Doing laundry is hard enough, don't let a cluttered laundry room complicate the process. Whether it's clothes piled on the floor, mismatched socks or random papers and receipts, the laundry room can quickly become a dumping ground for stray items.
"It's not uncommon that the laundry room is the last stop for items that are on their way out the door," says Jeffrey Phillip, interior designer and professional organizer. "This can cause the laundry room to become a catchall for the things that we need to deal with" — from donation items (clothing that doesn't fit, for instance) to trash (like expired cleaning products).
To help you organize your laundry room, we tapped four professional organizers for their advice on where to start. Turns out, you should get rid of these items in your laundry room right away.
Single socks
We've all held onto single socks hoping their partner will turn up — but they likely won't. "If you have already done another load of that person's laundry, the socks' match is probably long gone," says Ashley Hines of Thee Tailored Life. "The washer monster wins again. Let it go."
Old dryer sheets and stray lint
This one is obvious, but it's important! Don't let used dryer sheets and lint accumulate around the laundry room. Not only is it unnecessary clutter, but it can pose a fire hazard.
Excessive detergent
You don't need multiple bottles of detergent — and stop holding onto formulas and scents you dislike. "Laundry doesn't have to be overcomplicated, stick to the essentials: detergent, stain remover, bleach and vinegar," says Lindsay Melvin, owner of Orchid Organizing. "Don't let social media convince you that your laundry should be as product-heavy as your skincare routine."
Melvin also warns against overly scented laundry detergent and dryer sheets. "Save perfumes for your body, not your clothes."
Items that don't belong
"The laundry room is often a catch-all space, so clutter can sneak in quickly," says Lynda Reider, founder of Cut the Clutter RVA. You might find a bag of clothes for donation, outwear overflow, pet gear and random items pulled from pockets (think coins, pens and receipts).
"You will likely find multi-purpose items that do not belong, like tools, toys or overflow from other rooms," adds Hines, who urges clients to clear out misplaced and unnecessary items. Assign items a designated home in another room, donate them or toss them. "Giving this space a clear purpose can transform how it supports your daily routine."
Stray papers
"If the laundry room becomes a drop zone, paper clutter can accumulate fast," says Reider. Sort and recycle stray papers daily — think junk mail, delivery packaging, owner's manuals, receipts and old magazines.
Expired, empty or half-empty detergent
Yes, laundry detergents expire and can become less effective when they do. Check your laundry room for expired and empty cleaning products. If you have multiples of the same item, Reider suggests combining them and getting rid of extra packaging.
Forgotten clothing
Clothing items that require extra attention, whether they need to be repaired or brought to the dry cleaners, tend to sit in the laundry room until they're forgotten about. It might be "clothing that no longer fits or needs to be altered or laundry that needs to be finished (things that may take more time to complete such as ironing, seasonal pieces or special-care items)," according to Phillip.
Worn-out reusable bags
"Torn, stained or duplicated bags tend to gather here," says Reider. "Keep a manageable number and either recycle the rest or consider using them to hold outgoing donations."
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.