Laundry Basket, Hamper or Cart
Is it a laundry basket, hamper, or cart? Whether your laundry basket has wheels or your laundry cart is more like a hamper, each one serves a different purpose. This article explains the benefits and buying points for each.
Understanding The Difference
Does your laundry room need a laundry basket, laundry hamper, laundry cart or all three? How do you decide which one you need. You’ll need to know the difference between each in order to know what you need.
A Laundry basket is an open-topped container that can be easily carried to transport clean laundry from the washer to the dryer, and from the dryer to the folding area. Its big job is to transport smaller batches of clean laundry. As a plus, because of its wide-open layout, you can easily stack your neatly folded laundry in it and return it to its primary location within your home.
On the other hand, a hamper is much larger and its primary function is to store dirty laundry. It usually has a lid or top on it to allow for longer storage periods between washings. You can even buy a multi-compartmented hamper (Conveniently labeled for whites, darks, brights, and delicates) to allow for easy sorting in advance.
Meanwhile, the laundry cart is for transporting large batches of your laundry between washers and dryers inside a laundromat. These are important and very helpful. Why? Because laundromats have large washers and dryers, and the distance between them is further than in a typical home setting. Therefore, these carts will come in handy at any laundromat making your job easier and much faster.
What to Look For in a Laundry Basket
Whether you are buying a laundry basket, hamper or cart, there are some key things to keep in mind before forking out the dough.
- If this item is to hold dirty laundry, can it be easily laundered or sanitized between uses?
- How much space do you have in your home? Maybe you should consider a collapsible laundry basket, or perhaps a bag-type hamper would better fit your space.
- How long will my items be in there between washings? If it’s longer than a few days, consider a hamper with air holes. Also, if it’s made of solid material that can be wiped clean it will be easier to sanitize. This setup will also help with airflow and reduce mold and mildew.
- Is it easy to get in and out of my car? When you need to go to a laundromat, a bag-style hamper will make transportation easier than a solid material.
- If you get a bag style hamper, make sure that the bag can be washed. Tossing it in with your laundry simplifies the routine. Also, will it withstand many, many washings.
- How many hampers do you need? Do you want the hamper in the bathroom where everyone can use it or one in each person’s bedroom? Understanding this will help you determine the size and type of hamper/s you need.
No matter what your laundry needs are, whether a cart, laundry basket or hamper, they all play important roles in making your wash day easier.
