16 Common Places Where Alabamians Notoriously Lose Things

Some things seem to vanish into thin air.

You swear you had your sunglasses five seconds ago, but they’re suddenly gone. Or maybe your favorite pen disappears the moment you need it most.

Even Alabamians who aren’t Catholic might find themselves praying to St. Anthony to help them find their stuff.

This article is a friendly reminder (and maybe a bit of therapy) for anyone who’s ever turned a purse inside out or crawled under a car seat in defeat. These are some of the most common places where lost items linger.

In the Fridge

Yes, seriously.

You meant to put your phone down on the counter—but you were holding groceries, got distracted, and now it’s chilling next to the pickles.

People laugh when it happens, but fridge-losing is real. Phones, wallets, even keys have ended up next to leftovers.

It usually happens when you’re in a rush or distracted. You’re juggling too much at once, and your brain files that important item away under “temporarily out of hand.”

Ten minutes later, you’re retracing your steps and blaming the dog.

The upside? Items left in the fridge don’t usually vanish forever. But they might get a little cold and weird-smelling before you find them.

In Public Restrooms

No one wants to go back—but sometimes you have to.

Public restrooms are a common place for people to leave behind phones, wallets, or keys. You set something down while washing your hands or checking your face in the mirror, and then walk out like everything’s fine.

Stalls are just as bad.

You hang your jacket or bag on the hook, and if you’re in a rush, it’s easy to leave without it.

Some items get turned in to lost and found. Others get scooped up by the next person through the door.

Always do a quick glance behind you before leaving a public restroom. Because few things kill your day faster than realizing your phone is still sitting on a paper towel dispenser at a gas station.

Between Couch Cushions

It’s the Bermuda Triangle of the living room.

Remote controls, spare change, earbuds, and even entire smartphones have vanished into that mysterious gap between the couch cushions.

Sometimes they slip just out of sight. Other times, they fall deep into the frame where only a flashlight and coat hanger can reach.

People often don’t even notice when something goes missing there. You think you set it on the armrest, but it slid right down as soon as you stood up.

A week later, you’re fishing around for fallen popcorn and suddenly strike gold—that long-lost earring lands in your hand.

In the Washing Machine (or Dryer)

Clothes go in… but not all of them come out.

We’ve all mourned a missing sock. But it’s not just socks that disappear in the laundry. Hair ties, money, pens, and even receipts love to vanish into the mysterious world of laundry machines.

Some get wedged in between the drum and the rubber lining. Others fall behind the washer completely.

Dryers are even worse. Have you ever pulled a pair of jeans out and found your lip balm melted into the pocket?

Even if something isn’t totally gone, it might be damaged beyond saving.

And the lint trap? It’s basically a graveyard for small, forgotten items.

Under the Car Seat

Once it’s down there, it’s practically gone forever.

The space beneath a car’s seat is one of the most frustrating places to lose something. It’s dark, narrow, and full of questionable crumbs.

Things slide around while you’re driving. So, by the time you pull over to look, your sunglasses could be in a totally different spot.

Phones, credit cards, receipts, and gum packs are the usual victims. The worst part is when you can see the item but can’t quite reach it.

You wiggle your hand around like a magician trying to grab it. But nope, it always slips just out of grasp.

And even if you find it, you’ll need a solid hand-wash after.

In the Grocery Store Cart

You’re halfway home before you realize what you left behind.

The grocery cart is a surprisingly common place for people to lose things. It might be your reusable bags, a wallet, or even some of your groceries.

Sometimes we set things down “just for a second,” and they stay there after we walk away. The baby seat area is an especially sneaky spot for items to hide.

The issue is that we’re usually juggling too much—list, bags, payment, and keeping an eye on kids or carts that roll away. By the time checkout is done, we’re just trying to get out of there in one piece.

If you’re lucky, a store employee finds it and holds onto it at customer service. But unless it’s super valuable, many of us never even go back to look.

At the Beach

The sand doesn’t care how important or expensive your belongings are. You set your phone or keys on your towel and suddenly, poof!

They’re gone.

Flip-flops, sunglasses, and water bottles are other common victims. And don’t even get us started on kids’ toys.

You bring five buckets and go home with two, wondering what happened during that sandcastle session.

Even wallets and wedding rings have been known to vanish at the shore. The next time you head to the beach, it’s best to lock your valuables in the car or leave them at home altogether.

Once the beach takes something, it rarely gives it back.

On Restaurant Tables

It’s amazing how often people forget their stuff after paying their bill.

You’re relaxed, full, and focused on splitting the check or rushing out. That’s the perfect recipe for leaving something behind.

Phones, purses, sunglasses, and takeout containers get left on tables all the time. Sometimes they get turned in. Sometimes they just disappear.

Napkins and menus can hide small items in plain sight. A ring or bracelet left on the table might get accidentally bundled up with trash.

And if you dine outside, wind or passing strangers can make off with your stuff before you even notice.

Do a sweep of your table before standing up. Look around your chair, under the table, and double-check the seat. One glance could save you a return trip and a whole lot of frustration.

In Hotel Rooms

You check out, head home, and realize with dread that something’s missing.

Hotel rooms are set up to hide your belongings. Things roll under the bed, get stuck between sheets, or vanish into drawers. Heck, they even offer safes!

Phone chargers are the most common casualties, especially if you plug them in behind a nightstand. You’re not thinking about packing them; you’re thinking about checkout time.

People also leave clothes in closets, toiletries in the bathroom, and jewelry on bathroom counters. And once housekeeping comes through, it’s a toss-up whether it gets turned in or tossed out.

Before leaving your hotel room, look under, behind, and inside everything. That last sweep might save your favorite necklace or that fancy bottle of shampoo you splurged on.

In the Backyard

Not all missing things stay inside.

If you’ve ever hosted a cookout or spent the afternoon gardening, you know how easy it is to lose something outside.

Tools, phone chargers, sunglasses, and yes—grill tongs—have all been known to vanish in the grass or under the deck.

The yard is full of places where things can get lost. Leaves and dirt hide items like they’re part of nature.

And if you have pets or kids, they’re great at moving your things to places you’d never check.

If you lost something in your backyard, don’t be surprised if you don’t find it until next spring. But hey, at least you’ll get a fun surprise while pulling weeds.

Desks at Work

Workspaces are magnets for lost items.

It might be in your top drawer, under a pile of papers, or behind your computer monitor. Pens, sticky notes, flash drives, and snacks disappear all the time at desks.

Some get “borrowed” and never returned. Others just slip into cracks or fall behind furniture.

Cords and chargers are especially easy to misplace in an office setting. You plug something in, unplug it quickly, and forget which drawer or backpack you stuffed it in.

If you share a desk or switch locations, your things might even be in someone else’s setup. It’s one of those cases where the item isn’t truly “lost.” It’s just no longer in your orbit.

On Your Own Body

Don’t lie; you know you’ve been there.

You spend five minutes tearing apart the living room looking for your glasses, only to find them on your head. Or you’re looking for your keys while holding them in your hand that’s not digging through your bag.