I've been on the hunt for the perfect hamper for quite some time. Of course, with so many options out there, it hasn't been an easy decision. But now that kitchen and bath month is among us, I figure there's no better time to get down and dirty and figure it out! Here's a roundup listing a few, of the many, hampers I found during my search.
When choosing a hamper, there are few things to take into consideration. First, and foremost, is where you intend on storing it. If you already have a place in mind, that can drastically narrow down your options by helping to determine the size and style you'll need. Also consider how far away it will be from your laundry area. If it won't be situated close by, you might want to consider one with wheels or a removable liner that doubles as a transport bag. Do you have a nosy dog? If you answer yes to that, which is my story, then you might want to choose a hamper with a lid. Your dog strewing your underwear down the hall might be hysterical when it's just you, not so funny when you're having a dinner party! Are you a pre-sorter? If you have the room, definitely spring for a hamper with double or triple compartments.
With so many hampers to choose from, there is no reason not to find a hamper that can meet all, or most, of your needs.
- 1 Wire Basket Hamper by Pottery Barn. Galvanized square wire basket with handles and a cotton canvas liner. $89
- 2 Teak Laundry Hamper by Frontgate. Removable fabric laundry bag and a hinged lid with a safety chain. Can also be used outside. $299 - $399
- 3 X-Frame Hamper by SimpleHuman. Heavy gauge steel bars with rubber grips. Folds up for storage. Also available in a double hamper. $79.99
- 4 Marie Pi Hamper by Swid Design. An expandable hamper with stand and two fabric options, natural or orange. $204.25
- 5 Slice Laundry Bin by Blomus. Stainless steel bin with a black or natural wood lid on casters. $236.33
- 6 Rattan Elephant Hamper by Home Decorators Collection. Elephant shaped wicker hamper, available in 3 color options and sizes. $69 - $119
- 7 Crunch Dot Square Container by Umbra. Cotton canvas with a laminated liner. $17.99
- 8 Jumbo Rolling Chrome Laundry Basket by Neu Home. A hamper on casters with a removable drawstring sac. $29.98
- 9 Pandan Hamper by the Container Store. Hand-woven from pandan leaves, it comes in 3 colors with a removable cotton bag, disguised handles, and a lid. $119
- 10 Savannah Hamper by Elite Home Fashions. A woven wicker hamper in an espresso finish with a pull-open door. $140
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Comments (19)
I want this, check it out http://www.steelecanvas.com/catalog/square-carry-basket/
The "Savannah" hamper can be bought on overstock.com for half that price.
I have the Umbra crunch bag with a black and white bird design. It matches my Dwell Studio Target bedding.
You can get the stainless look of the Slice Laundry Bin for much cheaper with Ikea's Rundel Laundry Bin ($39.99).
I have yet to see someone come up with the dream hamper for apartment dwellers with vistors and limited closet space - which is silly because it's what we use every day --
Stylish
Wheels so you don't break your back going to basement
Doesn't expose your dirty laundry to yourself and guests
A reasonable size (#8 barely fits one load) and height (most all are so low) for singles and those with families
Dreamy product designer ... where art thou?
@ cassielynn - that's hot! but I wouldn't want to expose laundry.
Haha, elephant.
I like #2 because it looks like you could sit on it. Too bad it's so expensive.
We have a horizontal laundry basket that takes up a lot of space on the floor. Thanks for these vertical suggestions.
I have a weird criteria: cat proof. My cats are obsessed with laundry hampers.
I like the Pandan hamper, however, I am afraid if I get something with a lid I won't be able to get my husband to actually use it. He's the guy that leaves the glasses on the counter directly above the easy-to-open dishwasher. Hrmph...
Arrgh! Why are hampers so expensive?!? Especially the ones that look perfect for my tiny space.
my cats found our wicker laundry basket to be an irresistible scratching post. 1/2 a can of compressed air quickly trained them not to scratch or climb. Our cats detest the sound of compressed air more than they love laundry.
I love that the savannah pulls out so that the top surface can be used as a tabletop. Invisible laundry, yay! Now, how to disguise the smell of men's gym socks.... any suggestions?
The wire basket hamper by Pottery Barn is just what I what I have in mind but the $89 price tag is way above what I want to spend for a hamper of all things.
ellearRVA, I totally agree on number one. No matter how much I like it I could never justify spending that much on a hamper. I'd rather buy chicken wire and black spray paint and make my own.
What I want to know is, why the ^$**^%$*^&* are hampers so expensive? They're a friggin box!!
Savannah Hamper = $100, Walmart, online only
I use this, with a liner I bought at the Container Store that covers the blue handles, which are easy to remove (there's white plastic underneath) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00122BGS0/ref=oss_product
large, inexpensive and looks surprisingly good in my new bathroom http://tribecatribal.typepad.com/photos/house/house-bath_2w.html
These are all ridiculously expensive, with the exception of #7.
Couldn't there be a nice selection of pretty $20ish hampers?
I've been living hamper-less since I moved because I don't want to settle for some plastic monstrosity or pay more than $30 bucks for something nice.
I don't mind paying if it fits my space perfectly.
I bought 3 hamper liners for $4 each at Pottery Barn Kids. I figured I would wait for the hamper to go on sale too, or find one the same size. The PBKids hamper never goes on sale, but I found a Sterlite hamper at Target for 7.50 that acommodates my liners. And since my 7 y/o likes to sit on the hamper, it was cheap enough that I can replace it if (when) it breaks. Easy to clean, cheap, and holds 2 large loads.
wish that elephant was cheaper...looks like a little show piece great for storing random stuff/toys in...