By Bash Kaif
Published on 09/16/25
Hey, friend, have you ever tossed random stuff into your laundry room and called it a day? Oh, I’m so guilty of that—my laundry room was turning into a junk drawer, like summer ants in Texas invading a picnic! But here’s the thing: the heat and humidity in there can wreak havoc on certain items, like mold in a toilet tank ruining your bathroom vibe. I chatted with pro organizers to get the scoop on what not to store in your laundry room, and I’m weaving in your favorite home and garden tips like perennial plant with small purple flowers and pergola with lights to keep it fun. Let’s sort this out like we’re chatting over coffee in a kitchen with stained oak cabinets!
Why Be Picky About Laundry Room Storage?
Your laundry room isn’t just for washing clothes—it’s a hardworking space with heat and moisture that can damage stuff! Storing the wrong items is like overwatering a splendid philodendron or ignoring a cracked toilet bowl hairline crack—trouble waiting to happen. Keeping it clutter-free and functional is as satisfying as planting a san diego red bougainvillea or designing a blue and white tiled bathroom. Here’s what pro organizers say to keep out for a worry-free space.
6 Things to Never Store in Your Laundry Room
1. Paper Goods
Paper towels, toilet paper, and napkins? Big no-no! Lauren Saltman warns they soak up moisture like a sponge, turning damp and musty, like images of grass fungus on your lawn. Moldy paper is as gross as mold on a cutting board or tiny white bugs on soil. Instead, store them in a hall closet or pantry, like organizing a rural driveway entrance with a dwarf serbian spruce for a tidy look.
2. Cleaning Supplies
Okay, a few cleaning products are fine, but overloading your laundry room? Risky move! Saltman says heat and humidity can mess with their stability, like a toilet gurgling when showering. Crowded shelves also make it hard to track what you have, like sorting through old cellulose insulation. Keep bulk supplies in a cool, ventilated cabinet, as neat as a single gang box metal wired with electrical straps.
3. Paint
Paint cans in the laundry room? Nope, they’re not built for that! Audra George explains that warmth and humidity can ruin paint, making it spoil faster than a yarrow seedling in soggy soil. Opened or unsealed cans are especially vulnerable, like a cactus plant with red flowers wilting in the wrong spot. Store them in a garage or shed, like choosing copper l vs m for a plumbing project.
4. Food and Pantry Items
Storing snacks or canned goods in the laundry room? Bad idea! George says temperature swings and humidity can spoil food fast and attract pests, like closet bugs or summer ants in Texas. Keep food in a cool, dry pantry, as organized as a prehung door with perfect door hinge placement or a strawberry clay pot in a sunny garden.
5. Candles
Love candles? Keep them out of the laundry room! Saltman notes that heat can melt them into a waxy mess, like sewage coming out of a shower drain—ugh! Non-jarred candles are especially prone to hardening onto surfaces, like a poorly planned above ground oval pool deck. Store them in a cool spot, like a turquoise and white decor scheme or a queen anne’s lace hydrangea display.
6. Keepsakes
Your precious photos, electronics, or sentimental items don’t belong here! George warns that moisture and heat can warp or ruin them, like overwatering a mars madness hibiscus. Protect your keepsakes in a dry, safe spot, like a night jasmine seed stored properly or a hydrangea strawberry sundae tree thriving in the right conditions.
Pro Tip for Laundry Room Storage
No other storage options? Don’t panic! George suggests using lidded bins or cabinets to shield items from humidity, like choosing waterproof laminate vs vinyl plank for durability. It keeps things organized and protected, as neat as a backsplashes herringbone pattern or a chandelier hung at the perfect height (check how high above a table a chandelier should be).
Final Thoughts
Decluttering your laundry room is like pruning a woodward juniper—so freeing and functional! Keeping paper goods, cleaning supplies, paint, food, candles, and keepsakes out of this humid space saves you from damage and chaos, like avoiding mold in a toilet tank with a metal cleaner spray. Your laundry room will feel as fresh as a green white leaf shrub or a 4200 square foot house with perfect flow. So, grab some bins, channel your inner organizer, and make your laundry room shine like a pergola with lights at dusk! Got more projects, like tackling how fast a monstera grows or choosing travertine vs marble? Let’s keep the organizing and reno chat going!
