Decanting Your Laundry Essentials Isn't Always The Best Idea. Here's Why

When it comes to laundry essentials, you have some options. Liquid, powder, or pod detergents, softeners, fabric refreshers of all kinds, and dryer sheets or wool dryer balls are just some of the things you might find in your laundry room. With each item comes a different container, which could give your laundry room a disjointed look. Many people might decide to decant laundry essentials from their original containers into new ones, giving uniformity to a space that often lacks it. While this plan may seem like a great idea for aesthetic purposes, it's actually not the best choice, and it's best to skip this laundry room hack.

One of the most essential reasons why decanting laundry essentials isn't preferred is due to the significant safety concerns it poses. Many containers for liquid detergent and detergent pods come with child-resistant packaging, because many scented laundry detergents are toxic. Moving these poisonous substances to a different container makes it much easier for a child to access them, even if you think the new container is safe. Similarly, since pods are often brightly colored, they could easily be mistaken for candy by a small child — if in a container that is not specifically designed for safety, this could lead to accidental ingestion.

While safety concerns are the primary reason why decanting your laundry products isn't a good idea, there are additional factors to consider. When you remove a product from its original container (and most likely dispose of it), you lose valuable information, like usage instructions, ingredients, and expiration dates. In the case of an accidental ingestion, having the original packaging is crucial, since it contains critical information for medical professionals, such as the specific ingredients, which can help them determine the best course of action.

Another consideration to be aware of is the type of packaging that most laundry products come in. The original packaging is specifically designed to maintain the product's stability and effectiveness. Moving the product to a container that isn't airtight, opaque, or made of the correct material could cause the product to deteriorate more quickly. In extreme circumstances, the laundry product could react with the new container, leading to a weakened container and a degraded product. For all of these reasons, it's best to skip this idea for your laundry room, and instead use the decanting method to get more organized in other areas of your home.