There are some things you should never store on your washer and dryer. We know it’s convenient, but you are risking your items, your appliances, and even your safety in doing so.
From laundry hampers to detergent bottles, there are better homes for them all that do not pose a fire risk and more.
Here, professional cleaners and organizers break down why you should never keep these items on your appliances and where to put them instead to ace organizing a laundry room.
Things you should never store on your washer or dryer
You should never be store anything on top of your washer or dryer, warns Glenn Lewis, president at Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company.
He says, ‘Nothing should be stored on top of your washer and dryer. They are not designed to be storage devices, and you could damage the products you are storing and the appliances themselves.’
Plus, you’ll likely have to move them every time to complete your laundry routine, adding time to this already tedious task.
Even if you are seriously short on storage space in your laundry room ideas, these five things should never be stashed on top of your laundry room appliances.
1. Flammable items
Storing flammable items on top of your appliances is one of the most common fire risks in your home, warns Shantae Duckworth, founder of Shantaeize Your Space and professional organizer.
She warns, ‘Honestly, you should avoid storing anything on top of your dryer, especially flammable items like cleaning supplies, dirty laundry, dryer sheets, or detergent. The heat and vibrations from the dryer can be a fire hazard and might cause spills or leaks that could damage the machine or create a flammable mess.
‘If you're tight on space, I suggest keeping those items on a nearby shelf where they’re easily accessible but safely stored. You can find a simple shelf on Amazon or Target.
'If space is really, really tight, consider adding a wall-mounted rack or a slim rolling cart [such as this narrow organizer from Wayfair] to keep your laundry essentials organized and off the dryer. I always like to say, surfaces are not storage spaces – especially when there is heat involved.’
This simple floating shelf is perfect for keeping flammable items out of reach of children and away from your appliances. It comes with all the fittings you need to install it, too.
Need more space or want to keep laundry clutter hidden? This wall-mounted shelf unit comes with the fittings you need to install on arrival day, and has open and closed shelving for minimizing visual mess and maintaining accessibility.
Available in four colors and three- and four-shelf variants, this slimline cart can make great use of small gaps in laundry rooms for storing detergent and dryer sheets more safely.
2. Heavy items
Alicia Sokolowski, cleaning and laundry expert, president and CEO of AspenClean, continues, ‘You should never store heavy items such as stacked laundry baskets, storage bins, or toolboxes on top of your washer/dryers. These can put unnecessary pressure on your machines, potentially denting the lid or casing over time. If they fall, they could damage the machine or injure someone.
‘To avoid the common laundry room organizing mistake, keep heavier items on a stable shelf unit [available at Target] or in a laundry cabinet, ideally at waist height, to avoid strain when lifting.
3. Fragile items
Fragile items are one of the many things you should never store at the top of your closet, so why store them on a rumbling washer or dryer?
Scott Schrader, cleaning expert at CottageCare, explains, ‘It is easy for fragile items like glass jars to fall and break. Instead of keeping these items on your washing machine or dryer, keep them on solid shelves or cabinets that are easily accessible.’
4. Cleaning supplies with harsh chemicals
Organizing cleaning supplies can be awkward at the best of times, taking up space in cabinets, with awkward spray bottles and tubs making them hard to keep uniform. However, avoid falling back on leaving them out on your washer or dryer.
Alicia warns, ‘You should never store cleaning supplies containing harsh chemicals as these can leak or tip over from vibration. If they mix or spill, they can release dangerous fumes or damage the surface of your machines.
‘Instead, store your cleaning supplies in a well-ventilated cabinet, preferably locked and away from children or pets – ideally not directly above the machines to avoid drips.’
White vinegar is a great natural, non-toxic cleaning alternative to bleach, making it a safe swap for many commercial chemical cleaning and laundry products, limiting the risk altogether.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) Certified, these laundry pods are certified healthier for use in your home, offering a safer alternative to traditional chemical detergents.
Dryer balls are a great, less-flammable, chemical-free dryer sheet alternative that will break up and fluff up your laundry for even drying and softer linens.
5. Irons
Keeping your iron close at hand and near your dryer can be a great organizing trick to make laundry easier, encouraging you to remove wrinkles as soon as clothes are clean. However, you should always avoid storing it on your washer or dryer.
Jennifer Q. Williams, organizer and founder of Saint Louis Closet Co. shares, ‘Many people set their iron on top of the dryer for convenience, but this can be dangerous, even when unplugged.
'Irons are heavy, often have pointed edges, and can easily slide off when the machine is running. Instead, designate an adjustable shelf for the iron or store it inside a laundry cabinet with built-in heat-safe storage.’
Avoid the risk of your iron falling over altogether by using a wall mount. This keeps your iron in easy reach, while limiting the risk of damage to your appliance, storage, and home.
Meet the experts
While you are clearing off your washer and dryer surfaces, why not tackle the things to declutter your laundry room now?
It can drastically improve your laundry routine while clearing out the toxic laundry room items that could be making you sick.
