The $20 Find That Might Make Me Ditch My Regular Laundry Hamper for Good

I wouldn’t call myself a minimalist by any stretch, but I do try to be intentional about what I bring into my home. I follow decluttering rules, like the “one in, three out rule” to get rid of items I no longer need and to keep clutter in check. Still, when I spotted a $20 tool that promised to make laundry easier, I couldn’t resist. I finally gave this Pop Up Laundry Hamper a try — and it’s completely changed the way I do laundry.

At first glance the HEON Pop Up Laundry Hamper doesn’t look like much: It’s essentially a large, stretchy nylon circle with two handles, but the design is surprisingly clever. You place it on top of your freshly dried laundry inside a front-loading dryer, turn the drum so your clothes flip neatly onto the basket, and then lift everything out in one swoop. The whole load comes out together, ready to be folded or carried. Each set comes with the pop-up hamper plus two wall hooks for easy hanging when not in use. The basket is available in two sizes — 23 or 27 inches — and several color options, including gray, light cyan, rose pink, and cobalt blue.

I first saw this brilliant tool in a video on Jill Koch’s Instagram account. But I’ll admit that I hesitated before buying it. I didn’t think it would be that different from using a regular laundry hamper, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to store another item. But after just one use, I was hooked. Here’s what I love about it.

You don’t realize how long it takes to empty a dryer one shirt or sock at a time until you don’t have to do it anymore. No more crouching down, reaching in, and pulling things out piece by piece — just flip and lift, and you’re done in seconds.

Because I’m not putting clean laundry in a hamper that can sit around, I end up folding my laundry faster. The basket practically forces me to deal with the pile right away, whether I set it on the couch or bed.

The basket folds flat and barely takes up any space. I did have to experiment the first time I used it. Initially, I placed the handles front-to-back instead of side-to-side, which made flipping awkward. Once I adjusted, it worked like a charm. Holding the basket in place while turning the dryer drum also took a try or two, but now it’s second nature.

The HEON Pop Up Laundry Hamper is one of those small, clever tools that really does make a difference. It saves me time, keeps me more consistent with folding, and takes up almost no space. If you’re looking for a way to streamline laundry day, this little gadget might surprise you as much as it did me.

Buy: The HEON Foldable Laundry Basket, $19.99