kids or pets around.

Step 1: Sort and Clean Out Before You Start

Don’t just pack everything. Take time-before the dust flies or the movers arrive-to go through every pill bottle, patch, and liquid vial.

Check expiration dates. If it’s old, toss it. No exceptions.
Look for pills that are discoloured, cracked, or smell strange. Throw those out too.
Separate controlled substances: opioids like oxycodone, fentanyl patches, or benzodiazepines like Xanax. These need special handling.

For disposal, don’t flush pills down the toilet unless the label says to. Most meds should be mixed with cat litter, coffee grounds, or dirt in a sealed plastic bag before tossing in the trash. This stops kids or animals from digging them out. For fentanyl patches or other high-risk drugs, flush them immediately-this is the only safe method according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) guidelines.

Use a medication take-back program if you can. Pharmacies like Chemist Warehouse or your local GP clinic often have drop-off bins. Some councils in Sydney run biannual collection days. Call your local council to check.

Step 2: Pick a Secure, Stable Storage Spot

You need a place that’s cool, dry, locked, and out of reach. That’s the golden rule.

During renovations, avoid these spots:

Bathrooms (too humid)
Kitchen cabinets above the stove (too hot)
Garages or sheds (temperature swings)
Anywhere near construction dust or paint fumes

Instead, pick one room that won’t be touched-like a bedroom closet or a locked cabinet in the laundry. If you’re moving, pack meds in a small, labelled bin and keep it with you in the car, not the moving truck.

Use a locked box. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A gun safe, a locked tool box, or even a small safe from a hardware store works. If you don’t have one, use a ziplock bag inside a locked drawer. Just make sure it’s not accessible to kids or visitors.

Step 3: Protect Temperature-Sensitive Medications

Some meds need fridge temps (2°C-8°C). Others must stay between 15°C and 25°C. If you’re moving in summer, this is critical.

For insulin, epinephrine pens, or certain biologics:

Use a small insulated cooler with a cold pack (not frozen)
Keep it with you in the car, never in the trunk
Check the temperature with a small thermometer if you can
Never let it freeze-frozen insulin is useless and dangerous

For pills that just need to stay cool (like antibiotics or heart meds), keep them away from direct sunlight. A dark, sealed box inside a cool room is fine. Don’t leave them on a windowsill-even for an hour.

A woman packing insulin in a cooler with a cold pack, sunlight streaming through a kitchen window.

Step 4: Keep Everything Labelled and Organised

Never transfer pills to a different container. Ever. Why? Because if your child finds a random bottle with no label, they won’t know what it is. Same if you’re in a hurry at your new place and need your blood pressure pill.

Keep everything in original bottles. If the label is fading, write the name, dose, and instructions on a sticky note and tape it to the bottle. Don’t rely on memory.

Create a simple list:

Medication name
Dose (e.g., 10mg once daily)
Why you take it (e.g., “for high blood pressure”)
Pharmacy and contact info

Keep this list with your meds. If something goes wrong, emergency responders can act fast.

Step 5: Talk to Your Pharmacist or Doctor

Don’t guess. If you’re unsure about a medication’s storage needs, call your pharmacist. They know the exact temperature range, stability limits, and disposal rules for every drug they dispense.

Ask:

“Does this need refrigeration?”
“Is it safe to transport in heat?”
“Can I switch to a different form if it’s hard to store?”

Some meds can be switched to liquid form, patches, or extended-release versions that are easier to manage during moves. Your doctor might have options you didn’t know about.

What to Do After You Move

Once you’re settled, don’t just toss your meds into the new cabinet. Do a quick reset:

Check all bottles for damage or moisture
Confirm temperatures in your new storage spot
Reorganise everything so it’s still locked and out of reach
Update your list if you’ve refilled anything

And if you’re moving into a new home with kids or elderly relatives living with you, make sure they know where the meds are stored-and that they’re off-limits.

A person returning old medications to a pharmacist at a pharmacy counter during dusk.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Putting meds in the moving truck-too risky for heat, cold, or theft
Leaving them in the bathroom during renovations-moisture ruins pills
Throwing old meds in the trash without mixing them with dirt or coffee grounds
Assuming “it’s still good” because it looks fine-meds degrade invisibly
Not telling your pharmacist you’re moving-some meds need special handling

What to Do If You Find a Lost or Unlabelled Pill

If you find a pill you don’t recognise during a move or renovation:

Don’t take it
Don’t throw it in the trash
Take it to your nearest pharmacy-they can identify it
Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (Australia-wide)

They’ll tell you if it’s safe and what to do next. Better safe than sorry.

Can I store my medications in the garage during renovations?

No. Garages get too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Most medications break down in temperatures outside 15°C-25°C. Humidity and dust also ruin pills. Always keep them indoors, in a locked, climate-controlled space.

