This Surprising Under-$4 IKEA Find Is Better than Any Laundry Basket
It’s no secret that IKEA’s iconic FRATKA tote bag doubles as one of the most versatile and functional organization “hacks” for your home (and life in general). You can use it to store extra pillows and bedding, to carry all of your groceries to your fifth-floor walk-up, or to serve as a beach bag (or as the bag that all of your other totes live inside). That’s why I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many IKEA shopping bags. In fact, whenever I’m in the store, I like to buy a new one just in case … because those magical, seemingly bottomless blue-and-yellow carryalls always come in handy.
On my last IKEA trip, though, I noticed something new next to the usual blue bags (which IKEA has also turned into a $6 bucket hat for super fans like myself): A chic canvas version that feels so much more elevated and is pretty in its utter simplicity. Feast your eyes on the SPIKRAK shopping bag, a 13-gallon, 100 percent cotton tote bag, which comes in a natural canvas color with two striped blue handles on either side — one short, one shoulder-carrying length. It’s now officially my go-to, stylish staple for organizing laundry.
Similar to the FRATKA, this IKEA canvas tote bag has plenty of space for a large load and makes carting all of my dirty clothes to my building’s communal laundry a total breeze. Plus, at just $3.49 a pop, it’s so much cheaper compared to other laundry bags and baskets out there, including some of IKEA’s own products. The reusable SPIKRAK is also made from a sustainable, natural material rather than something synthetic.
I love this IKEA find because you can use it in so many different ways, too. Sometimes I sort all my dirty clothes into separate SPIKRAK bags, and then conveniently carry them to my building’s laundry room by the larger set of straps. Or, I’lI put the bags back in my hamper (they don’t take up any additional space!) while I wait to switch out a load. These are also big enough to hold folded garments really well without messing anything up, thanks to the boxy shape. Additionally, the canvas material cleans easily — just throw it in the wash with your white load — and is less in-your-face than the usual bright blue and yellow.
Beyond laundry days, the neutral SPIKRAK bag also feels stylish enough to work as an everyday organizer — especially if you don’t have a ton of space for bulky storage baskets or bins. It also folds completely flat when not in use. You can use it to stow away extra toys, books, blankets, off-season clothes, and more. However you utilize it, this durable, under-$4 IKEA tote is bound to become a new staple in your home and routine.