A laundry hamper is meant to keep dirty clothes organized until wash day, but not everything belongs in it. Tossing the wrong items into the hamper can lead to stubborn stains, musty odors, damaged fabrics, and even expensive repairs to your washer and dryer. Here are 15 things you should never throw into the laundry hamper without dealing with them first.
Wet Towels
It may seem harmless to toss a damp towel into the hamper, but trapped moisture quickly creates the perfect environment for mildew and bacteria.
Instead, hang towels over a rack or shower rod until they’re completely dry. If they’re heavily soiled, it’s even better to wash them right away rather than letting odors spread through the rest of your laundry.
Related: The Best Towels for Airbnb that Guests Will Love
Sweaty Workout Clothes
Athletic clothing holds onto sweat, body oils, and bacteria much more than everyday fabrics.
Rather than balling them up in the hamper, let gym clothes air out first. Allowing moisture to evaporate before washing helps reduce lingering odors and keeps the entire hamper from smelling like a locker room.
Wet Swimsuits
A swimsuit fresh from the pool or beach contains more than just water; it may also hold chlorine, salt, sunscreen, and sand.
Rinse it thoroughly, gently squeeze out the excess water, and let it air dry before adding it to your laundry pile.
Food-Stained Clothing
Spaghetti sauce, coffee, grease, ketchup, and chocolate become much harder to remove if they’re left untreated for days.
Take a minute to blot or pretreat fresh stains before placing the garment in the hamper. That small step can make a huge difference on laundry day.
Related: 12 Clothing Items People Wish They Never Donated
Muddy Clothes
Throwing muddy clothing directly into the hamper spreads dirt onto everything underneath it.
Allow mud to dry first, then shake or brush off as much as possible before adding the clothing to your regular laundry.
Greasy Kitchen Towels
Kitchen towels often absorb cooking oils, food residue, and bacteria that can transfer onto other clothing.
Keep them in a separate laundry basket or wash them separately from everyday clothes whenever possible.
Pet Bedding and Fur-Covered Fabrics
Pet blankets, beds, and heavily fur-covered clothing can quickly spread hair throughout an entire load of laundry.
Shake off loose hair outdoors or use a lint roller before placing these items in the hamper to make washing much more effective.
Clothing With Strong Odors
Work uniforms, sports gear, and heavily perspired clothing can make an entire hamper smell stale.
If possible, allow these items to dry first and wash them sooner rather than letting odors linger for several days.
Related: How to Clean Thrifted Clothes Before Wearing Them
Clothing Soiled With Bodily Fluids
Items stained with blood, vomit, urine, or other bodily fluids require more careful handling than everyday laundry.
Keep them separate, pretreat stains promptly, and follow the care instructions before washing to help prevent stains and reduce contamination.
Clothes With Full Pockets
Pens, markers, tissues, gum, crayons, and receipts have ruined countless loads of laundry.
Make it a habit to empty every pocket before clothing goes into the hamper—not just before it enters the washing machine.
Keys, Coins, and Other Metal Objects
Coins, keys, screws, nails, and small tools can scratch your washer, damage clothing, or become lodged inside the machine.
A quick pocket check takes only seconds and can save you from expensive repairs later.
Belts and Heavy Accessories
Large belt buckles, decorative chains, pins, and bulky accessories can snag delicate fabrics or damage other clothing when they sit in a crowded hamper.
Remove accessories before tossing garments into the laundry basket to help protect everything else waiting to be washed.
Delicate Lingerie
Bras, lace underwear, shapewear, and silk garments can lose their shape or snag on heavier items like jeans and towels.
Store delicate pieces separately or place them directly into a mesh laundry bag so they’re ready for a gentler wash cycle.
Silk, Wool, and Hand-Wash Fabrics
Delicate fabrics don’t do well when they’re crushed beneath heavy sweatshirts, towels, and denim for several days.
Keeping these garments separate helps prevent stretching, wrinkles, snags, and unnecessary wear before they’re even washed.
Shoes
Sneakers and other shoes carry dirt, grass, mud, and bacteria from outside that you probably don’t want transferred onto your clothing.
Store shoes separately from your laundry and clean them according to the manufacturer’s instructions rather than tossing them into the hamper.