What if I need my medication while the house is being renovated?

Keep a small, labelled, locked container with your daily meds in a room that won’t be disturbed-like a bedroom closet. Pack only what you need for the next few days. Never leave extra pills out in the open. If you’re unsure, ask your pharmacist for a travel-sized supply.

How do I dispose of old medications safely in Sydney?

Take them to any pharmacy that offers a take-back program-Chemist Warehouse, TerryWhite Chemmart, and many local pharmacies do. Some councils hold annual collection days. Never flush unless the label says to. For high-risk drugs like fentanyl patches, flush immediately. For others, mix with coffee grounds, seal in a bag, and throw in the trash.

Is it safe to move insulin in a regular cooler?

Yes, but only if it’s not frozen. Use an insulated cooler with a cold pack-not ice cubes. Keep it with you in the car, not the trunk. Check the temperature with a thermometer if possible. Never let insulin freeze. If you’re unsure, call your pharmacist before moving.

Should I bring all my medications when moving?

Only bring what you’re currently using. Discard expired, unused, or duplicate medications before the move. This reduces clutter, risk, and weight. If you’re unsure, ask your pharmacist to help you sort through them. It’s safer and simpler.

Final Tip: Make This a Habit

Medication safety isn’t just for moves or renovations. It’s part of everyday health. Lock your meds. Keep them cool. Dispose of them right. Check them regularly. These aren’t just rules-they’re lifesavers.

If you’re planning a move or renovation this year, do this now: grab your meds, sort them, lock them, and call your pharmacist. It takes an hour. It could save a life.

13 Comments

saurabh lamba
November 18, 2025 AT 14:48

So basically, life is a pharmacy disaster waiting to happen, and we're all just clumsy gods playing with fire? 🤔
Shannon Hale
November 19, 2025 AT 20:42

This is the most important thing I've read all year. People treat meds like snacks. I've seen toddlers open pill bottles like they're finding treasure in a cereal box. It's not negligence-it's a public health crime.
Jessica Healey
November 20, 2025 AT 23:28

I once left my anxiety meds on the counter during a remodel. My cat knocked it over. I cried. Not because of the pills-but because I realized I’d become the kind of person who forgets to keep her own life together.
Eric Healy
November 21, 2025 AT 03:28

If you dont lock your meds your a liability. Plain and simple. No excuses. Kids dont know what theyre doing and neither do most adults. Just lock it. Its not that hard
Deb McLachlin
November 21, 2025 AT 06:00

The guidance on temperature sensitivity is particularly well-researched. Many assume that as long as a pill looks intact, it remains potent. This is a dangerous misconception. Pharmaceutical degradation is often invisible, and the consequences can be lethal, especially with insulin or anticoagulants.
Levi Hobbs
November 22, 2025 AT 10:08

I appreciate this. I just moved last month and didn't think about my meds until I found a half-used bottle in a box labeled 'misc'. I took it to the pharmacy right away. Good reminder to make this a routine.
Kelsey Robertson
November 24, 2025 AT 04:02

Why are we treating medication like it’s nuclear waste? It’s not. Most of this is overblown fear-mongering. If you’re worried about your kid finding a pill, maybe don’t leave them unattended with access to your bathroom cabinet.
Shannon Hale
November 24, 2025 AT 11:39

Oh please. You think this is fear-mongering? I’ve seen a 3-year-old with a fentanyl patch on their tongue. You don’t get a second chance with that. This isn’t overblown-it’s a public service.
Gordon Mcdonough
November 25, 2025 AT 07:32

I live in America where we have REAL problems-like illegal immigration and fake news-and you're telling me to worry about where my Tylenol goes??? This is why our country is falling apart-people obsess over nonsense like this instead of fixing what matters!
Holli Yancey
November 25, 2025 AT 18:13

I get where Gordon’s coming from, but I also think he’s missing the point. This isn’t about politics. It’s about safety. My grandma had dementia. She took someone else’s blood pressure pill once. We were lucky she didn’t die. It’s not paranoia-it’s prevention.
Sridhar Suvarna
November 26, 2025 AT 11:14

In India we have no choice but to leave medicines in open cabinets. But I still separate my father's insulin in a small insulated pouch. Small effort. Big difference. This guide is universal. Even in poverty, dignity in care matters.
Joseph Peel
November 27, 2025 AT 06:21

The disposal advice is spot-on. In many countries, flushing is the norm. But mixing with coffee grounds? That’s a brilliant, low-tech solution that works anywhere. Simple. Effective. Human.
Kiran Mandavkar
November 28, 2025 AT 09:45

You people are so obsessed with control. Medications are just chemicals. Nature doesn't care if they're in a locked box or on a windowsill. You think you're protecting life? You're just feeding your anxiety. Let go. Trust the universe.