A laundry treating apparatus is provided. The laundry treating apparatus may include a detergent storage device positioned below an introduction port for introducing laundry into and removing laundry from a washing tub of the apparatus, a detergent dissolution device to dissolve detergent in water, and a flow path switching valve to selectively open a flow path for dissolution of the detergent and a flow path for supply of the dissolved detergent and washing water solution to the washing tub.