When it comes to dangers around the home, few of us consider the laundry room to be an area we need to be particularly concerned about. In the garage, we’re careful to keep our gas cans away from open flames in child-safe containers, but how many of us spend any time thinking about making our laundry rooms safer?
One of the biggest ways you can improve the safety of your laundry room is by being vigilant and particular about laundry detergent storage and accessibility. The chemicals and solvents we use to get our clothes clean and fight the toughest, ground-in stains are truly miracles of modern science, but they can also be hazardous and dangerous if handled carelessly or stored improperly.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at laundry organization and some of the best-practices when it comes to storing your laundry supplies. We’ll also discuss laundry room habits you should avoid in the interests of making your laundry room as safe as possible.
How to Store Laundry Detergents
No matter what kind of detergent you use, be it powder, liquid, or laundry pods, storing your detergent properly will help it last longer and ensure every load of laundry receives the full potency of the detergent’s cleaning and stain-lifting power. Proper storage up and out of reach of children and pets, preferably behind a locked door, will also go a long way toward keeping your laundry room safe and secure.
Below, we’re going to take a look at the different kinds of detergents and what you should keep in mind when storing them.
How to Store Laundry Detergent Pods
Single-dose laundry detergent pods like Gain Flings come encased in a thin, polyvinyl film that dissolves when it comes in contact with water or moisture. These convenient laundry dosing solutions take the guesswork out of measuring detergent for the wash, but pods can also be damaged by moisture or leaking water if stored improperly. It’s extremely important that laundry pods are stored inside an air-tight container within a laundry room storage cabinet to prevent moisture from ruining them.
How to Store Liquid Detergent
Over time, the ingredients in liquid laundry detergents will naturally begin to break down. This process is accelerated by freezing cold or blistering hot temperatures. While breakdown of ingredients doesn’t ruin the detergent, it does make it less effective at cleaning and freshening your laundry, and clumpy detergent can potentially clog dispensers in your machine. To preserve your liquid detergent and slow the breakdown process, store liquid detergents in a cool, temperature-stable area up and out of reach of children or pets.
How to Store Powder Detergent
Powdered laundry detergents are great because they are generally cheaper, and if stored properly, they have an indefinite shelf life. The downside to powder detergents is that they are sensitive to moisture and will absorb it if given the chance. Storing your powdered laundry detergent in a cool, dry area is key. If you have clumpy or hard powdered detergent, it’s best to throw it away and get a new box. Clumpy or hard powder detergent can leave residue on clothes or clog your machine.
Organize the Detergent on Display
Although practical and convenient, the containers our laundry detergents come in are not very attractive and can really mess with the feng shui of your laundry room area. Check Pinterest or your local home goods store for stylish glass containers or other types of air-tight storage options where you can place detergents, label them, and display them to impart a clean vibe in your laundry room.
How to Store Fabric Softener
Fabric softeners tend to fare a little better than their liquid laundry detergent counterparts when it comes to storage and shelf life. Most fabric softeners stay potent and working at full power for 2 to 3 years if stored properly and unopened. Fabric softener, as with all laundry chemicals, should be stored in a cool, dry area out of reach of pets and children.
How to Store Scent Booster
Scent booster beads are a handy laundry aid that can be added directly to your washer drum during a cycle where it will enhance the fragrance of your laundry. Since they are moisture-activated, scent boosters should be stored in a cool, dry, air-tight container and used within six months of opening.
How to Store Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets, when added to a dryer load of washing, can help fight static, impart a fresh scent, and soften your fabrics with formulated additives coating their woven sheets. Sensitive to both temperature and moisture, dryer sheets should be stored in a cool, dry location and used within six months of opening.
Keep Products Closed, Sealed, and Out of Reach
The chemicals and solutions we use in the laundry room are great for getting clothes clean, but many of the properties that make them ideal for removing stains or softening fabrics also makes them hazardous. These chemicals can be poisonous to curious pets or children, so extreme care should be taken to store them up and out of reach. You should also consider storing them behind locked doors.
Additionally, keeping your products sealed can help keep them from leaking or mixing where they could potentially create noxious gases.
Label Your Storage Containers
If you plan on storing any of your laundry supplies in your own custom containers, having a way to permanently and properly label them is critical. It needs to be clear not just to you but to anyone who may happen to use your laundry room which chemicals are what to prevent damage to clothes or your machine. Properly labeled laundry supplies can also help prevent accidental mixing and potentially hazardous chemical reactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should laundry detergent be stored?
Laundry detergent should always be stored up and out of reach of children and pets in a cool, dry area. While powdered detergents are shelf-stable, they can be ruined by moisture. Liquid detergents break down over time, losing their potency, a process that’s accelerated by freezing cold or blistering hot temperatures. Laundry detergent pods come encased in thin plastic that dissolves in moisture, so care should be taken to keep them dry.
What can I store my liquid laundry detergent in?
Liquid detergent is best stored in its container with instructions and measuring cap. You can, however, store liquid detergent in any glass or plastic container provided you properly label it for safety reasons. You should also note that detergent in glass containers or exposed to light may break down more quickly than if stored in its bottle, where it lasts for up to six months after opening.
Where do people keep laundry detergent?
Depending on the type of detergent you use, you may need to keep it in an air-tight container to avoid exposure to moisture. All detergents should be stored in cool, dry areas to preserve their efficacy. Care should be taken to store detergents up and out of reach of children or pets, preferably behind a locked cabinet door.
It’s important to keep your laundry products up, closed and safe – away from children. If at any time you have difficulty closing your package, please reach out directly to our team.
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