HAPPY HAMPERS
Ali Howard puts a range of laundry baskets to the test from the Fairtrade and artisanal to the sleek and contemporary
The humble laundry basket is often overlooked as a versatile and relatively cheap piece of homeware that can add colour, pattern and personality to our abodes. As a product that’s permanently on show, it needs to earn its place on the style front, in addition to functionality.
Luckily, there’s a wealth of clothes bins to choose from that are as attractive as they are practical, including some beautifully hand-woven pieces in all-natural materials such as jute, rattan and seagrass. Make sure yours is robust and well designed; think about sizing and the way you’ll use your laundry basket: do you need a large bin that will serve the whole family, or one for every bedroom? Or do you need a lightweight laundry hamper you can carry from bathroom to utility room without the backache?
From the crafty and artisanal to the sleek and contemporary, we have put top clothes bins to the test, looking for style and stamina.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Artisanne round laundry basket: From £93.50, Artisanne
This Fairtrade brand brings us hand-woven homeware with a conscience. The lidded laundry basket has been skilfully hand-crafted from sustainable ndiorokh, a grass local to Senegal, intertwined with strips of salvaged plastic. In medium or large, and with a choice of geometric crosses or stripes, the basket marries traditional craftsmanship with contemporary styling. It’s also lightweight but reliably sturdy.
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The Braided Rug Company laundry blue stripe: £55, The Braided Rug Company
For a craft-driven look in the bedroom, and a laidback, nautical one at that, this hard-wearing laundry basket makes a beautiful addition. We loved its chunky, woven body in all-natural materials and its eye-catching broad stripes in cream and navy. Made from jute and water hyacinth, it is deceptively strong and sturdy.
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Dunelm Woodford bamboo laundry basket: From £15, Dunelm
Bamboo never fails to bring a sense of calm to interior spaces and this affordable clothes bin from Dunelm is no exception. The lidded basket features a removable cotton lining that folds over the basket’s rim, while the flat lid keeps unsightly washing firmly hidden away. Smart, contemporary and purse-friendly.
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Red Candy Mark the Shark laundry basket: £25, Red Candy
What we loved most about this shark-shaped laundry bin is that it’s pleasing to kids and design-savvy grown-ups alike. Made from firm but flexible grey felt, its simple shaping allows for a fun and easy way to hide dirty laundry away in a jiffy – and as every parent knows, if you turn tidying up into a game the battle’s half won. Mark the Shark is no Jaws, though – those teeth are softer than they look.
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Brabantia foldable laundry basket, 35l: £20, John Lewis & Partners
Practical, stylish and affordable, this collapsible fabric laundry basket ticks a lot of boxes. Lightweight and with strong, reliable handles, it’s designed to be carried from bedroom to washing machine to washing line with ease. It’s made from a water-resistant material, meaning your damp clothes won’t ruin its boxy shaping. It’s so versatile that it even folds up to make space on non-laundry days.
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Bembridge rattan laundry basket with rope handle: £115, The Farthing
We love the natural, rustic look of this pear-shaped laundry basket. Woven from high-quality and sustainably sourced rattan, it offers a practical and eco-friendly storage solution to the mountains of family washing piling up – its unusual shape means it’s generous in capacity, too. The basket is finished with a thick rope handle for added homespun charm.
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Made Essentials Moss double laundry basket, black: £39, Made
Smart, contemporary and functional, this double basket from Made proved an impressive find. Split into two sections, it allows you to easily sort your laundry by colour. The black metal gridded frame offers a cool industrial look, while the cream canvas inserts are removable, making it a doddle to take each load separately to the washing machine.
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Habitat Adder blue seagrass laundry basket with lid: £90, Habitat
Another laundry basket that successfully mixes artisanal charm with contemporary sass, Habitat’s offering is almost too attractive to hide away in the bedroom. It’s woven from natural seagrass and features a striking zigzag pattern that recalls the Ziggy Stardust lightning bolt (whether intentional or not). We loved the natural scent, too.
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The verdict
Artisanne’s round laundry basket is a beautiful, craft-driven piece, and while its main function is to carry the weekly washing, it works just as well as extra storage in any room, which is why we’re awarding it our best buy. Sustainable and Fairtrade, it’s one for conscious shoppers.
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