If you have ever spent an exorbitant amount of time wondering why is it so hard to find cute laundry baskets that don’t cost an arm and a leg, this post is for you. I was so sick of our ugly plastic hamper taking up precious space in our small bathroom, it was time for a change.
And so, like every shopping dilemma, my problem (& solution) became a blog post. To make your favorite, affordable basket into a laundry hamper, you’ll need… a heavy-duty laundry bag!
How to Pick the Perfect Laundry Basket
Low or No Handles
Handles that stick over the lip of the basket will get in the way of the laundry insert fitting tightly. Go for handles that are cutouts in the Plastic Wicker Laundry Basket sides or handles that pull away from the basket lip.
Tight Weave
The tighter and stronger the weave, the more towels your basket can take. A galvanized metal basket is going to be the strongest, while a sewn rope basket is going to flop everywhere and lose its shape. Some woven baskets come with interior reinforcements for display- keep those in!
If your laundry basket will be in your bathroom, I highly suggest getting a synthetic fiber or sealed metal weave. The constant humidity over the past year has been weakening the shape of our natural fiber basket, so into the closet, it lives now.
Size
If you’re shopping online for baskets and don’t know what size to look for, compare product dimensions with other laundry baskets. A good starting point is 18-20″ tall for standard hampers.