dirty clothes

You use this phrase as a noun to describe the state of your laundry. You can say you are "doing the dirty clothes" or "sorting the dirty clothes." It usually functions as the object of a sentence. Use it when talking to family, roommates, or even at a hotel. It is very common to see this paired with the word hamper or basket.

Use it when you are at home and need to clean up. Tell your partner, "Please don't leave your dirty clothes on the floor!" Use it when traveling if you need a bag for your used items. It is perfect for casual conversations about chores or packing for a trip. You might even use it when complaining about how much laundry you have to do.

Avoid using this phrase to describe someone's character or personality. While there is an idiom "washing your dirty laundry in public," the phrase dirty clothes itself is very literal. Do not use it in a high-end fashion meeting to describe a "distressed" look. In those cases, use words like weathered or vintage. Also, don't use it if the clothes are just messy but actually clean.

In many Western cultures, dirty clothes are kept out of sight. Most homes have a specific basket called a hamper just for these items. There is a common social rule: never wear dirty clothes to a job interview or a date. Doing the laundry is a weekly ritual for most people. Some people even have a "chair" in their bedroom dedicated to dirty clothes that aren't quite dirty enough for the wash yet!

You will often hear people say laundry instead of dirty clothes. Soiled linen is a much more formal version used in hospitals or hotels. Wash is another common synonym, as in "I have a big wash to do." Some people might just say dirties in a very casual family setting. However, dirty clothes remains the most clear and standard way to say it.