Your bed is meant for sleeping and relaxing, but it can quickly turn into the place where you drop everything at the end of the day. Clothes, bags, snacks, phones, and other everyday items often land on the covers without much thought, bringing along dirt, dust, allergens, moisture, and other things you probably don’t want near your face while you sleep.

Since you spend several hours in bed each night, keeping the area clean can make it a more comfortable place to rest. A few simple changes can also help reduce dust, odors, stains, and grime on your bedding.

Here are 10 common items that are better left somewhere else.

Dirty Clothes

It’s easy to toss a worn outfit onto the bed while changing, especially when you’re tired at the end of the day. Those clothes can carry sweat, body oils, dust, and dirt from everywhere you’ve been.

Put worn clothes in a laundry basket instead of on the covers. If something is still clean enough to wear again, hang it up rather than leaving it on your bed.

Pets

Cuddling with your dog or cat can be comforting, but pets can also bring plenty of outdoor mess into your sleeping area. Fur, dander, dirt, pollen, and outdoor pests can all end up in your bedding after your pet has been outside.

If you deal with allergies, giving your pet a bed of its own near yours may help keep some of those irritants away from where you sleep. Regular grooming and washing your pet’s bedding can also help keep loose hair and dirt under control.

Food and Snacks

Eating in bed can seem like a relaxing treat until crumbs start turning up between the sheets. Food particles can attract insects, while spilled drinks, sauces, and greasy foods can leave stains and lingering smells.

Keep meals and snacks at the kitchen or dining table whenever possible. You’ll have less cleanup to deal with, and your bedding will stay cleaner between washes.

Electronics

Your phone travels through plenty of places before it lands beside your pillow at night. Restaurant tables, store counters, office desks, and other shared surfaces can all leave dirt and germs on the device.

Keeping your phone on the nightstand gives it a place to stay without putting it directly on your bedding. It can also help you avoid scrolling in bed when you’re trying to wind down for the night.

Unwashed Bedding Accessories

Extra blankets, decorative pillows, and mattress protectors collect sweat, skin oils, dust, and other debris over time. If they aren’t cleaned regularly, they can become a source of dust and allergens in your sleeping area.

Wash your sheets and pillowcases regularly, and clean blankets, mattress covers, and decorative pillows based on how often you use them. Check their care labels before washing to avoid damaging the fabric or filling.

Outdoor Shoes

Shoes pick up dirt and grime from sidewalks, parking lots, public floors, and plenty of other places. Bringing them onto your bed can transfer that mess directly onto the blankets and sheets.

Leave shoes near the door or store them in a closet instead. Keeping outdoor footwear off the bed is an easy way to keep your sleeping area cleaner.

Wet Towels or Damp Clothing

A damp towel tossed onto the bed can leave moisture trapped in the sheets, blankets, or mattress. If moisture sits around for too long, it can create musty odors and contribute to mold or mildew growth.

Hang wet towels and damp clothes somewhere with good airflow so they can dry completely. Once they’re dry, put them in the hamper or return them to their usual storage spot.

Stuffed Animals

Stuffed animals can be cozy bed companions, but they collect dust, pet hair, and other particles just like other fabric items. This can be especially bothersome for people who have allergies or sensitive airways.

Wash plush toys from time to time according to their care instructions. If you have a large collection, keeping some on a shelf can help reduce the amount of fabric sitting on your bed.

Gym Bags or Backpacks

Gym bags and backpacks spend plenty of time on locker room floors, classroom floors, public transportation, and other shared surfaces. Bringing them onto your bed can transfer some of that dirt to your blankets and sheets.

Keep bags on a chair, bench, shelf, or designated hook instead. Giving them their own spot also makes it easier to keep track of them when you’re heading out.

Hair Products and Styling Tools

Hair sprays, gels, oils, and creams can rub onto your pillowcase and sheets when bottles or tools are left on the bed. Warm styling tools can also scorch or damage bedding if they’re placed down before they have cooled.

Keep hair products on a bathroom counter or inside a drawer instead. Let heated tools cool on a safe, heat-resistant surface before putting them away.