If you’re trying to decide between purchasing a fabric or woven hamper or a plastic basket, Forté recommended considering the size and shape of both. “Hampers hold more, are deeper and are a place to toss in dirty laundry until you can wash it,” she said.
You can also consider the design of each, especially if you prefer separating colors or certain items: “Some [hampers] are divided to help with sorting, meanwhile with a laundry basket, everything is mixed together usually,” Forté explained. She also pointed out that hampers typically have lids while baskets don’t — making hampers better if you’re storing laundry in your bedroom, rather than a laundry room or closet.
However, a laundry basket can be a better choice if you want to purchase a one-and-done item. A baskets is a strong, functional container for carrying laundry around the house, whether it’s dirty or clean and folded. It’s a more practical option that gets the job done, even if it’s not the most appealing design-wise.
They each have their pros and cons, with different strengths for different situations.” Baskets should be easy to carry and store and hampers should be attractive if left out in a room,” Forté said.
