An expert product tester reviews 10 laundry baskets, identifying the best overall, collapsible, rolling, and portable options. Discover the pros and cons of each to make your laundry routine easier.
This article provides an in-depth review of various laundry baskets, highlighting their importance in streamlining the often-dreaded task of laundry. A seasoned product reviewer, and mother of an infant, rigorously tested 10 baskets by carrying full loads and an 11lb bowling ball up and down stairs and around a city block. The top picks include: * **Best overall:** Sterilite Ultra 2 Bushel Basket ($13.99) – Praised for its heavy-duty construction, capacity (71 liters), and comfortable grips, though it's bulky and not aesthetically pleasing. * **Best collapsible:** Sammart Collapsible Laundry Basket ($28.40) – Ideal for small spaces, collapsing to 3 inches thick, but has a plasticky look and smaller capacity (42 liters). * **Best rolling/non-plastic:** Yamazaki Tosca Slim Rolling Basket ($145) – A chic steel and wood option (55 liters) perfect for single-floor transport, but expensive and awkward for stairs. * **Best portable:** Ikea Frakta Bag ($0.99) – An incredibly cheap and high-capacity (71 liters, 50lbs) solution, despite being prone to tearing and less elegant. Other notable mentions include the Steele Canvas Small Truck for a larger rolling option and the CleverMade Collapsible Fabric Laundry Basket for an elegant portable choice. The article also discusses practical aspects like laundry basket recyclability, standard sizes (1.5-2 bushels), and how many baskets a household might need based on sorting preferences and family size.
